Federal Program Manager

GHD Group Pty Ltd•Savannah, GA

5h•Hybrid

About The Position

Bring your curiosity and determination to make a positive impact on the future of transport, and we’ll help you go all the way. Join our team of globally connected specialists to help solve complex transport challenges and experience groundbreaking projects from idea to delivery, and beyond. As GHD's Southeast Maritime & Coastal business expands, they are seeking a Federal Program Manager to serve as the Contract Manager for GHD’s USACE Savannah District Civil Works IDIQ contract. This role involves leading the pursuit, capture, and execution of task orders, identifying opportunities, shaping winning strategies, and ensuring successful delivery from kickoff through closeout. The manager will be accountable for project level quality, safety, schedule, scope, and budget, while driving disciplined execution and clear, proactive communication with clients and internal teams. The position requires developing and implementing project execution plans, guiding multi-discipline teams, and managing financial oversight including forecasting, invoicing, and change management. The manager will also identify and mitigate risks, lead cost estimate preparation, and manage client expectations. Cultivating strong relationships within the Savannah District is crucial to anticipate needs and maximize the IDIQ's value. Beyond the Savannah District, the role supports federal opportunity development across the South Atlantic Division and engages in non-federal civil, environmental, and maritime projects in Savannah and the Southeast to grow GHD's footprint and diversify its portfolio. The position ensures team members have clarity, resources, and support for successful outcomes. This position will be based in Savannah, GA. GHD is a global professional services company leading through engineering, architecture, and construction expertise, with over 11,000 diverse and skilled individuals across more than 200 offices spanning five continents. They are an employee-owned company committed to empowering their people to make a positive impact and address humanity’s most urgent needs: to make water, energy and urbanisation sustainable for generations to come.

Requirements

Bachelor and/or Master degree from an accredited school in an engineering related technical field (civil, structural, electrical or mechanical) including architecture
Professional Engineer (PE) License required
Minimum of 10 years project management experience, with experience working with and/or the US Department of Defense
Existing relationships with USACE Savannah District personnel, with deep understanding of their programs, priorities, and operating methods
Excellent written and oral communication skills with proven ability to develop, mentor, and lead professional technical staff
Able and willing to travel to project job sites and client offices as needed

Nice To Haves

PMP is a plus
Experience with Design/Build project delivery desirable
Willingness to mentor junior maritime and coastal staff in the Savannah office

Responsibilities

Lead the pursuit, capture, and execution of task orders—mining the IDIQ for opportunities, shaping winning strategies, and ensuring successful delivery from kickoff through closeout.
Accountable for project level quality, safety, schedule, scope, and budget, while driving disciplined execution and clear, proactive communication with both clients and internal teams.
Develop and implement project execution plans, guiding multi discipline teams across a variety of projects.
Financial oversight—forecasting, invoicing, and change management—to keep each project on track.
Identify and mitigate risks early, lead the preparation of robust cost estimates within delegated authorities, and manage client expectations through transparent updates and confident decision making.
Cultivate strong relationships within the Savannah District to anticipate needs, position GHD effectively, and maximize the value of the IDIQ.
Support federal opportunity development across the South Atlantic Division contributing to pursuits and delivery.
Engage in non-federal civil, environmental, and maritime projects in Savannah and across the Southeast, helping grow our footprint and diversify our portfolio.
Ensure every team member has the clarity, resources, and support they need to deliver successful outcomes.
Project Resource Management: Negotiate and manage deployment of project resource budgets, providing forecasts and presenting variances with narrative at appropriate review points to ensure effective utilization.
Project Governance: Clarify roles and responsibilities within the project team and ensure project compliance with the organization's wider program and/or portfolio management decision-making structures and processes.
Project Risk and Issue Management: Ensure that risks, issues, dependencies, and constraints are managed appropriately at project level. Where risks or issues threaten delivery of the project, develop and agree on recovery plans.
Portfolio Management: Initiate and lead the governance and delivery of a program or group of significant projects within a function, using an appropriate project management methodology to give assurance that intended outcomes are identified and achieved.
Project Team Management: Lead large project and program teams (or multiple small- to medium-sized teams); define the project/program vision, communicate the necessary outcomes, and provide guidance to achieve these outcomes; manage resources across projects/programs; negotiate the flow of additional team members on and off the team, as needed; and build the capability of the team through training, coaching, and mentoring.
Personal Capability Building: Act as subject matter expert in an area of technology, policy, regulation, or operational management for the team. Maintain external accreditations and in-depth understanding of current and emerging external regulation and industry best practices through continuing professional development, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.
Project Benefit Realization: Develop and manage the delivery of a plan to evaluate and track business benefits and to identify actions needed to maximize them.
Enterprise Business Analysis: Interpret the business need and identify solution recommendations to business problems at a business unit level.
Project Scope Definition: Lead the planning and delivery of a wide range of information gathering and stakeholder consultation activities and specify, negotiate, and agree on program and project deliverables, ensuring integration across the program.
Stakeholder Management: Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies and plans across the program to identify relevant stakeholders, to create mutually supportive working relationships, and to ensure that each stakeholder has an appropriate share of voice at both project and program levels.