Program Manager

KBR, Inc.•Washington, DC

42d•$228,400 - $342,600•Onsite

About The Position

KBR is seeking a senior Program Manager to lead a nationwide, safety‑critical air traffic controller training program supporting the Federal Aviation Administration. This multi‑year program delivers continuous, year‑round training across 300+ locations nationwide, including the FAA Academy and field facilities. The Program Manager will oversee a workforce on the order of 800 personnel and manage an annual budget greater than $100M+ (multi‑hundred‑million‑dollar total contract value). The role serves as primary interface with the FAA Program Office and is accountable for program performance, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

15+ years of program management experience (or 20+ years with a bachelor’s degree) leading large, multi‑site programs with 500+ personnel and annual budgets on the order of $100M+ in safety‑critical or highly regulated environments (e.g., aviation, defense).
Master’s degree in business, management, aviation, or related field (or bachelor’s degree with additional experience as noted above).
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (active).
Demonstrated success managing nationwide operations, complex stakeholder environments, and federal contracts.
Proven experience implementing safety, quality, and compliance frameworks in mission‑critical programs.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with FAA, DOT, or air traffic operations/training programs.
Familiarity with the National Airspace System (NAS) and controller training environments.
Experience leading programs exceeding 1,000 personnel or $500M+ total value.
Background in training modernization, simulation‑based training, or data‑driven performance improvement.
Additional safety or quality certifications (e.g., SMS, ISO‑based quality systems).

Responsibilities

Provide end‑to‑end leadership for a nationwide training program delivering thousands of training events annually to over 2,000 trainees per year in support of the National Airspace System.
Lead and coordinate distributed operations across 300+ training sites, including Academy‑based and field training activities.
Manage and lead a large, geographically dispersed workforce (hundreds of active instructors and support staff at any time), ensuring consistent training quality and staffing readiness.
Oversee program budget (~$100M+ annually), schedule, performance metrics, and risk management.
Serve as primary liaison to FAA stakeholders, providing program reviews, performance reporting, and issue resolution.
Establish and enforce Safety Management System (SMS) and Quality Assurance / Quality Control processes appropriate for 24/7 safety‑critical training operations.
Drive continuous improvement and modernization, including adoption of advanced simulation, digital training tools, and data‑driven performance management.