Job Summary 

The Deputy Program Manager – Finland is a program monitoring and customer management role, based at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, that frees the Program Manager to focus time and attention on program leadership, business development, and stakeholder engagement in Texas and Washington, D.C. This is not a construction management, quality assurance, or production role: the Deputy Program Manager does not direct shipyard production activities. Instead, the role monitors schedule, cost, and quality trends at Helsinki Shipyard and channels that information to the Program Manager and Davie Defense International (DDI) leadership through a single, controlled internal reporting line. The Deputy Program Manager also manages the day-to-day relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on-site, serving as the customer's primary point of contact in a way that keeps the customer appropriately outside the shipyard's day-to-day production process, while ensuring the customer's information needs are met through Davie Defense's own controlled channels. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

This position is responsible for the following: Other duties may be assigned. 

1. Manage the day-to-day relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard at Helsinki Shipyard, serving as the customer's primary point of contact and controlling the information and access the customer receives, so that USCG oversight needs are met without embedding the customer in day-to-day shipyard production activities. 

2. Monitor on-site program schedule progress at Helsinki Shipyard against the agreed Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) and critical path, and support development of a reliable, mutually agreed means of recording and reporting progress, both internally and to the customer. 

3. Monitor quality trends and overall conformance of shipyard and subcontractor work to contract specifications, ABS standards, ISO 9001 requirements, and applicable regulatory codes, escalating significant non-conformances to the Program Manager rather than directing corrective action on-site. 

4. Consolidate and relay schedule, cost, and quality information from Helsinki Shipyard to the Program Manager and Davie Defense International (DDI) leadership through a single, controlled reporting channel. 

5. Support submission, review, and tracking of CDRLs/SDRLs and other contractually required data and documentation, ensuring information released to the USCG is reviewed and approved through appropriate channels before release. 

6. Support production transition planning from Helsinki Shipyard to Gulf Copper's Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas facilities from a program-level information and coordination standpoint. 

7. Coordinate periodic progress reviews with Helsinki Shipyard leadership on behalf of the Program Manager, summarizing findings and status for the Program Manager and DDI leadership. 

8. Assist with the preparation and delivery of program status reports, briefings, and correspondence for USCG, executive leadership, and internal stakeholders. 

9. Identify and escalate program risks, schedule concerns, non-conformances, and information-control concerns to the Program Manager and appropriate compliance functions. 

10. Build and maintain effective working relationships with Helsinki Shipyard leadership, subcontractors, and USCG stakeholders, operating effectively within Finnish and EU regulatory and labor environments. 

11. Support day-to-day compliance with applicable U.S. government contracting requirements, export control regulations, and company policies and procedures, in coordination with the Program Manager. 

Required Education & Experience: 

1. Minimum of 5–8 years of experience in shipbuilding, ship repair, or major maritime program management, customer management, or client-facing project controls roles, preferably including new-build construction. 

2. Demonstrated experience managing customer or government relationships on a major capital construction or shipbuilding program preferred. 

3. Familiarity with U.S. Navy or U.S. Coast Guard contracting frameworks, including Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development and CDRLs/SDRLs, preferred. 

4. Familiarity with quality management systems and standards, including ABS technical requirements and ISO 9001. 

5. Prior experience serving as a day-to-day point of contact for U.S. government program offices or oversight representatives strongly preferred. 

6. Project Management Professional (PMP) certification a plus. 

7. Willingness to relocate for an extended international assignment in Finland. 

Working Conditions: 

1. Position is based at Helsinki Shipyard in Finland, primarily in an office and program management capacity, with an extended international assignment and periodic travel between Finland, Texas, and other U.S. locations. 

2. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and, on a periodic basis, an active shipyard environment, including movement across vessel decks, gangways, and industrial work areas as needed for site visits. 

3. Mobility to climb up and down stairs, ladders, and shipboard access points, as needed for periodic site visits. 

4. Vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, including the ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods each day. 

5. Hearing and speech to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in virtual meetings across time zones. 

6. Occasional exposure to shipyard and weather conditions during site visits, combined with regular work time indoors in an environmentally controlled office setting. 

7. Ability to comply with all shipyard safety, security, and site-access requirements, including those governing controlled government information. 

Necessary Equipment Operation: 

1. Office equipment, including telephone, computer, printer, and standard project management, scheduling, and reporting software. 

2. Personal protective equipment (PPE) required for periodic shipyard and vessel site visits. 

Special Skills: 

1. Strong customer and stakeholder management skills, with the judgment and discipline to manage the USCG's information and access appropriately, keeping the customer positioned outside day-to-day production activities while meeting their oversight needs. 

2. Strong program monitoring and reporting skills, with the ability to track schedule and quality trends at a program level and translate shipyard information into clear, reliable reporting for the Program Manager and DDI leadership. 

3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to represent the company professionally to U.S. government stakeholders. 

4. Able to work in a highly confidential manner and manage controlled or sensitive government information appropriately. 

5. Strong cross-cultural communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively with Finnish shipyard partners and multinational teams. 

6. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively. 

7. A dependable, self-directed working style with sound judgment on when to act and when to escalate to the Program Manager. 

8. Commitment to company values, policies and procedures, and safety program. 

* An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Know Your Rights. If you’d like to view a copy of the company’s affirmative action plan or policy statement, please email: [email protected].  If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail: [email protected].