Sr. Program/Department Manager - Space Communications Program

Responsibilities

We are seeking a Senior Program/Department Manager to manage new and existing NASA space communications projects for our premier customer - NASA Exploration and Space Communications (ESC) Division, in Greenbelt, MD. This position will be primarily locally remote, with some travel to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD and other NASA locations as needed, and will require a person who is within a commutable distance locally.

 

As prime contractor on the SENSE contract, Peraton is responsible for the operation, maintenance, sustainment, and systems engineering of NASA’s worldwide satellite communication networks. In this position, you will become part of NASA’s return to the moon, support new earth and space science missions, and launch vehicles. You will be an integral part of a world-class dynamic, team-based development environment, that ensures NASA space-ground communications are reliable and meet mission requirements.

 

In this role, you will be responsible to direct and ensure execution of all aspects of a department’s projects and be responsible for the overall performance from a financial, technical, schedule, contractual, and customer satisfaction perspective. You will ensure master plans and schedules are followed, develop solutions to program challenges, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to seek opportunities to maximize customer satisfaction.  You will also be responsible for leading the review and assessment of projects across the SENSE contract to identify cost, technical, and schedule issues, address critical actions, and ensure the application of lessons-learned for all SENSE projects.

 

Your specific duties will include but are not limited to:

• Achieve or exceed financial, delivery, and contractual performance targets for assigned projects.
• Develop, manage, and execute the detailed schedule for all assigned projects.
• Direct work execution in accordance with requirements.
• Manage a team and team activities in accordance with the mission or project.
• Create and manage long term goals for a team and/or project.
• Identify and analyze program risks.
• Lead weekly/monthly internal project reviews to track performance against targets and metrics.
• Conduct monthly/periodic on-site customer project reviews to ensure compliance and satisfaction, and to seek new areas to add value.
• Meet with stakeholders to maintain open and transparent communication of project issues and decisions.
• Collaborate with other project teams to ensure products and services effectively meet the requirements and expectations of the customer’s projects and contracts.
• Ensure that all projects are supported with appropriate processes and documentation across all functional areas (finance, contracts, subcontracts, human resources, mission assurance, etc.) in the organization.

Qualifications

 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or related technical discipline, and 16+ years of directly related experience, or a Master's degree and 14+ years of related experience
• Management of US Government projects with respect to cost, schedule, technical performance, and risk
• Management of multiple IDIQ task orders in a program
• Interfacing with Government customers to provide status of projects including onsite in-person meetings.
• Management of design, integration, and testing of space communication systems in areas including development engineering, sustaining engineering, operations, and maintenance
• Previous work with a supply chain team to execute project procurements, to include statements of work development, evaluation of quotes and development of technical justifications for selected vendors
• Leading a team of direct reports, subcontractors, or other team members to complete project requirements
• Demonstrated experience working with a program management team to develop cost estimates, schedules, and technical responses to task order requests
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance, which requires US citizenship

DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• A Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Computer Science
• Previous experience supporting NASA space communication systems
• PMI certified as a PMP
• Experience using Deltek tools including PM Compass and Open Plan
• Experience with selection and hiring of candidates for technical and management positions within a department and conducting performance evaluations and salary reviews for assigned staff
• Ability to succeed in the fast-paced and changing environments of development and progr