Position Purpose:Signature Science is seeking a Program Manager to lead a multi-site program supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate's (S&T's) Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL). The program supports test and evaluation of transportation security screening equipment, including checked-bag, checkpoint, passenger, trace and alarm-resolution systems used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The Program Manager will be the single point of contact to the government for all operational and administrative aspects of the contract. The Program Manager will be stationed at the Tyndall Reactive Materials Group (TRMG) at Tyndall AFB, FL and will coordinate closely with the Detection Technology Center (DTC) at Redstone Arsenal, AL, where operations are shared with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and TSA partners.
This is a hands-on leadership role in a highly regulated energetic-materials environment. Safety, compliance, data quality, and on-time delivery are central to success.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Program Leadership and Government Interface:
- Serve as the single point of contact to the Contracting Officer, Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Technical Monitor with authority for all company obligations under the contract
- Be available to the COR 9:00 am - 5:00 pm CT, Monday - Friday and resolve technical requests by close of business the next business day
- Coordinate with the S&T TIEDS Portfolio Manager, Tyndall AFB Command, FBI Laboratory Division and TSA stakeholders
- Lead the post-award kickoff, close-out meeting, and recurring coordination and planning meetings
Planning, Cost, and Schedule: - Develop and maintain the Program Management Plan, including schedule baselines, staffing strategy, travel, and deliverables schedule
- Monitor all expenditures on a Time and Materials contract to keep both sites within budget projections
- Deliver the Monthly Progress Report by the 15th of each month, covering expenditures, technical progress, schedule status, travel, safety incidents, and planned activities
- Ensure all deliverables are prepared, reviewed and submitted on time and to TSL publication standards
Safety, Risk and Compliance: - Oversee Safety Plans, the Occupant Emergency Program, Medical Countermeasures program and designation of the Explosive Safety Officer
- Maintain compliance with ATF (27 CFR 555), USAF (AFMAN 91-201), EPA, OSHA, DOT and DHS SHEMS requirements, including the facility explosives license
- Own the program risk register, QA/QC Plan, and Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan and support internal and external audits
Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:- Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of national security systems, plus scientific and technical expertise in one or more of: energetic materials, explosives detection, test and evaluation, or analytical chemistry
- Experience managing cost, schedule, and staffing on government contracts, preferably Time and Materials
- Working knowledge of explosives safety and regulatory frameworks such as ATF, OSHA, EPA, and DoD explosives safety standards
- Experience preparing formal deliverables: program plans, monthly status reports, test plans and technical reports
- Strong written and verbal communication with senior government stakeholders across multiple agencies
Education/Experience: - Either a bachelor's degree in a business, technical, or engineering field and 10 years of program management experience (5 managing complex scientific, engineering, transportation, or related activities); or a master's degree in such a field and 5 years of program management experience (2 managing such activities). Degrees must be from an accredited college or university.
Certificates and Licenses: - Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), or equivalent demonstrated project management experience and study (minimum 7 years with a bachelor's degree, 2 years with a master's)
Clearance: - Active SECRET clearance and eligibility for TS/SCI
- Ability to pass an ATF background check and a DHS suitability determination
Supervisory Responsibilities: Staffing and Team Management:
- Recruit, retain, and lead a qualified scientific and technical staff for every task area
- Ensure staff hold current training, explosives safety certifications, and required background checks and clearances
Operations Oversight: - Direct facilities and equipment management at both sites, including condition assessments, maintenance, inventory, and physical security
- Oversee materials synthesis, characterization, and screening-equipment data collection performed by technical staff under TSL-provided plans and SOPs
- Ensure data integrity and protection of Sensitive Security Information and classified material
Working Conditions/ Equipment: - Primary duty station is an office at the TRMG site on Tyndall AFB, FL. The site includes laboratories, explosives storage magazines, a blast range, and test areas.
- Regularly enters laboratory, explosives storage, and test range areas for oversight, inspections and audits. Must follow site safety rules and wear required PPE, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, and anti-static or flame-resistant clothing.
- Some work outdoors on an active Air Force base on the Florida Gulf Coast. This means exposure to heat, humidity, and severe weather, including hurricane-season preparation and response.
- Takes part in emergency drills, Occupant Emergency Program activities, and an annual Medical Countermeasures exercise.
- Core hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm local time. Site operation hours are 6:00 am - 6:00 pm local time. Occasional evening, weekend or holiday work may be needed to support testing or emergencies.
- Travel is about 20 - 25%, mainly to Washington, DC; Atlantic City, NJ; Livermore, CA; and Huntsville, AL.
- Works with Sensitive Security Information and possibly classified material. This requires secure-area access and handling procedures.
Equipment: - Standard office equipment and Microsoft Office on DHS-compatible workstations
- DHS IT systems and government-issued encrypted IronKey USB drives
- Government-furnished portable two-way radios
- Site utility vehicles for moving around the facility
- Familiarity with, but not hands-on operation of, the lab and test equipment the PM oversees. This includes micro-CT, analytical balances, glove boxes, fume hoods, thermal analysis instruments, and the TSA screening systems under test.
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.
