Program Manager - Army Research Laboratory

The Program Manager will lead the overall execution and administration of the Army Research Laboratory's Military Engagement Program (MEP). This program supports Senior Military Colleges (SMCs), cadets, faculty, and military research initiatives, including the Senior Capstone Immersion Program (SCIP), Senior Military College Faculty Fellowship Program (SMC-FFP), and Army ROTC Cadet Apprentice Program (CAP).

The Program Manager will be responsible for program planning, contract performance, personnel oversight, schedule management, financial monitoring, risk mitigation, quality assurance, and contract deliverables.

This position serves as the primary contractor point of contact for the Government Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), ensuring effective coordination among Government stakeholders, academic institutions, program participants, and internal contractor personnel.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contractor liaison to the COR, coordinating program status, technical points of contact, outstanding decisions, and stakeholder requirements.
• Develop and maintain the Technical Management Plan, outlining organizational structure, reporting relationships, task execution methodologies, personnel resources, security requirements, and implementation strategies.
• Develop and manage an integrated Master Schedule identifying program milestones, events, dependencies, deliverables, and Government decision points.
• Update the Master Schedule monthly and whenever material scheduling changes occur.
• Supervise and coordinate multidisciplinary contractor personnel, establish priorities, monitor performance, and ensure continuity of program operations.
• Oversee all major program functions, including applicant processing, participant services, financial administration, outreach, event management, and website/database support.
• Identify and monitor program risks, execution challenges, resource constraints, and dependencies requiring Government attention.
• Review monthly financial and status reports covering program accomplishments, participant activity, outreach, expenditures, milestones, and outstanding issues.
• Oversee post-award budget development and ensure participant-specific and event-specific costs are separately budgeted and approved before expenditure.
• Maintain quality control procedures to ensure contract deliverables meet PWS requirements and established deadlines.
• Coordinate annual program evaluations, after-action reviews, lessons learned, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Oversee program documentation, data protection practices, historical record management, and contract transition activities.
• Ensure contractor activities comply with applicable Government security, privacy, operational, and contractual requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Education, STEM, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, including at least three (3) years managing federal programs or contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams and coordinating complex program activities.
• Experience developing and maintaining program schedules, budgets, reports, and performance metrics.
• Experience working with Government agencies, academic institutions, research organizations, or other institutional stakeholders.
• Experience supporting research programs, internships, fellowships, military education initiatives, or comparable programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Army, or federally funded research and education programs.
• Familiarity with Army Research Laboratory operations and military academic institutions.
• Experience communicating with Government CORs and managing federal contract deliverables.
• Strong knowledge of program management methodologies, risk management, and quality assurance.
• Excellent written communication, executive reporting, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Experience administering programs involving sensitive participant information.