Project Manager, Federal Programs

George Mason University•Fairfax, VA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Project Manager (Federal Contracts) supports federal, defense, and national‑security‑aligned programs within George Mason University’s Mason Defense initiative within CPE. This role oversees the planning, coordination, and delivery of federal contract–funded programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, high‑quality program execution, and alignment with Mason’s mission to advance workforce readiness and national security education.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Project Management, Public Administration, Engineering, IT, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
Generally, 5+ years of project management experience, including typically 3+ years supporting federal or defense government programs;
Experience delivering programs under FFP, T&M, or Cost‑Plus contracts;
Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS and federal procurement regulations;
Excellent organizational, communication, and documentation capabilities;
Proficiency in tools such as MS Project, SharePoint, Smartsheet, or Jira;
U.S. citizenship required; and
Active [Clearance Level] or the ability to maintain a US security clearance is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in related field;
PMP, CAPM, Agile/Scrum, or DoD program management certification;
Experience supporting defense‑focused entities (DoD, DHS, IC, DoN, Army, Air Force);
Experience with federal workforce development, training programs, or university‑based contract management; and
Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM).

Responsibilities

Leads end‑to‑end delivery of federal and defense‑aligned programs operated through Mason Defense and CPE;
Develops, manages, and tracks program schedules, milestones, and deliverables; and
Coordinates with internal GMU units, faculty, partner organizations, government stakeholders, and subcontractors.
Ensures adherence to FAR, DFARS, and agency‑specific federal acquisition regulations;
Manages contract deliverables, reporting, documentation, audits, and compliance protocols; and
Partners with GMU’s Office of Sponsored Programs and other internal compliance teams as needed.
Tracks budgets, expenditures, invoices, and financial forecasts for defense‑funded programs; and
Supports cost proposals, budget modifications, and pricing for new or expanding contract efforts.
Serves as a primary liaison between government sponsors, GMU leadership, and program teams;
Provides executive‑level updates, briefings, and performance summaries; and
Communicates program status across Mason Defense, CPE, and university partners.
Supports staffing, onboarding, and resource allocation for program personnel;
Oversees subcontractor work to ensure quality and compliance; and
Facilitates coordination with faculty, instructional designers, and subject‑matter experts for training‑based programs.
Other duties as assigned from time to time