Program Manager

OpenTeams•Washington, DC

11d•$145,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We're looking for a Program Manager to run an AI/ML platform program supporting national security missions. This is a role for someone who has done milestone-based work before and understands that on a fixed-price program, the schedule is the budget. You own execution end to end: cost, schedule, performance, milestone acceptance, contract deliverables, subcontractor performance, and risk and change management. You track Government dependencies and chase them down before they turn into slips. And you hold the day-to-day relationship with the Government program office — you're who they call, and you're who comes back with the answer. Our program teams are intentionally small and senior. There's no layer between you and the work, which means the things that actually keep complex programs moving — surfacing dependencies early, documenting decisions when they're made, escalating risk before it's a problem — are yours to do, not to hand off. This position is contingent upon contract award. Travel of up to 25% may be required, primarily to Government facilities and between company locations. Classified work and certain Government engagements require an appropriate clearance and onsite presence in an accredited facility.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship and eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance
8+ years of program or project management experience supporting Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, or comparable Government programs
Direct ownership of cost, schedule, performance, and milestone acceptance for firm-fixed-price or milestone-based delivery
Experience managing programs awarded through Other Transaction authority, Commercial Solutions Opening processes, or comparable rapid-acquisition vehicles
Experience managing Government-furnished dependencies and formally escalating Government actions that affect contractor performance or schedule
Experience managing subcontractors as part of an integrated program team, including personnel, deliverables, performance, and invoicing
Working knowledge of Risk Management Framework accreditation timelines and the program dependencies associated with achieving an Authority to Operate
Experience maintaining program schedules, risk registers, decision logs, change records, and formal contract deliverables
Strong written communication skills suitable for Government correspondence, program reviews, contractual deliverables, and executive reporting
Ability to communicate effectively with Government program officials, contracting stakeholders, technical leaders, security personnel, and subcontractors
Bachelor’s degree in a technical or business field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice To Haves

Active TS/SCI clearance with CI polygraph
Project Management Professional certification or an equivalent program-management credential
Experience delivering AI/ML platforms, analytics systems, or software capabilities into classified environments
Experience working for a nontraditional defense contractor or commercial software company serving Government customers
Familiarity with facility-clearance processing and DD Form 254 administration
Experience managing personnel-security and classified onboarding activities
Experience supporting defense innovation organizations or rapid prototyping initiatives
Experience coordinating programs involving multiple agencies or Government stakeholder organizations
Technical familiarity with cloud platforms, AI/ML infrastructure, or software delivery programs

Responsibilities

Own program cost, schedule, performance, and execution throughout the period of performance
Develop and maintain the integrated program schedule and drive milestones to Government acceptance
Manage contract deliverables, including technical reports, architecture documentation, recurring status reports, and program risk records
Ensure deliverables meet contractual deadlines, quality expectations, and documented acceptance criteria
Track Government-furnished equipment, information, access, and personnel dependencies against required dates
Document and escalate late or at-risk Government dependencies, including anticipated schedule impact and proposed remedies
Manage subcontractor and vendor performance, deliverables, staffing, and invoicing as part of an integrated program team
Coordinate cleared subcontractor personnel and professional services engagements
Support facility and personnel security processing and coordinate the security onboarding of program staff
Maintain the program risk register, decision log, assumptions, issues, and mitigation plans
Manage material scope, schedule, or dependency deviations through documented change-management processes
Support requests for equitable adjustments or other contractual remedies when appropriate
Serve as the primary programmatic interface to Government program and contracting stakeholders
Coordinate activities across multiple Government stakeholder organizations
Prepare for and lead program reviews, milestone reviews, status meetings, and executive briefings
Partner with technical leadership to translate engineering progress, constraints, and risks into clear program-level reporting