Deputy Program Manager

Position Description
ERT is seeking an experienced Deputy Program Manager (DPM) to support the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center. Work may be performed either remotely from Greenbelt, MD with some travel to the EROS Center or with a hybrid schedule in the Sioux Falls, SD area. The Deputy Program Manager will assist the Program Manager in overseeing program activities, ensuring smooth execution of projects, managing resources effectively, and ensuring alignment with USGS priorities. This role requires strong leadership abilities, program management experience, and technical expertise to help lead multidisciplinary teams working at the intersection of science and technology. Consults with customer and contract team personnel to formulate and review task plans and deliverables, ensuring conformance with program and project task schedules and costs and contractual obligations.  Assumes the initiative in understanding customer needs for workforce skills of future task orders.  Provides programmatic leadership in process improvement and risk management across all task orders. Ensures ERT management tools and controls are consistently applied. Establishes and maintains technical and financial reports to show progress of projects to management and customers, organizes and assigns responsibilities to subordinates, and oversees the successful completion of all assigned tasks.  

Responsibilities

• Program Management and Leadership:
  • Assist the Program Manager in leading day-to-day operations, ensuring projects are executed on time, within scope, and on budget.
  • Oversee the allocation of resources and personnel to meet technical, scientific, and operational objectives.
  • Identify and mitigate risks to maintain continuity of services and smooth program operations.
  • Ensure compliance with contract terms, deliverables, and performance requirements.
• Stakeholder and Client Engagement:
  • Serve as a liaison between the USGS, contractors, subcontractors, and other stakeholders, ensuring effective communication and alignment.
  • Collaborate with federal agencies and project leads to understand evolving needs, develop solutions, and report progress on deliverables.
  • Support the Program Manager in facilitating regular meetings, status updates, and progress reports to USGS leadership and external partners.
• Team and Operations Oversight:
  • Support, mentor, and manage cross-functional teams, including scientists, engineers, and technical staff.
  • Monitor personnel performance, provide coaching as needed, and ensure a high standard of work quality and accountability.
  • Drive operational excellence through continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Project Management and Reporting:
  • Track and manage project schedules, budgets, and milestones using program management tools and methodologies.
  • Assist in the preparation of detailed reports and presentations on program status, contract performance, and future priorities.
  • Coordinate with subcontractors to ensure quality and timeliness of services.
• Contract Administration and Compliance:
  • Support the Program Manager in managing contract modifications, task orders, and proposal development.
  • Ensure program activities meet federal regulations and adhere to all contractual obligations.

Required Skills 

• 8+ years of experience in program management, project management, or operations management, preferably supporting federal or government contracts. Experience working with geospatial, remote sensing, or data science-related programs is highly desirable.
• Proven experience in managing teams and large, complex projects.
• Strong knowledge of project management methodologies and tools
• Excellent organizational, leadership, and problem-solving abilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills with experience in client engagement and reporting.
• Familiarity with budgeting, resource management, and risk mitigation strategies.

Desired

• Prior experience working with federal government contracts, especially with USGS or other scientific organizations.
• Familiarity with environmental monitoring, satellite data management, or Earth observation science.
• Knowledge of cloud platforms and data management services (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud) is a plus.

Must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident (green card) and be able to pass a background investigation to obtain