Program Manager - Airport Screening Operations

Leidos; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos seeks a Program Manager to lead a TSA SPP task order for airport security screening at ROC. You will be the primary liaison with the TSA CO and FSD, overseeing screening operations, staffing, compliance, and subcontractor management across all contract requirements.

Responsibilities include 24/7 operations leadership, performance reporting, and CPMP/AQL monitoring, while ensuring adherence to federal aviation security standards and RMF/ATO processes.

Qualifications

• 7 years general management experience or 3+ years as STSO or higher.
• Bachelor's degree preferred; 4 years related experience acceptable.
• Formal program/project management cert (FAC-PM/DAWIA/PMP) or 5+ years federal security management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact with TSA CO and FSD or designee for ROC.
• Available 24/7 to receive orders and implement contract instructions.
• Lead security screening operations, staffing, compliance, and QA.
• Direct day-to-day screening ops, staffing, scheduling, and shifts.
• Oversee CPMP, AQLs, CIRs, and CAPs; ensure safety and compliance.
• Lead recruitment/retention strategies for screening workforce.
• Oversee RMF/ATO, PIV/HSPD-12, NDA tracking and COOP planning.
• Coordinate with subcontractors and manage vendor performance.

Skills

General management

Leadership

Communication

Contract compliance

Security clearance

Aviation security knowledge

Federal program oversight

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Aviation Mgmt/Public Admin/Security Mgmt

Job description

Leidos is seeking a Program Manager to lead execution of a TSA Screening Partnership Program (SPP) task order providing airport security screening services at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC). The Program Manager serves as the primary point of contact for all coordination and communication with the TSA Contracting Officer (CO) and Federal Security Director (FSD) or designee, and holds overall responsibility for screening operations, staffing, compliance, quality, and subcontractor management under the task order.

Leidos' Homeland Sector's Airports, Borders, and Security (ABS) business area delivers air travel modernization, border protection, and critical infrastructure security solutions that help build a safer, more resilient homeland. Operating globally across aviation security, passenger screening, cybersecurity, and border and port security, ABS integrates next-generation technologies to secure the movement of people and goods worldwide.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all coordination and communication with the CO and/or FSD or designee at ROC.
• Be available 24 hours a day, every day, to receive and implement orders or special instructions from the CO, COR, and/or FSD or designee within the scope of the contract concerning matters affecting the operation, protection, or screening of assigned areas.
• Manage the total work associated with providing security screening services, meeting TSA's performance objectives for program management, workforce management, equipment maintenance and materials management, reporting, responsiveness, customer service, quality control, subcontractor management, and safety/health compliance.
• Provide overall leadership for aviation security screening operations, ensuring compliance with contract requirements, TSA regulations, and federal aviation security standards.
• Direct day-to-day management of screening operations, staffing levels, scheduling, and shift flexibility across passenger and baggage checkpoints.
• Own the Operational Summary Plan and Report and weekly actuals reporting, briefing the FSD or designee on strategy-vs-execution differences within required timeframes.
• Monitor and report program performance against the Contractor Performance Management Plan (CPMP) and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs); respond to Contractor Improvement Reports (CIRs) and submit Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) as needed.
• Establish and oversee the Contractor's pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, random, and post-accident drug and alcohol testing program for all screening personnel, consistent with 14 CFR Part 120 and 49 CFR Part 40.
• Direct the organizational structure for the task order, including management of subcontractor personnel/roles and the overall quality control/quality assurance approach for screening operations.
• Own compliance oversight for the task order's Information Technology Acquisition Review requirements (RMF/ATO, continuous monitoring, incident reporting, PIV/HSPD-12, staff training/NDA tracking), SSI safeguarding, and the Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan and annual COOP exercise, or delegate to named leads.
• Lead recruitment/retention strategy for the screening workforce, including staffing risk mitigation for background-check/vetting lead times that cannot be shortened.
• Coordinate implementation of TSA best practices adopted for ROC (non-uniformed supervisor role, in-queue monitor, Dual-Function Screening staffing, weekly ops readiness meetings, Local Evaluation Testing participation).
• Serve as point of contact for CPMP measurement and Federal augmentation coordination if staffing shortfalls occur.
• Be onboarded and available as soon as possible after the start of the task order transition period, and remain available throughout the transition period

Basic Qualifications:

• 7 years of general management experience, OR at least 3 years as a certified Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (STSO) or higher position.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Aviation Management, Public Administration, Security Management, or a related discipline preferred; 4 years of directly related experience is acceptable in lieu of degree.
• Any ONE of the following: (a) formal certification in program/project management issued by the Federal Government (e.g., FAC-PM, DAWIA, U.S. DHS) or a non-government credential such as PMP; OR (b) at least 5 years of management experience in aviation security, airport operations, or personnel security services (demonstrated supervisory experience in a Federal Government environment is highly desired).
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing in an effective, efficient, and professional manner.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance; TSA will sponsor the Facility/Personnel Security Clearance process.
• U.S. citizenship required (a Secret clearance requires U.S. citizenship as a matter of federal policy).
• Strong understanding of federal contract compliance,