New Jersey Transit

4406 Program Manager

New Jersey Transit$90K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of acquisition and project/program management experience in federal or defense-related environments.
  • Experience in innovation-focused organizations or operational experimentation environments.
  • Strong understanding of agile project management principles; hands-on Scrum experience preferred.
  • Familiarity with material acquisition, systems engineering, or rapid prototyping efforts.
  • Experience managing initiatives from planning through execution.
  • Ability to collaborate with military personnel, government civilians, and technical experts at various organizational levels.
  • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or equivalent experience leading Scrum.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as a strategic partner to stakeholders within the corps and acquisition ecosystems.
  • Support operational commands in identifying capability gaps and translating needs into rapid solutions.
  • Design agile structures for fast delivery and experimentation.
  • Facilitate collaboration across multiple organizations.
  • Lead workshops and convert complex challenges into clear recommendations.
  • Track project milestones and communicate updates to stakeholders.
  • Support rapid prototyping efforts tied to software-enabled capabilities.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a fast-paced innovation environment.
  • Mission-driven work that impacts operational effectiveness.
  • Collaboration with industry, academia, and government leaders.
  • Exposure to cutting-edge technologies including AI and automation.
Full Job Description
4406 Program Manager
4406 | Top Secret

Job Description:

OVERVIEW:

We are seeking a high-performing Program Manager to support a dynamic, fast-paced innovation environment. This role supports rapid capability development efforts in close collaboration with industry, academia, active-duty personnel, and senior acquisition stakeholders. You will help operational commands identify needs, rapidly prototype solutions, and transition capabilities efficiently, working alongside the client.

You'll manage projects from kickoff to delivery, coordinate multidisciplinary teams (including Field Experts), and work directly with senior military and government leaders. The work blends program management, agile delivery, stakeholder facilitation, and technical fluency, with exposure to software-enabled capabilities, automation, and AI/ML-adjacent efforts. One day you might be planning an agile sprint for a rapid prototype, the next, facilitating a workshop with operators, developers, and acquisition professionals. This is meaningful, mission-driven work for someone who thrives in ambiguity and execution.

GENERAL DUTIES:

Client & Mission Success

  • Serve as a trusted partner to DoW stakeholders operating within the corps and acquisition ecosystems.
  • Support operational commands in identifying capability gaps and translating needs into actionable, rapid solutions.
  • Help design and stand up agile operational structures that enable fast delivery and experimentation.
  • Facilitate collaboration across multiple organizations.
  • Lead workshops, write assessments, and convert complex operational and technical challenges into clear recommendations.
  • Continuously collect feedback and refine delivery approaches to improve outcomes and user experience.

Program and Project Delivery

  • Manage day-to-day delivery for assigned workstream(s), producing high quality deliverables and measurable outcomes for your clients.
  • Define and track performance metrics to evaluate progress towards objectives, ensuring support drives outsized mission and organizational value.
  • Apply agile and Scrum methodologies to plan, execute, and adapt projects based on real-time feedback.
  • Identify and help implement automation opportunities to make processes faster and more efficient.
  • Work closely with technical contributors and Systems Developers to ensure requirements, timelines, and dependencies are aligned.
  • Coordinate closely with leadership and Field Experts to bring the right expertise into projects at the right time.
  • Track progress against milestones and communicate updates clearly and frequently to internal and external stakeholders.
  • Support rapid prototyping and experimentation efforts tied to software-enabled capabilities.

Technical & Systems Support (Program-Level)

  • Partner with Systems Developers and technical teams supporting technical capability efforts.
  • Contribute to planning and oversight of technical development and integration activities, including testing, deployment, and sustainment considerations.
  • Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and software development best practices to inform planning and decision-making.
  • Help ensure interoperability, security, and compliance with DoD/DoW regulations throughout delivery efforts.
  • Support documentation efforts, including requirements, design artifacts, user guidance, and lessons learned.

Operational & Contract Management

  • Understand and manage contract requirements to ensure compliance and effective delivery.
  • Identify risks early and work with leadership to mitigate issues quickly.
  • Capture lessons learned and recommended improvements to processes, tools, and workflows.
  • Support efforts to remove policy, acquisition, and operational barriers to innovation.
  • Implement solutions that make delivery more efficient and scalable.


REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

  • 5+ years of acquisition and project/program management experience in a federal, DoW, or defense-adjacent environment.
  • Experience working in innovation-focused organizations, rapid capability offices, labs, or operational experimentation environments.
  • Strong understanding of agile project management principles; hands-on Scrum experience preferred.
  • Familiarity with material acquisition, systems engineering, or rapid prototyping efforts.
  • Experience managing client-facing initiatives from planning through execution.
  • Comfort operating in collaborative environments with military personnel, government civilians, technical experts, and senior leaders with the professionalism, discretion, and situational awareness required to navigate high-stakes discussions and drive alignment across diverse priorities.
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Ability to operate independently, solve problems, and deliver results in ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
  • A track record of problem-solving, working independently, and delivering results.
  • Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or ability to lead a Scrum.

CLEARANCE:

  • Active Top Secret clearance required


Job Details

City : Tacoma

State : Washington

About New Jersey Transit

New Jersey Transit Corporation, branded as NJ Transit, is a state-owned public transportation system that serves the US state of New Jersey, along with portions of New York State and Pennsylvania. It operates bus, light rail, and commuter rail services throughout the state, connecting to major commercial and employment centers both within the state and in the adjacent major cities of New York and Philadelphia. NJ Transit also provides bus service to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan. NJ Transit is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.
Learn more about New Jersey Transit
Size
11,900 employees
Industry
Net Income
-$100 million
Founded
1979
5 Year Trend
-2%
Revenue
$2.4 billion
NASDAQ

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