BioWatch Project Manager

Amentum company; Columbus (OH); Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Paid time off and holidays

401(k) matching

Educational reimbursement

Parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Tax-saving options

Disability and life insurance

Pet insurance

Job summary

Amentum seeks a BioWatch Project Manager to oversee nationwide laboratory staffing and support for DHS BioWatch operations. You will lead distributed scientific teams, ensuring 24/7 readiness, compliance with standards, and high-quality performance across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities include coordinating with DHS leaders, managing contractor activities, and ensuring staffing levels meet requirements while driving onboarding and training compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, or a related biological science.
• 6+ years of laboratory bench experience with PCR and related techniques.
• 3+ years in a senior scientist, project team lead, or supervisor role.
• Ability to lead dispersed scientific teams and complex operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with federal, state, and local partners.
• PMP certification is highly encouraged.
• Ability to respond to DHS inquiries within two hours during business hours.
• Eligibility to pass DHS background checks and meet security requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage contractor activities supporting BioWatch laboratory operations across jurisdictions.
• Serve as the single point of contact for the DHS Contracting Officer and COR.
• Oversee daily performance, attendance, conduct, and quality compliance for lab personnel.
• Ensure staffing levels meet DHS requirements and coordinate recruitment, replacement, onboarding.
• Support compliance with SOPs, QA programs, and national security protocols.
• Coordinate with Technical and Training Managers to resolve issues and maintain training compliance.
• Provide monthly progress reports and regular briefings to DHS leadership.
• Ensure readiness for surge support, events, and emergency deployments.
• Maintain professional communication with Laboratory Directors for partnership continuity.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in microbiology or related biological science

Job description

Position Summary

The BioWatch Project Manager (PM) oversees nationwide BioWatch laboratory staffing and operational support for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. This position serves as the contractor’s primary point of contact for DHS, ensuring high-quality laboratory performance, staffing continuity, compliance with federal standards, and successful execution of mission-critical biothreat detection operations. The PM leads distributed scientific teams and ensures BioWatch laboratories maintain 24/7 readiness.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all contractor activities supporting BioWatch laboratory operations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Serve as the single point of contact for the DHS Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer’s Representative.
• Oversee daily performance, attendance, conduct, and quality compliance for all contractor lab personnel.
• Ensure staffing levels meet or exceed DHS requirements and coordinate timely recruitment, replacement, and onboarding.
• Support adherence to BioWatch standard operating procedures, quality assurance programs, and national security protocols.
• Coordinate with Technical Managers and Training Manager to resolve operational issues, implement corrective actions, and maintain training compliance.
• Provide monthly progress reports, annual performance updates, and regular briefings to DHS leadership.
• Ensure readiness for surge support, special events, and emergency deployments, including rapid mobilization of trained staff.
• Maintain professional communication with state and local Laboratory Directors, ensuring seamless partnership and operational continuity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in microbiology, molecular biology, or a closely related biological science.
• At least six years of laboratory bench experience with PCR and biological laboratory techniques.
• Minimum three years of experience as a Senior Scientist, Project Team Lead, or Laboratory Supervisor.
• Strong leadership skills managing dispersed scientific teams and complex operations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with federal, state, and local partners.
• PMP certification highly encouraged.
• Ability to respond to DHS inquiries within two hours during business hours (0800–1800 ET).
• Eligibility to pass DHS background checks and meet security requirements.

Working Conditions

• Primarily remote with required travel to laboratory sites and DHS headquarters in Washington, DC.
• Supports a national program operating 24/7/365; occasional extended hours, weekends, and holiday work may be required.
• Participation in special events, surge operations, and emergency response deployments as needed.

Location: Remote with travel to DHS and state/local public health laboratories
Clearance: Ability to obtain DHS Public Trust background clearance

Compensation Details:

$120,000 - $160,000

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

• Educational reimbursement

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Tax-saving options

• Disability and life insurance

• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

09/24/2026 - 09/28/2026

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.