Customer Programs Planning Manager
Bluestaq
About Bluestaq
At Bluestaq, we build secure data platforms that matter for space missions, national defense, healthcare systems, and commercial innovation. Founded in 2018, we've become a leader in enterprise software and secure data management by staying focused on what counts: modern architecture, operational excellence, and mission impact.
We're engineers, problem-solvers, and builders who take the mission seriously, but not ourselves. We automate the repeatable, question the status quo, and design systems that are as reliable as they are scalable. Whether we're supporting space, defense systems, or healthcare advancements, we build with the same principles: cloud-native solutions, security by design, and relentless simplicity.
Our name? "Blue" (military shorthand for the good guys) and "staq" (as in software stack). It's who we are, mission-aligned technologists building platforms that protect the world’s most valuable data.
Recognized Excellence We've earned national recognition as one of Inc. Magazine's Fastest-Growing Private Companies and consistently rank among Colorado's Best Workplaces. But what we're most proud of? The systems we build, the teams we develop, and the mission outcomes we enable.
Customer Programs Planning Manager
Roles & Responsibilities
The Customer Programs Planning Manager is the senior planning leader across a portfolio of customer programs. This role owns the planning and requirements function end-to-end, setting methodology, driving cross-program coherence, and producing the executive-level visibility leadership needs to make smart decisions.
This person also directly leads a team of Program Product Owners, serving as their coach, career developer, and accountability anchor. They are the organizational Subject Matter Expert (SME) for planning standards, requirements practices, and program performance metrics, the person others call when things get complicated.
This is a high-trust, high-autonomy role for someone who can run complex, multi-program planning with minimal oversight while actively growing the people around them.
What You'll Own
Planning & Requirements Leadership
- Own and drive the end-to-end planning process across all assigned programs
- Establish and maintain requirements standards, frameworks, and best practices that teams actually use
- Ensure program objectives stay aligned to customer goals, organizational priorities, and contract obligations
- Review and approve requirements of artifacts produced by Product Owners before delivery
Metrics & Performance
- Define, track, and report KPIs across all programs
- Analyze program health data and produce performance reports for executive leadership and customers
- Translate trends, risks, and anomalies into clear, actionable recommendations — not just status updates
People Leadership
- Directly supervise and develop a team of Program Product Owners
- Run performance reviews, set individual goals, and build meaningful career development plans
- Make hiring decisions in coordination with HR
- Build a team culture rooted in accountability, curiosity, and growth — the kind of team others want to join
Cross-Program Coordination
- Align planning and requirements activities across programs to ensure strategic coherence and reduce duplication
- Serve as the primary coordination point between the Program Director, Program Managers, and Product Owners
- Identify, manage, and escalate cross-program dependencies , resource conflicts, and risks
- Engage with customers and external stakeholders to keep program planning tightly connected to their actual needs
Subject Matter Expertise
- Be the organization's go-to authority on planning methodology, requirements practices, and performance measurement
- Advise the Program Director and executive leadership on planning strategy and org effectiveness
- Provide expert guidance to Program Managers, Product Owners, and cross-functional stakeholders
AI Process Development & Adoption covers all three scopes you confirmed:
- Team level — leads adoption within the Product Owner team, building confidence and modeling best practices
- Portfolio level — drives AI process adoption across all programs, identifying high-value use cases in planning, reporting, and dependency tracking
- Governance level — partners with the AI Governance Council to pilot workflows, document outcomes, and serve as a feedback loop
What Success Looks Like
- Product Owners are growing: clearer work, stronger craft, more autonomous delivery
- Executive and customer reporting is trusted, consistent, and decision-ready
- Cross-program risks and dependencies are visible early — not discovered at crisis
- Planning standards are adopted, not just documented
- The team operates with minimal heroics and maximum predictability
- AI tools are actively embedded in planning and reporting workflows, not just available, but consistently and compliantly
You Might Be a Fit If You…
- Have led planning or program management functions in a DoD or mission-critical environment
- Have directly managed people and genuinely enjoy developing others
- Can hold the line on methodology while staying pragmatic when reality hits
- Are comfortable translating messy program data into clean executive narratives
- Think in systems — you see how decisions in one program ripple into others
Required Qualifications
- 5+ years of experience in program planning, product ownership, or program management in a DoD or mission-critical environment
- 2+ years of direct people management experience, including performance management and career development
- Demonstrated ability to manage planning across multiple concurrent programs or workstreams
- Active DoD security clearance (Secret minimum; TS/SCI preferred or eligible)
- Experience producing executive-level program reporting and stakeholder briefings
- Proficiency with modern agile delivery tools (e.g., Jira, Confluence, or equivalents)
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Business, Engineering, Systems, or related); advanced degree a plus
- Experience in a defense technology, space, or enterprise software environment
- Familiarity with federal acquisition and contract frameworks (FAR/DFARS)
- Applicable program/project management certification
- Track record of standing up or improving planning and requirements practices at an organizational level
Clearance Requirement: This position may require the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance. To be eligible for a security clearance, U.S. citizenship is required, and an employee must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check. Eligibility for a TS/SCI Clearance will be assessed as part of the onboarding process or based on programmatic needs.
Physical Requirements:
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
- Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.
Relocation: This position does not offer relocation. Candidates must live in the immediate area or relocate at their own expense.
Bluestaq is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants or employees on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by state or local law.
Bluestaq will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and employees whose work requirements interfere with a religious belief unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to Bluestaq or a direct threat. Employees needing such accommodation are instructed to contact Human Resources immediately at contact.us@bluestaq.com.
Date the Position Closes: Applications will be accepted for 60 days beyond the posting date, or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.
