| Position Summary: |
Project and Program Managers: Are you ready to lead on the cutting edge of systems engineering and digital transformation? Join us to drive high-impact projects that will push your skills, expand your expertise, and fuel innovation across the Air Force and industry. If you're hungry for growth and looking to make a real difference, this is the role for you.
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Contracting Program Manager to support a diverse range of systems engineering, digital materiel management, and applied research projects for government and commercial clients. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to manage complex projects from inception through completion, ensuring high-quality deliverables on time and within scope. Additionally, a strong background in contracting, subcontracting, flow down of terms, and their effects on project deliverables is desired.
This role will require close collaboration with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and clients to align technical solutions with strategic goals. The Mid-Level (P2) role focuses on growing responsibility, while the Senior-Level (P3) position emphasizes leadership and oversight of larger, more complex initiatives.
Key Responsibilities:
• Lead project planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution for a variety of technical projects
• Ensure adherence to project scope, schedule, and budget through effective risk management and problem resolution
• Collaborate with technical teams, stakeholders, and clients to ensure project alignment with technical and strategic objectives
• Manage project documentation, including schedules, risk management plans, and reports
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships, acting as the primary point of contact for program-related issues
• Monitor project progress and implement corrective actions to address variances from the plan
• Provide guidance on contractual terms, data item descriptions, and government standards and their effects on delivery of digital data for both primes and subcontractors
• Foster a collaborative environment and mentor junior team members (for Senior-Level P3)
• Contribute to business development efforts, including proposals and project bids (more emphasized in P3)
Key Competencies:
• Project Facilitation: Ability to shape and facilitate clear, actionable project plans from ambiguous or evolving customer needs
• Communication: Clear and concise communication with both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Client Management: Ability to establish and maintain client relationships and deliver high-value results
• Contracting Acumen: Ability to understand interdependencies of contractual documents and their effects on deliverables
• Leadership: Proven track record of managing teams, mentoring staff, and leading cross-functional efforts
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical skills to address program challenges and adapt to evolving client needs
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| Minimum Qualifications: |
• Bachelor's degree
• Mid-Level (P2): 3 years of relevant experience in program or project management, preferably within a technical or engineering environment
• Mid-Level (P2): 2 years of relevant experience working with contracting terms, data item descriptions, and standards, including monitoring delivery of contractual deliverables, preferably of technical data
• Senior-Level (P3): 8+ years of relevant experience in program or project management, preferably within a technical or engineering environment
• Senior-Level (P3): 5 years of relevant experience working with contracting terms, data item descriptions, and standards, including monitoring delivery of contractual deliverables, preferably of technical data
• Ability to manage the full project lifecycle, from initiation through delivery and closeout
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to interface effectively with clients, technical teams, and stakeholders
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or similar)
• Experience with risk management, change management, and issue resolution
• Familiarity with contract types (e.g., fixed-price, cost-plus) and legal aspects
• Ability with managing project budgets and financial forecasting
• Due to requirements of our research contracts with the U.S. federal government, candidates for this position must be a U.S. Citizen
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| Preferred Qualifications: |
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent is strongly preferred
• Advanced degree in a contracting or business management
• Experience managing government contracts or working with government clients
• Experience drafting, negotiating, and managing subcontracts with commercial partners, including statements of work
• Familiarity with the lifecycle of government contracts, including proposal development, contract negotiation, and performance management
• Knowledge of Department of Defense Data Item Descriptions (DIDs) and their effects on contract deliverables
• Knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other government contracting regulations
• Experience leading large-scale, complex technical programs (Senior-Level P3)
• Familiarity with digital materiel management practices, tools, and processes
• Prior experience as a project supervisor or team leader
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| Closing Statement: |
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.
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