US Air Force Strategic Command, Control, and Communications (AFSC3) Program Manager

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory•Laurel, MD

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Do you love to apply innovative technologies to solve technical challenges involving the strategic defense of the U.S.? Are you searching for important work in strengthening the US nuclear deterrent? Are you passionate about developing resilient and robust strategic command, control, and communications concepts into effective solutions to defend our nation against global threats? We are seeking a dynamic, creative, and self-motivated Program Manager for our US Air Force Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (AFNC3) Program dynamic, who is self-motivated to lead and manage a robust program and a team of experts, who can impact all facets of current and future AFNC3 systems to ensure the US maintains its national strategic deterrence. As a Program Manager for the Air Force NC3 Program, within the Strategic Command, Control, and Communications (C3) Program Area Group (Q4P), you will provide expertise in the following areas: Leadership and Program Oversight: Lead a dynamic and collaborative team of assistant Program Managers, project managers and technical experts in conducting studies, test & evaluation, analysis, and assessments in the air force nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) domain with the goal of influencing requirements, policy, acquisition, and technologies. Cultivate large-scale, long-term program opportunities while balancing innovation with essential deliverables for mission success. Provide strong technical and operational leadership for projects, and mentor assistant program managers and project managers. Work closely with financial managers to track financial expenditures and manage assigned Program Development Funds (PDF). Monitor cost, schedule, and technical performance against goals and task deliverables. Cross-functional Team Building: Coordination with line management and other programs across the mission area to prioritize building and sustaining cross-functional teams of administrative, technical, and programmatic staff, optimizing resources for strategic outcomes. Facilitate contract management, staffing, and task assignments for optimal program efficiency. Develop and maintain a trusted relationship within JHU/APL’s NC3 community including other program managers, technical leaders, line management, and contracts personnel. Leverage key approaches and resilient engineering activities from across the Laboratory that could be applied to the AFNC3 problem space. Strategic Vision Development: Define and implement an integrated vision for AFNC3 that incorporates mission engineering & assessments, counter threat/cyber, adaptive, robust, and resilient communications with alignment with and to advance the Q4P and COMA strategies. Drive both internal research initiatives and external program growth in line with evolving requirements, operational/mission needs and threat. Sponsor and Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as a primary account manager, building and sustaining trusted relationships with USAF and DOW representatives, including program managers, technical leads, and decision-makers. Lead interactions with sponsors for the development and execution of the program portfolio. Provide presence in sponsor spaces to build sponsor relationships and demonstrate APL commitment. Business Development: In collaboration with your Mission Area team, pursue new opportunities aligned with COMA’s strategy and sponsor needs. Shape, tailor, and apply knowledge of the threat space to each task to ensure those working the task are threat-aware within clearance and NTK boundaries. Manage contracts, including frequent interactions with the COR at USAF, and working with PMs across APL who desire to have a Task Order placed on the IDIQ. Assist the APL PMs to shape SOWs and deliverables aligned with both their mission area’s and program management office’s strategies, FAR clauses, DD-254 requirements, data right declarations, and other activities to support program work. Form strategic relationships with other institutions, laboratories, and industry to understand the full range of capabilities available to sponsors. Identify, track, and manage strategic relationship opportunities for AOS/COMA senior leadership via sector business tools.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering, scientific, or another technical discipline.
At least five years of experience managing complex projects, with demonstrated success in fostering cross-functional collaboration and program growth.
Exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement skills with a focus on delivering results aligned with sponsor needs.
Willingness to travel to sponsor locations within the Washington Metro Area and various domestic test sites.
Active TS SCI level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet the requirements for access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

MS, Ph/D or DENG degree in Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
Knowledge of NC3 systems, sponsors, operational concerns, threat environment.
Experience in DoW studies or assessments.
Knowledge of APL and AOS business systems – MINK, Addit, P3, AOS Personnel Mgmt. Tool, RRT, eAchieve.
Knowledge of, and access to, APL classified IT systems: SIPR, JWICS, EDEN, 1398R, 1474-NC3-T.
Active TS/SCI from DoW.
Proven ability in business development and program expansion, with experience balancing new growth with ongoing task execution.

Responsibilities

Lead a dynamic and collaborative team of assistant Program Managers, project managers and technical experts in conducting studies, test & evaluation, analysis, and assessments in the air force nuclear command, control and communications (NC3) domain with the goal of influencing requirements, policy, acquisition, and technologies.
Cultivate large-scale, long-term program opportunities while balancing innovation with essential deliverables for mission success.
Provide strong technical and operational leadership for projects, and mentor assistant program managers and project managers.
Work closely with financial managers to track financial expenditures and manage assigned Program Development Funds (PDF).
Monitor cost, schedule, and technical performance against goals and task deliverables.
Coordinate with line management and other programs across the mission area to prioritize building and sustaining cross-functional teams of administrative, technical, and programmatic staff, optimizing resources for strategic outcomes.
Facilitate contract management, staffing, and task assignments for optimal program efficiency.
Develop and maintain a trusted relationship within JHU/APL’s NC3 community including other program managers, technical leaders, line management, and contracts personnel.
Leverage key approaches and resilient engineering activities from across the Laboratory that could be applied to the AFNC3 problem space.
Define and implement an integrated vision for AFNC3 that incorporates mission engineering & assessments, counter threat/cyber, adaptive, robust, and resilient communications with alignment with and to advance the Q4P and COMA strategies.
Drive both internal research initiatives and external program growth in line with evolving requirements, operational/mission needs and threat.
Serve as a primary account manager, building and sustaining trusted relationships with USAF and DOW representatives, including program managers, technical leads, and decision-makers.
Lead interactions with sponsors for the development and execution of the program portfolio.
Provide presence in sponsor spaces to build sponsor relationships and demonstrate APL commitment.
Pursue new opportunities aligned with COMA’s strategy and sponsor needs.
Shape, tailor, and apply knowledge of the threat space to each task to ensure those working the task are threat-aware within clearance and NTK boundaries.
Manage contracts, including frequent interactions with the COR at USAF, and working with PMs across APL who desire to have a Task Order placed on the IDIQ.
Assist the APL PMs to shape SOWs and deliverables aligned with both their mission area’s and program management office’s strategies, FAR clauses, DD-254 requirements, data right declarations, and other activities to support program work.
Form strategic relationships with other institutions, laboratories, and industry to understand the full range of capabilities available to sponsors.
Identify, track, and manage strategic relationship opportunities for AOS/COMA senior leadership via sector business tools.