Program Manager - DARPA PSS

CELESTAR

$180K — $240K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree with 12 years of related experience or Associate's degree with 15 years of related experience.
  • Recent management experience in a multidiscipline security organization for the Federal Government in a classified program environment.
  • 5+ years managing a team of 75+ personnel on Federal support contracts in the defense industry.
  • Proven leadership and mentorship abilities.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on interfacing with government leadership.
  • Research and development management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary contact with the Government for contract execution issues.
  • Select, hire, and manage personnel to ensure contract performance.
  • Oversee recruiting, onboarding, training, and retention of high-quality personnel.
  • Notify leadership of personnel changes affecting security clearances or access eligibility.
  • Provide weekly updates on vacant positions and coordinate personnel needs with government leads.
  • Engage with leadership to communicate operational issues and their impact.
  • Manage inventory and accounting of government-furnished equipment and materials.
  • Ensure contract deliverables and report performance metrics periodically.

Benefits

  • Company-paid dental insurance for employees and their families.
  • Employee health insurance coverage.
  • Life insurance and disability coverage.
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company matching.
  • Paid holidays and personal time off.
Full Job Description
Celestar, a B&A Company, is seeking a Program Manager to support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program Security Services (PSS) task order. If interested and meet the qualifications, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding and impactful opportunity.

ANTICIPATED AWARD: February/March 2027
ANTICIPATED START: March 2027
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 1 Base Year + 4 Option Years
LOCATION: Arlington, Virginia

Salary Range: $180,000-$240,000 annually

Actual compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, certifications, security clearance, and contract funding. This position is contingent upon contract award.

CLEARANCE REQUIREMENT: Active TS/SCI Clearance, adjudicated within the past five (5) years

Responsibilities:
• Serve as the primary interface with the Government for all matters associated with contract execution.
• Exercise authority to select, hire, manage, and dismiss personnel as necessary to maintain contract performance.
• Ensure timely recruitment, onboarding, training, logistics and travel support, and retention of high-quality personnel across all contract positions.
• Notify the COR and Director, SID of employee resignations and personnel removals, including issues affecting clearance or access eligibility.
• Provide weekly status updates regarding vacant positions and coordinate Key Personnel vacancies with the appropriate SID Government lead.
• Proactively engage and support SID leadership and communicate issues that may affect SID operations or activities.
• Ensure proper accounting, inventory, purchasing, and disposition of Government-furnished equipment and consumable materials.
• Oversee required contract deliverables and present monthly performance metrics to the COR and Director, SID.

Required Qualifications and Skills (Must Be Reflected on Your Resume):
• A Bachelor's degree with 12 years of qualifying related experience -OR- an Associate's degree with 15 years of qualifying related experience.
• Recent experience managing a multidiscipline security organization supporting the Federal Government in a classified program environment; DoD or Intelligence Community experience is preferred.
• At least 5 years of experience directing and managing 75 or more personnel on a Federal Government support contract, in defense industry supporting federally funded programs, as a Federal civilian, or through military service.
• Expert leadership and mentorship capabilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to effectively interface with Government leadership.
• Research and development (R&D) management experience, highly desired.

Celestar, a B&A Company, offers highly competitive salaries and benefits. Our comprehensive benefits package includes company-paid employee and family dental insurance, employee health insurance, life insurance, and disability coverage. Additionally, we provide a 401(k)-retirement plan with company matching, paid holidays, and personal time off.

Come on board with a company that Values its Employees!

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