Program Manager - Airport Screening Operations

Leidos Inc; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Inc. in Rochester, NY, is seeking a Program Manager to lead the TSA Screening Partnership Program (SPP) task order at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC).

The PM serves as the primary contact with the TSA CO and FSD, and oversees screening operations, staffing, compliance, quality, and subcontractor management. The role requires coordinating 24/7 operations, directing staffing, performance reporting, CPMP and AQL adherence, and implementing TSA best practices.

Qualifications

• 7 years of general management experience, or at least 3 years as a certified STSO or higher position.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing effectively.
• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with TSA Contracting Officer (CO) and Federal Security Director (FSD) at ROC.
• Direct day-to-day management of security screening operations, staffing, scheduling, and shift flexibility.
• Monitor performance against CPMP and AQLs; implement CAPs as needed.

Job description

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, performance-based contracts (FFP), and operational metrics/CPMP-style measurement.
• Excellent written/oral communication skills, with demonstrated experience briefing senior government customers (CO/FSD-level).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including early/late coverage and 24/7 on-call availability, given ROC's extended screening hours

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience with the TSA Screening Partnership Program (SPP) or a comparable DHS/TSA aviation-security services contract.
• Experience supporting TSA, DHS, FAA, or other federal aviation/homeland security programs.
• Experience leading large operational transitions or workforce mobilizations.
• Experience with DHS 4300A/NIST 800-53 compliance environments or comparable federal IT/cyber compliance oversight.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
• Experience with workforce management systems, operational reporting tools, and performance dashboards.

Clearance/Vetting:

• Secret security clearance required. TSA sponsors the Facility Security Clearance (FCL); a DD Form 254 must be incorporated into the contract before a Personnel Security Clearance (PCL) may be sought. Clearance must be maintained throughout the life of the contract - loss of, or inability to obtain, clearance may result in removal from the contract.
• Separately and in addition to the Secret clearance, pre-hire vetting/suitability determination (Entry-on-Duty initiation through TSA Personnel Security) is also required, as it is for all Contractor personnel.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: September 25, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.