Federal Health Advisory Associate Director

Socket.dev; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 149,000 - 248,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Guidehouse seeks a senior project leader with a strong background in managing federal health sector initiatives. You will drive high-visibility FDA projects, coordinate with senior leaders, ensure delivery quality, and oversee multi-stream staffing.

Strong PM discipline and executive communication are essential. Three days per week on-site at the FDA White Oak Campus in Maryland, with opportunities to shape strategy and influence enterprise performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years’ experience supporting federal clients in PM/delivery roles.
• Ability to obtain Public Trust clearance; US citizenship required.
• Three days on-site weekly at FDA White Oak Campus in Maryland.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-visibility FDA projects including budget and acquisition.
• Engage with executive leadership; shape strategy and deliver exec-level communications.
• Ensure deliverable quality and accountability across teams.
• Develop executive briefings, presentations, and decision materials.
• Manage staffing across workstreams; align to priorities and contract deliverables.
• Validate team outputs against objectives and client expectations.
• Provide hands-on PM oversight: planning, risk management, tracking.
• Support IT-enabled initiatives and translate business needs to action.
• Apply graphic design principles to produce compelling deliverables.
• Mentor junior staff and maintain delivery quality.

Skills

Project management

Executive communication

Leadership with executive teams

Delivery execution

Stakeholder management

PMO experience

PMP certification

Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt+)

Change management

Federal client experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Tools

PowerPoint

Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)

Job description

Job Family

Strategy & Transformation Consulting

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Clearance Required

Ability to Obtain Public Trust

What You Will Do

You will support high-impact initiatives for the Food and Drug Administration, leading complex projects that improve financial, acquisition, mission, and operational performance across the enterprise. This role requires direct engagement with executive leadership, ownership of delivery execution, and strong command of project management discipline. Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Lead and manage high-visibility projects supporting FDA priorities, including budget, acquisition, and business transformation initiatives
• Engage directly with executive leadership to shape strategy, provide recommendations, and deliver executive-level communications
• Own deliverable quality by identifying, correcting, and preventing errors, and holding the team accountable for producing accurate, client-ready work
• Develop clear, concise executive briefings, presentations, and decision materials tailored for senior leaders
• Manage weekly staffing allocations across multiple workstreams, aligning resources to priorities and contract deliverables
• Validate work performed by team members meets weekly and bi-weekly objectives, quality standards, and client expectations
• Provide hands‑on project management oversight, including planning, execution, risk management, and performance tracking
• Support IT‑enabled initiatives and modernization efforts, translating business needs into actionable plans
• Apply business graphic design principles to produce high-quality, visually compelling deliverables
• Mentor and oversee junior staff, reinforcing accountability, quality, and consistency in delivery

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of professional experience supporting federal clients, with demonstrated success in project management and delivery execution
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance (i.e. US citizenship is required)
• This role requires three (3) days on‑site each week at the FDA White Oak Campus in White Oak, Maryland

What Would Be Nice To Have

• Master’s degree
• Proven experience working directly with executive leadership
• Demonstrated experience developing executive-level communications, including briefings, presentations, and decision materials
• Experience managing multiple project teams, including assigning work, tracking progress, and validating deliverables against defined timelines
• Experience managing staffing allocations across several workstreams on a weekly basis
• Strong project management background, including planning, execution, and performance tracking
• Experience supporting or delivering IT-related projects or business system implementations
• Strong business graphic design and presentation development skills, including advanced use of PowerPoint
• Experience with Microsoft Office 365 tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint) to support analysis and decision-making
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while maintaining alignment with leadership priorities
• Experience capturing stakeholder requirements, conducting process analysis, and developing actionable solutions
• Experience supporting executive leadership at the Food and Drug Administration
• Experience working in business transformation or centralized operating models
• Experience applying data visualization tools to communicate insights
• Familiarity with federal budget, acquisition, and financial management processes
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher preferred)
• Change Management Certified Professional (CCMP) certification
• Technical background
• Proven ability to operate in a high-tempo environment with competing priorities
• Strong attention to detail with a track record of delivering high-quality, accurate work
• Experience developing junior team members

The annual salary range for this position is $149,000.00-$248,000.00. Compensation decisions depend on a wide range of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, security clearances, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

What We Offer

Guidehouse offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
• Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Student Loan PayDown
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
• Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
• Mobility Stipend

About Guidehouse

Guidehouse is an Equal Opportunity Employer–Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities or any other basis protected by law, ordinance, or regulation.

Guidehouse will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law or ordinance including the Fair Chance Ordinance of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

If you have visited our website for information about employment opportunities, or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Guidehouse Recruiting at 1‑571‑633‑1711 or via email at [e-mail]. All information you provide will be kept confidential and will be used only to the extent required to provide needed reasonable accommodation.