Original Date: 02/19/2007
Revision Date: / /

Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems Operations Program Leadership at the company’s manufacturing facilities in Largo, Florida; McKinney, Texas; and Waterloo, Ontario established a career and learning management certification process for Operations Program Managers to ensure that future program leaders acquire the appropriate skills and experience necessary to effectively run future programs. Operations Program Leadership certification levels are uploaded to a central Raytheon Network Centric Systems database that helps leadership identify qualified Operations Program Managers on a companywide level.

Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems (NCS) Manufacturing Center in Largo, Florida, recognized that Operations Program Managers (OPMs) were the driving force behind customer success and mission assurance. Fully qualified program leadership is paramount to stable, predictable program execution and company growth; however, Raytheon’s Largo facility did not have a formal OPM development program and managers did not have knowledge of OPM qualifications beyond specific business functions. Rsums for OPM positions were submitted through internal job posting; any additional training needed was recommended to OPM candidates by direct supervisors.

To improve the consistency of program performance, the Operations Program Leadership (OPL) Organization was initiated to provide a training pipeline and certification process for OPMs. Application for OPL certification was requisite prior to approval by the OPL Council. After being accepted into the OPL program, managers work toward receiving OPL certification by expanding their experience, performance, potential, learning, and education skills.

Criteria for OPL tier advancement are well-defined and measurable for the five tiers of certification possible. Each progressively higher tier represents increased levels of responsibility and complexity. Program tiers are also designed to better match program budget, size, and complexity to each manager’s skill levels. Programs are divided into five tiers in which smaller and less complex programs reside in tier 5 and the largest, most complex programs reside in tier 1. As OPMs achieve higher OPL certification levels, they become eligible to manage higher tier programs. OPL certification levels and program management experience are uploaded to an NCS database which leadership teams across the entire NCS sector can query to find OPMs with the appropriate level of OPL certification for new job opportunities.

Benefits of the OPM development program include: