Program Manager

Akiva Ai•Milpitas, CA

22h•Remote

About The Position

AKIVA is an AI-native engineering firm specializing in enterprise services, domain-specific solutions, and high-performance infrastructure from strategy through deployment. We build innovative systems that drive measurable results for commercial enterprises and government agencies. AKIVA is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). AKIVA is seeking an Executive Sponsor to serve as the senior leadership point of accountability for a public-sector Temporary Staffing Services engagement. The Executive Sponsor provides strategic oversight, C-level escalation, and executive-to-executive partnership with client leadership, ensuring the contract receives the authority, resources, and corporate commitment necessary to deliver exceptional staffing services. As an AKIVA executive, this role leverages AI-powered business intelligence and reporting tools to monitor contract health and drive continuous improvement.

Requirements

15 or more years of staffing, workforce solutions, or professional services leadership experience
Executive-level experience managing government, municipal, or large public-sector client relationships
Demonstrated ability to influence C-suite, elected officials, and senior agency leadership
Strong commercial acumen, negotiation, and portfolio management skills
Track record of scaling staffing operations across multiple departments, geographies, or service lines
Excellent written and verbal communication, facilitation, and executive presentation skills
Bachelor's degree required
Must be authorized to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree
Prior P&L ownership for a staffing, managed services, or professional services portfolio of $10M or more
Prior experience operating under California public-sector contracting frameworks (CalPERS-adjacent, prevailing wage, labor compliance)
Member of ASA, NAPS, or SIA leadership communities
Veteran or service-connected Veteran status

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary AKIVA executive liaison to client senior leadership, including HR directors, department heads, and the client executive office
Provide executive-level accountability for overall contract performance, customer satisfaction, and delivery of all contractual obligations
Authorize corporate resources, subject matter experts, and surge capacity to meet client demand spikes or specialized staffing requests
Chair quarterly business reviews with client leadership to review performance, trends, continuous improvement initiatives, and upcoming needs
Serve as the final escalation point for contract, service-level, or personnel matters that cannot be resolved at the Program Manager level
Champion AKIVA's investment in tools, technology, and talent that benefit the client program
Ensure alignment with AKIVA corporate policies, ethics standards, and public-sector compliance obligations
Support contract renewals, scope expansions, and strategic roadmap planning with the client
Approve exception requests, hardship accommodations, and non-standard placement arrangements as needed
Represent AKIVA at industry events, workforce development partnerships, and client community engagement activities