Director of Federal Programs

Waseyabek Development Company; Grand Rapids (MI); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Waséyabek Federal Group (WFG), a division of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, seeks a Director of Federal Programs to lead performance across DOE, DoD, and other federal contracts. You will oversee program managers, site leadership, and subcontractors to ensure safety, efficiency, and contract adherence.

This remote/hybrid role requires ten years of federal leadership, US citizenship, and experience with small business entities; Top Secret or higher clearance is preferred.

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership experience in Federal programs and contracts.
• US citizenship with ability to obtain Top Secret or higher clearance.
• Experience working with 8(a) or small business entities on Federal programs.
• Strong knowledge of government regulations and contract standards.
• Excellent verbal and written communication with customers and partners.
• Proven ability to mentor teams and develop talent.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project demands and schedules.
• Background in business development and sustaining profitable growth.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership for assigned programs and contracts.
• Ensure contract requirements, performance standards, and customer expectations are consistently achieved.
• Partner with PMs and site leadership to monitor execution, staffing, risk, and financial performance.
• Support contract startup, transition, mobilization, and closeout activities.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions.
• Drive continuous improvement to safety, efficiency, quality, and satisfaction.
• Serve as senior point of contact for government customers and stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through proactive communication.
• Monitor KPIs and ensure compliance with service levels.
• Support contract modifications, option years, and growth opportunities.
• Participate in reviews, customer meetings, and executive briefings.
• Contribute to program profitability, revenue performance, and budgets.
• Lead, mentor, and develop PMs, site managers, and staff.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, and development initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, regulations, and CBAs where applicable.
• Promote safety culture and customer service excellence.
• Provide operational input during capture, proposals, and transition planning.
• Support organic growth within existing accounts.

Skills

Leadership

Federal programs

Business development

Team leadership

Security clearance

Contract management

Proposal writing

Customer relationships

Program management

Compliance

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration

Job description

Waséyabek Federal Group (WFG) is a Division of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC), a wholly owned economic investment company by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP), a federally recognized Indian Tribe. WDC is committed to fostering the development of a stable, diversified economy for members of the Band which will contribute to their long‑term wealth and economic self‑sufficiency while managing risk and creating quality employment opportunities.

WFG generates $90 million in annual revenue with approximately 385 employees, providing leading solutions and services to the Department of Energy (DoE) and Department of Defense (DoD) across multiple service lines including Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Professional Services, Environmental Services, and Information Technology (IT) & Cybersecurity.

Position Summary

The Director of Federal Programs ("Director") is responsible for the successful execution, operational performance, and customer satisfaction of assigned programs/contracts within the WFG portfolio. Reporting to the Vice President of WFG, this role provides oversight of Program/Project Managers, project teams, and site leadership to ensure contractual compliance, operational excellence, workforce engagement, and financial performance.
The Director serves as the primary operational leader for assigned programs, partnering closely with customers, subcontractors, and internal shared services teams to deliver safe, efficient, and high‑quality services across DOE, DOD, and other federal programs.

Responsibilities:

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for assigned programs and contracts.
• Ensure contract requirements, performance standards, and customer expectations are consistently achieved.
• Partner with Program/Project Managers and site leadership to monitor program/contract execution, staffing, risk management, and operational/financial performance.
• Support contract startup, transition, mobilization, and closeout activities.
• Identify operational risks and implement corrective actions and mitigation strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, efficiency, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for Government customers and key stakeholders.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships through proactive communication and responsive service delivery.
• Monitor program/contract performance metrics and ensure compliance with contractual service level requirements.
• Support contract modifications, option year planning, and customer growth opportunities.
• Participate in program/contract reviews, customer meetings, and executive briefings.
• Support responsibility for program profitability, revenue performance, and operational budgets.
• Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to quality, schedule, safety, cost, profit, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead, mentor, and develop Program/Project Managers, Site Managers, Supervisors, and operational personnel.
• Support workforce planning, succession planning, recruiting, retention, and employee development initiatives.
• Support programs/contracts operating under Service Contract Act (SCA) requirements and Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs).
• Ensure compliance with Federal Regulations, Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requirements, contract requirements, company policies, and safety standards.
• Promote a strong culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and customer service.
• Provide operational expertise during capture efforts, proposal development, and contract transition planning.
• Support organic growth initiatives within existing customer accounts.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of ten years of progressive leadership experience in the Federal industry to include technical programs.
• A United States (US) Citizen
• A minimum of five years of experience working with 8(a) or other small business entities on Federal programs/contracts
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Computer Science, Business Administration, or other relevant technical discipline.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Top Secret or Q Clearance.
• Advanced knowledge of Government agency regulations, proposal writing, and standards/protocols regarding operations, logistics and resource utilization.
• Expert proficiency in verbal and written communication with internal and external customers and key partners at all career levels.
• Strong leadership capability with proven track record of developing talent through leading by example and modelling “do what it takes attitude and ability to get into the details” behavior.
• Ability to quickly adapt focus, adjust schedule and solve problems to meet evolving situations.
• Prior experience in business development and/or sales with proven track record in developing strong customer relationships and sustained profitable organic contract growth.
• Must pass a pre‑employment drug screen.

• Must pass an extensive background investigation, including but not limited to personal and professional financial history, nationwide criminal record search, credit check and other relevant background information deemed necessary by WFG.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A Master of Business Administration.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Active Clearance (Secret or TS).
• DoD and DoE experience
• Outside the Continental United States (OCONUS) Experience.

Physical Requirements/Location:

This job operates in a professional office environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is a remote/hybrid position.
• Flexibility related to work hours as project demands arise.
• Occasionally required to move 5 – 25 pounds.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary computer position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to use hands and fingers to type.
• Must be able to reach with hands and arms for using a computer.

Travel Requirements:

Ability to travel up to 30% of the time. The travel may be local or national and may be by car, rail, or air.

Equal employment opportunity, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.