Program Manager

Akima; Colorado Springs, Northern (CO, KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

RiverTech, an Akima company, is seeking a Program Manager to lead the GEODSS O&M contract in Colorado Springs. You will direct 24/7 operations across multiple sites and coordinate with U.S. Space Force stakeholders.

This role requires proven DoD program management experience, TS clearance, and strong leadership. You will drive performance, cost control, and mission readiness while managing dispersed teams and ensuring contract success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Business Administration, or related field.
• 8-12 years of progressively responsible program management experience supporting DoD, aerospace, defense, or space operations programs.
• Experience managing large, geographically dispersed operational teams supporting mission-critical environments.
• Experience supporting Space Domain Awareness (SDA), space surveillance, electro-optical sensor systems, or ground-based operational systems.
• Strong knowledge of DoD acquisition, sustainment, and lifecycle support processes.
• Experience managing complex operations involving maintenance, logistics, and technical support.
• Excellent leadership, communication, customer engagement, and organizational skills.
• Active Top Secret security clearance; SCI eligibility or current SCI access preferred.
• PMP, DAWIA certification, or equivalent program management certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for contract performance, including cost, schedule, quality, risk, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead all aspects of contract execution supporting continuous 24/7/365 global deep-space surveillance operations.
• Ensure operational readiness and mission success across all GEODSS operational sites.
• Develop and implement program strategies, performance objectives, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Foster strong relationships with Government stakeholders and customer leadership.
• Coordinate with U.S. Space Force Space Operations Command (SpOC), Space Systems Command (SSC), and other mission stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of optical tracking data supporting space object catalog maintenance and orbital awareness.
• Support integration of GEODSS capabilities with the broader Space Domain Awareness enterprise, including sensor fusion and command and control (C2) networks.
• Ensure mission priorities are met while maintaining high operational availability.
• Provide oversight of operations and maintenance activities for electro-optical telescopes, sensors, and supporting ground systems.
• Manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and system availability.
• Ensure compliance with Technical Orders (TOs), maintenance procedures, calibration standards, cybersecurity requirements, and COMSEC policies.
• Oversee logistics planning, supply chain coordination, and equipment lifecycle management.
• Lead and manage geographically dispersed teams operating in remote and secure locations.
• Ensure staffing levels, certifications, qualifications, and shift coverage requirements are consistently maintained.
• Promote a culture of operational excellence, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor supervisors and technical staff while supporting employee development and retention initiatives.
• Manage overall contract performance, budgets, funding execution, and financial forecasting.
• Monitor program metrics, KPIs, and service level requirements.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM), program reviews, executive briefings, and customer reporting.
• Oversee subcontractor performance and vendor relationships to ensure successful contract execution.
• Ensure compliance with DoD, U.S. Space Force, federal regulations, and company policies.
• Maintain security requirements for classified environments, including Top Secret/SCI operations where applicable.
• Identify operational, technical, staffing, logistics, and supply chain risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support quality assurance, audits, inspections, and continuous process improvement initiatives.

Skills

Program management

DoD/Space Ops experience

Leadership

PMP/DAWIA

Top Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

RiverTech is looking for a Program Manager to work in Colorado Springs, CO.

The Program Manager will serve as the contractor's primary point of contact and overall leader for the execution of the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contract supporting the U.S. Space Force's Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission.

This individual will provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for a geographically dispersed workforce responsible for the 24/7 operation, maintenance, logistics, and sustainment of GEODSS sites located in New Mexico, Hawaii, and Diego Garcia. The Program Manager is accountable for ensuring mission readiness, contract compliance, customer satisfaction, financial performance, and successful execution of all contractual requirements while maintaining close collaboration with U.S. Space Force leadership and mission partners.

Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Execution

• Serve as the primary point of accountability for overall contract performance, including cost, schedule, quality, risk, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead all aspects of contract execution supporting continuous 24/7/365 global deep-space surveillance operations.
• Ensure operational readiness and mission success across all GEODSS operational sites.
• Develop and implement program strategies, performance objectives, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Foster strong relationships with Government stakeholders and customer leadership.

Space Domain Awareness Mission Support

• Coordinate with U.S. Space Force Space Operations Command (SpOC), Space Systems Command (SSC), and other mission stakeholders.
• Ensure timely and accurate delivery of optical tracking data supporting space object catalog maintenance and orbital awareness.
• Support integration of GEODSS capabilities with the broader Space Domain Awareness enterprise, including sensor fusion and command and control (C2) networks.
• Ensure mission priorities are met while maintaining high operational availability.

Operations & Sustainment Management

• Provide oversight of operations and maintenance activities for electro-optical telescopes, sensors, and supporting ground systems.
• Manage preventive and corrective maintenance programs to maximize equipment reliability and system availability.
• Ensure compliance with Technical Orders (TOs), maintenance procedures, calibration standards, cybersecurity requirements, and COMSEC policies.
• Oversee logistics planning, supply chain coordination, and equipment lifecycle management.

Personnel Leadership

• Lead and manage geographically dispersed teams operating in remote and secure locations.
• Ensure staffing levels, certifications, qualifications, and shift coverage requirements are consistently maintained.
• Promote a culture of operational excellence, safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor supervisors and technical staff while supporting employee development and retention initiatives.

Contract & Financial Management

• Manage overall contract performance, budgets, funding execution, and financial forecasting.
• Monitor program metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), and service level requirements.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM), program reviews, executive briefings, and customer reporting.
• Oversee subcontractor performance and vendor relationships to ensure successful contract execution.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with DoD, U.S. Space Force, federal regulations, and company policies.
• Maintain security requirements for classified environments, including Top Secret/SCI operations where applicable.
• Identify operational, technical, staffing, logistics, and supply chain risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Support quality assurance, audits, inspections, and continuous process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physical Sciences, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 8-12 years of progressively responsible program management experience supporting DoD, aerospace, defense, or space operations programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, geographically dispersed operational teams supporting mission-critical environments.
• Experience supporting Space Domain Awareness (SDA), space surveillance, electro-optical sensor systems, or ground-based operational systems.
• Strong knowledge of DoD acquisition, sustainment, and lifecycle support processes.
• Experience managing complex operations involving maintenance, logistics, and technical support.
• Excellent leadership, communication, customer engagement, and organizational skills.
• Active Top Secret security clearance required; SCI eligibility or current SCI access preferred.
• Project Management Professional (PMP), DAWIA certification, or equivalent program management certification preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting U.S. Space Force, Air Force Space Command, Space Systems Command, or Space Operations Command programs.
• Knowledge of optical tracking systems, telescope operations, or space surveillance technologies.
• Experience managing Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contracts exceeding $25M annually.
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM), risk management frameworks, and continuous process improvement methodologies.
• Experience supporting classified operations within high-security government environments.

"This position is contingent upon contract award and funding. Applicants selected may be offered but cannot begin work until funding has been confirmed."

2026-25169

On-Site

$140,000 - $160,000

Work Where it Matters

RiverTech, an Akima company, is not just another federal professional solutions contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At RiverTech, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, RiverTech provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, RiverTech provides innovative solutions to complex engineering and operational challenges and delivers wide-ranging services for mission support, systems engineering, and IT.

As a RiverTech employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.