Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Program Manager

Mission Essential; Suitland (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Mission Essential's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Program Manager in Suitland, Maryland, leads day-to-day program operations for ONI contracts, oversees staffing, compliance, deliverables, reporting, and customer engagement, and supervises Program Site Leads and personnel while coordinating with government customers and external partners.

The role requires 8+ years of personnel/program management, TS/SCI clearance, and strong organizational skills, with responsibility for risk management,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 8+ years of experience managing personnel and programs (intelligence or national security preferred).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, ability to interact with government customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise Site Leads and staff across ONI contract activities.
• Oversee day-to-day program execution, scheduling, and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with customers, subcontractors, vendors, and ME internal teams.

Skills

Program management

Staff supervision

Contract management

Stakeholder coordination

Reporting & documentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

MS Project

Job description

Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Program Manager

SUITLAND, MARYLAND

PostedJuly 29, 2026

P OSITION: Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Program Manager

SUPERVISES: Program Site Leads and Employees

SALARY RANGE: $120,000 - $140,000

CLEARANCE: TS/SCI

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Program Manager (PM) is responsible for the day-to-day management, execution, coordination, and performance of Mission Essential's (ME) personnel and operations supporting Navy and ONI requirements under assigned contracts, Task Orders, and Delivery Orders (TOs/DOs). The ONI PM oversees program operations, staffing, compliance, deliverables, documentation, reporting, quality control, customer engagement, and stakeholder coordination. This role supervises Program Site Leads and assigned personnel; serves as the primary interface for operational, financial, contractual, administrative, and customer-related matters; and drives workforce readiness, project progress, risk mitigation, continuous improvement, and strategic growth in coordination with internal teams, subcontractors, vendors, federal clients, and external stakeholders.

OBJECTIVE:

The ONI PM leads daily program operations for assigned ONI contracts/TOs/DOs, with primary responsibility for personnel readiness, staffing, accountability, contract performance, project coordination, contract compliance, and required deliverables. This role directly supervises Site Leads and team members, facilitates communication among stakeholders, manages and tracks project schedules and action items, monitors risks, timelines, financials, and performance metrics, and ensures efficient, compliant execution of program requirements.

The PM proactively identifies and resolves operational, staffing, financial, administrative, compliance, and performance issues; supports contract growth by promoting ME capabilities and contributing to new business opportunities; and serves as the primary interface with customer representatives (i.e., CORs, TAs, and KOs) on program execution, contract matters, project status, and enterprise capabilities. Success in this role requires sound judgment, initiative, advanced organization, attention to detail, and the ability to maintain strong, professional relationships across customers, partners, subcontractors, vendors, and internal teams.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage and supervise Site Leads and employees and the associated operations aligned to Navy Intelligence and ONI efforts.
• Accountable for all aspects of assigned TOs/DOs execution and manages the hands-on, day-to-day execution of operational, administrative, staffing, and project-related activities.
• Work closely with Program/Project Managers, Site Leads, business units, functional teams, subcontractors, vendors, and federal clients to meet operational needs and ensure project objectives and contractual obligations are delivered on time and within scope.
• Coordinate and track project activities, schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action items to ensure timely completion and compliance with contractual requirements.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of project plans, schedules, reports, deliverables, contract modifications, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, and follow-up trackers.
• Ensure adherence to contract requirements, including FAR/DFARS and agency-specific regulations, and conduct periodic reviews of contract requirements to identify compliance gaps and support corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate and organized project documentation, including status reports, invoices, correspondence, records, deliverables, and audit/compliance materials.
• Support audits and compliance reviews by preparing required documentation, records, reports, and supporting materials.
• Responsible for optimization and efficiencies of assigned programs and TOs/DOs, including identifying inefficiencies and recommending enhancements to operating procedures and best practices.
• Ensures compliance standards and performance measures are met, including contract requirements, deliverables, quality expectations, and customer requirements.
• Responsible to maintain and improve fill rates by working closely with Recruiting and HR to ensure accurate forecasting, onboarding coordination, and resource alignment.
• Manage and coordinate individual onboarding processes, including accounts, clearances, badges, program transitions, and other readiness requirements; ensure all personnel are trained, evaluated, and treated in accordance with ME's core values.
• Monitor project risks, issues, changes, timelines, budget allocations, labor tracking, and financial impacts; elevate concerns and contribute to risk mitigation strategies as needed.
• Assist with budget tracking and allocation, invoice preparation, financial reporting, procurement activities, subcontractor coordination, timesheet collection, and labor tracking, including for cost-reimbursable contracts where applicable.
• Communicate and assist with ONI contractual, program, finance, fiscal, reporting, and administrative work in support of the organization's strategic objectives.
• Serve as a liaison and communication point between internal teams, subcontractors, external vendors, customers, and clients; prepare and submit regular status reports, performance metrics, and updates to stakeholders as required.
• Responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction from ME's programs by performing quality control on contract deliverables and working with government customers to gain feedback on work products and performance.
• Provide inputs and assessments to formal monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews to monitor program performance and seek innovations to improve program deliverables and/or increase profitability.
• Contribute to updates of processes, procedures, SOPs, operational best practices, and project coordination workflows.
• Actively engage in and promote growth opportunities; serve as a key stakeholder regarding proposals and future business opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Proposal team to draft, edit, and review proposals.
• Gain a thorough understanding of ME's policies and procedures.
• Mentor and coach staff members.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS:

• 8+ years prior military/civilian experience that included responsibility for managing personnel (10+) and programs (intelligence or national security programs preferred).
• U.S. citizen with a valid passport.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal.
• Advanced skills in administration, operations, project coordination, project/program support, documentation, and reporting.
• Possess a general organizational knowledge of the U.S. Navy, the Navy Intelligence Enterprise (i.e., operations, functions, associated organizations, major commands, etc.) with a focus on ONI, its Centers, and their respective missions.
• Thorough understanding of ME policies and procedures.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced, complex, diverse, and dynamic environment.
• Strong organizational skills and acute attention to detail.
• This position requires the employee to maintain a professional and cordial attitude and presence at all times when dealing with employees; customer service is a priority.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to demonstrate excellent time management skills.
• Required to communicate and work effectively with other ME members/teams and demonstrate effective presentation skills.
• Ability to complete tasks in a timely manner and meet deadlines when applicable.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: Must be willing to travel as required.

DISCLAIMER:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT REQUIRED:

• U.S. citizen with valid passport.
• Bachelor's Degree and 5 years of experience supporting/leading intelligence and/or National Security related work, operations, programs, and/or analysis.
• In lieu of degree, an equivalent combination of education and experience, or a minimum of 8 years of experience in related work.
• Advanced organizational, written, oral, and analytical skills with strong attention to detail.
• Possess or be able to attain a TS clearance with SCI Access.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Windows-based applications including, but not limited to, MS365, Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Project, Teams, and Adobe Acrobat.

KEY DESIRED EXPERIENCE:

• Understanding of military/Defense/U.S. Government contracting operations preferred.
• Project Management Certification(s) preferred.
• Examples include Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), etc.

Mission Essential considers all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status. Mission Essential is an EEO/AA employer and a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.