Portfolio Manager

Penn State University; United States; On-site; USD 168,000 - 319,000; Full time

Job summary

Penn State University's Applied Research Laboratory in Reston, VA is seeking a senior-level Portfolio Manager to lead a growing AIML portfolio and support a large IDIQ contract with 30+ engineers.

You will coordinate with the technical lead and government sponsors, manage cost, schedule, and scope, drive proposals and staffing, and align cross-functional Agile delivery to deliver value, with occasional travel to nearby Chantilly, VA.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex DoD/IC programs with cost, schedule and scope.
• Proven sponsor-facing liaison and stakeholder management skills.
• Budgeting, spend plans, and financial reporting experience.
• Contributed to proposals or task orders.
• Ability to understand business and programmatic aspects of AIML portfolios.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across diverse audiences.
• Willingness to work onsite in Reston, VA with travel.

Responsibilities

• Support the technical lead as senior PM across an IDIQ contract.
• Lead lifecycle management from strategic planning to closeout.
• Act as onsite liaison to government sponsors and stakeholders.
• Manage program cost, schedule, scope, and performance.
• Oversee budgets, burn-rate tracking, and financial reporting.
• Coordinate with contracts, finance and admin on funding and compliance.
• Lead proposal and task order response development.
• Support staffing, hiring, and subcontractor activities.
• Coordinate cross-functional Agile delivery across the task order.
• Prepare portfolio status and briefings for leadership and sponsors.
• Assess risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Develop portfolio vision and expansion strategies with the tech lead.
• Improve processes and tools as the team scales.
• Mentor staff on program management best practices.

Skills

DoD/IC program mgmt

Stakeholder management

Budgeting & reporting

Proposals / task orders

AIML portfolio familiarity

Communication skills

Onsite in Reston travel

Education

Master's degree

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

We are seeking a senior-level Portfolio Manager to support a rapidly growing data science and artificial intelligence and machine learning (AIML) portfolio in Reston, VA. This position will be in our Research Artifiical Intelligence Department of the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State University. You will join a talented, motivated team of scientists and engineers who turn data into actionable intelligence. Our work spans computer vision, geospatial and positional data, signal data, and full-motion video. We apply frontier AIML models and large-scale data fusion to enrich data and solve hard mission problems. Our team delivers real capability that transitions to operational use on the cutting edge of AIML research and development. ARL is an authorized DoD SkillBridge partner and welcomes all transitioning military members to apply.

You Will:

• Support the technical lead and serve as the senior program and portfolio management partner across all business and management functions of a large Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract currently supporting a team of 30 or more engineers, with a strong and continuing growth trajectory
• Serve as the senior program and portfolio management lead across the full lifecycle of a large IDIQ contract, from strategic planning through execution, growth, and closeout, partnering closely with the technical lead who owns all technical aspects of the work
• Act as a primary onsite liaison to government sponsors and stakeholders, building and sustaining relationships that support current mission execution and future growth
• Manage program cost, schedule, scope, and performance, ensuring compliance with contractual, regulatory, and institutional requirements
• Oversee budgets, spend plans, burn‑rate tracking, financial reporting, and expenditure analysis, and prepare financial analyses and reports for internal leadership and sponsors
• Coordinate with contracts, finance, and administrative teams on funding actions, subawards, and compliance matters
• Lead and support proposal and task order response development, including narratives, budgets, schedules, and compliance documentation
• Support staffing and hiring efforts and coordinate subcontractor and subaward activities to keep pace with portfolio growth
• Coordinate cross‑functional activities across the task order, connecting related efforts to maximize impact within an Agile delivery environment (program increments, sprints, scrums, and standups)
• Prepare and present portfolio status, technical progress, financial performance, and strategic plans through briefings and reports to a variety of audiences, including senior sponsor and leadership stakeholders
• Assess risks and implement mitigation strategies, anticipate problems, and recommend solutions
• Develop portfolio vision, roadmaps, and expansion strategies in collaboration with the technical lead
• Establish, refine, and improve program and portfolio management processes and tools as the team scales
• Mentor staff and provide guidance on program management best practices

Required Skills and Experience:

• Demonstrated experience managing complex DoD or IC programs, including cost, schedule, scope, and performance
• Served as a sponsor-facing liaison with strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills
• Financial oversight experience, including budgeting, spend plans, and financial reporting
• Contributed to proposals or task order responses
• Ability to understand and communicate the business and programmatic aspects of a technical AIML and data science portfolio (deep technical execution is owned by the technical lead)
• Excellent written and verbal communication and briefing skills across a broad range of audiences
• Ability to work full onsite in Reston, VA, with frequent local travel to Chantilly, VA, and infrequent non‑local travel

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Managed or supporting large IDIQ contracts and multiple task orders
• Agile delivery methodologies (program increments, sprints, scrums, standups)
• Business development and a track record of growing a program portfolio
• Operational context of data science and AIML programs supporting the DoD or IC, such as computer vision, geospatial, signal, or full‑motion video applications
• Coordinated subawards, subcontracts, and staffing and hiring in a growth environment

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

If filled as Portfolio Manager (ARL) - Principal Professional, this position requires: Master's Degree 8+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

If filled as Portfolio Manager (ARL) - Senior Professional, this position requires: Master's Degree 6+ years of relevant experience Required Certifications: None

ARL's purpose is to research and develop innovative solutions to challenging scientific, engineering, and technology problems in support of the Navy, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Intel Community (IC).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on ARL, visit our web site at www.arl.psu.edu.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. Notice regarding employment at the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL): Employees must be eligible to obtain a government security clearance, participate in the ARL drug testing program, and comply with electronic and physical monitoring requirements applicable to federal contractors. ARL operates in a secure information environment involving Unclassified, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and Classified information. Personal electronic devices brought onsite must be registered and may be restricted from certain areas. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $168,000.00 - $318,840.00. This salary range includes an adjustment based on required geographic work location.

• Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well‑being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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