Program Manager

CareerArc; Fredericksburg (VA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

BLADE (HDT) is seeking a Program Manager to oversee award contracts at our Fredericksburg, VA facility. You will supervise program execution, lead IPTs, and coordinate with customers and internal teams to meet cost, schedule, and performance goals.

You will drive bid/proposal activities, manage risks, and ensure compliance with FAR and company policies while delivering on program objectives and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field required.
• PMP certification or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience with Agile project management is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience across all phases of the program lifecycle, including proposal development, requirements decomposition, subcontract management, risk management, and process improvement.
• Proven track record managing complex aerospace or defense programs as a prime or subcontractor to domestic or foreign military organizations.
• Demonstrated success in achieving financial objectives, including profit and loss (P&L), cash flow, revenue, and bookings.

Responsibilities

• Manages and directs the execution of contract requirements, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
• Leads all meetings and IPTs throughout the program lifecycle.
• Acts as the primary interface for communication with customers and internal teams regarding contract execution and business development opportunities.
• Participates in bid and proposal activities, ensuring RFP compliance and supporting proposal documentation.
• Identifies and pursues new business opportunities in collaboration with Business Development.
• Represents the company in program reviews, meetings, seminars, and industry events.
• Prepares for and engages in contract and subcontract negotiations while ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Develops and implements project plans and schedules, managing budgets for labor, materials, travel, and purchased services.
• Provides senior management with regular program status updates, including cost, schedule, and risk assessments.
• Identifies, assesses, monitors, and mitigates risks throughout the program lifecycle; obtains approvals as needed.
• Implements RCCA plans to address deviations from budgets and schedules.
• Supports Earned Value Management (EVM) assessments and variance analysis.
• Serves as primary customer interface and coordinates with Contracts on changes and compliance matters.
• Ensures contract execution adheres to FAR and company policies.
• Provides leadership to the program team and fosters collaboration.
• Oversees inventory management and IRAD projects.
• Drives timely program closeout and proper archiving of documentation.
• Develops and applies program performance indicators.
• Applies BOM and BOE in planning.
• Utilizes Lean Six Sigma and other process improvements.
• Manages program cash flow.
• Travel as required to support objectives.

Skills

Program lifecycle management

Agile project management

Financial objectives (P&L, cash flow)

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field

PMP certification

Job description

BLADE (HDT) is seeking a Program Manager to support recently awarded contracts. This role is responsible for ensuring schedule, performance, and risk reduction goals are being met. This role leads all program-related meetings and integrated product teams (IPTs) from kickoff through project closure.The Program Manager serves as the primary liaison between internal and external stakeholders for active contracts and bid and proposal efforts. The position is located at our Fredericksburg, VA facility.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manages and directs the execution of contract requirements, ensuring alignment with cost, schedule, and performance objectives
• Leads all meetings and IPTs throughout the program lifecycle
• Acts as the primary interface for communication and coordination with customers and internal teams regarding contract execution and business development opportunities
• Participates in bid and proposal activities, ensuring compliance with request for proposal (RFP) requirements and supporting proposal documentation.
• Identifies and pursues new business opportunities in collaboration with Business Development
• Represents the company in program reviews, meetings, seminars, and industry events
• Prepares for and engage in contract and subcontract negotiations while ensuring compliance with government regulatory requirements
• Develops and implements project plans and schedules, managing budgets for labor, materials, travel, and purchased service
• Provides senior management with regular program status updates, including cost, schedule, and risk assessments
• Identifies, assesses, monitors, and mitigates risks throughout the program lifecycle, obtaining senior management approval when necessary
• Implements root cause and corrective action (RCCA) plans to address deviations from budgets and schedules
• Supports Earned Value Management (EVM) assessments and conducts variance analysis of cost and schedule performance.
• Serves as the primary customer interface, resolving contract-related issues and coordinating with Contracts Administration on contract changes and compliance matters
• Ensures contract execution adheres to applicable regulations and company policies, including Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)
• Provides leadership to the program team, fostering communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution
• Oversees inventory management and internal research and development (IRAD) projects
• Drives timely program closeout, ensuring all obligations are fulfilled and documentation is properly archived
• Develops and applies leading and lagging program performance indicators
• Implements program planning principles, including Bill of Materials (BOM) and Basis of Estimate (BOE) development
• Utilizes Lean Six Sigma and other process improvement methodologies to enhance program efficiency
• Manages program cash flow effectively
• Travel as required to support program objectives

EDUCATION/WORK EXPERIENCE/OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, or related field required
• PMP certification or equivalent is preferred
• Experience with Agile project management is preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of experience across all phases of the program lifecycle, including proposal development, requirements decomposition, subcontract management, risk management, and process improvement
• Proven track record managing complex aerospace or defense programs as a prime or subcontractor to domestic or foreign military organizations
• Demonstrated success in achieving financial objectives, including profit and loss (P&L), cash flow, revenue, and bookings

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to be a complete list of all duties and responsibilities required for this role.

What WE offer:

• Employees (and their families) are covered by Medical, Dental and Vision
• Employees are covered by Short Term and Long Term Disability and Basic Life Insurance, Paid 100% by the company
• Company matching 401(k) plan
• 10 standard holidays, plus one floating holiday
• PTO

“This position requires access to or use of export-controlled technical data or technology controlled by the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Accordingly, applicants must be U.S. Persons or must be eligible to obtain the required export authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce. A U.S. Person is defined as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, or a person who is a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1324(b)(a)(3).”

Equal Opportunity Employer of protected Veterans, disabled individuals or other individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age or sexual orientation