Program Manager

Orchard LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

401(k) plan

Generous PTO

11 paid holidays

Job summary

Orchard LLC is seeking an experienced Program Manager for a hybrid role that can be based in multiple U.S. locations. The position focuses on managing federal scientific and technical programs, including DoD and civilian agencies like NOAA, NASA, and EPA.

Travel up to 25% may be required to meet program objectives. The role emphasizes leading cross-functional teams, developing high-quality proposals, and ensuring successful execution of task orders under major contracts such as Oceans,

Qualifications

• Master's degree (MS/PhD) in Marine Biology, Marine Science, Oceanography (Physical, Chemical, Geological, Biological) or 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 10 years of program management experience, including work in DOD or civilian agencies such as NASA, EPA, NOAA.
• Proven experience in proposal development and technical writing in a federal contracting environment.
• PMP certification or equivalent is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary liaison with government stakeholders (CO, COR, TOM) ensuring seamless communication.
• Lead program operations and task orders under multiple contracts ensuring milestones and objectives.
• Lead or co-lead business development efforts including capture planning and proposals.

Skills

Program management

Proposal development

Federal contracting

Communication

Budgeting & reporting

Stakeholder management

Travel readiness

Education

MS/PhD in Marine Biology/Marine Science/Oceanography

Job description

Program Manager Hybrid Role - Can be based in Woods Hole, MA / Northern Virginia / Washington, DC / St. Petersburg, FL / Portland, OR / Austin, TX

U.S. Citizenship Required Must be able to work on client-site and travel up to 25% as needed

@Orchard is a dynamic, growing Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), recognized for delivering innovative solutions across multiple federal programs in technology, science, and research. We are an active participant in key contract vehicles, including ProTech 2.0 Oceans, ProTech 2.0 Fisheries, OMAO Uncrewed Marine Systems (UMS), Stars III, and GSA MAS.

As we continue to expand, we seek an experienced Program Manager with deep expertise in federal scientific and technical programs, particularly in the Department of Defense and civilian agencies such as NOAA, NASA, and EPA. This management role will be essential to winning and executing high-profile task orders, driving program success, and contributing to @Orchard's mission to advance our federal clients' critical goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary liaison with government stakeholders, including the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Task Order Monitor (TOM), ensuring seamless communication and collaboration.
• Lead and oversee program operations and task orders under the ProTech 2.0 Fisheries, ProTech 2.0 Oceans, OMAO UMS IDIQs, Stars III, and GSA MAS contracts, ensuring the delivery of all program milestones and project objectives.
• Business Development Management: leads or co-leads business development efforts, including identifying and qualifying opportunities, managing capture plans, coordinating with internal teams and subcontractors, conducting market research, preparing proposal materials, forecasting, and representing the company in partner and client engagements to expand our federal footprint.
• Develop and write high-quality proposals in response to government solicitations, ensuring they meet technical and client needs.
• Produce technical documentation, reports, and communication materials to support scientific and environmental research programs.
• Provide strategic leadership to meet programmatic objectives, improve program efficiency, and ensure that projects align with scientific goals and technical specifications.
• Manage client relationships through regular meetings, addressing needs and expectations to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Monitor project progress, including budget management, contracts management, resource allocation, and performance tracking, to meet all deliverables within scope, timeline, and budget.
• Lead cross-functional teams to implement program improvements, enhance client satisfaction, and ensure the highest levels of scientific and technical excellence.
• Provide subject matter expertise in the Department of Defense, EPA, NASA, NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Oceans, and OMAO UMS domains to address complex challenges.

Qualifications:

• A master's degree in a relevant field of Marine Biology/Marine Science or Oceanography (Physical, Chemical, Geological, Biological) (MS/PhD) or 15+ years of relevant experience.
• Minimum 10 years of program management experience, including substantial work in DOD, such as Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or civilian agencies such as NASA, EPA, and NOAA programs.
• Proven experience in proposal development and technical writing in a federal contracting environment.
• Strong knowledge of program management methodologies, budgeting, and reporting, with the ability to handle complex program challenges.
• PMP certification or equivalent is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to establish trusted relationships with clients and government stakeholders.

What We Offer:

• Competitive Compensation: Base salary with opportunities for performance bonuses for client expansion.
• Career Growth: Leadership opportunities as we expand our role in federal programs.
• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid role with flexibility in work hours and locations.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Health, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) plan, generous PTO, and 11 paid holidays.
• Supportive and Collaborative Culture: We value innovation, teamwork, and contributions from all team members.

If you are a motivated and experienced professional with a passion for scientific and environmental research and program management, we want to hear from you!

We are an equal opportunity employer.

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics.