Program Manager, Rapid Mission Technologies

Battelle; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible compressed schedule

Hybrid work model (60% in-office / 40%

Paid time off

Medical/Dental/Vision

401(k) with 5% company match

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Battelle’s Rapid Mission Technologies portfolio seeks a Program Manager for SA&AS to drive advisory contracts and coordinate SME experts across multiple efforts from Columbus, OH. You will interface with clients, shape mission requirements, and guide proposals to support growth in national security programs.

You will collaborate with engineering leads and division managers to ensure timely, high-quality deliverables while managing budgets, schedules, and resource planning. The role requires U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in CS/CE/EE or related field with 8–10 years’ experience (advanced degrees considered).
• 5–7 years of demonstrated project/program management experience, including government contracts.
• Experience with proposal management and winning proposals in cyber domain.
• Ability to communicate with executive management, partners, and customers.
• Experience managing a dispersed workforce across large-scale client efforts.
• Willingness to travel; US Citizenship with Top Secret clearance & polygraph.

Responsibilities

• Engage clients to gather requirements, translate into project plans and milestones, and create resource-loaded schedules.
• Lead execution across advisory contracts, maintaining alignment of scope, schedule, and cost.
• Serve as primary customer interface and trusted advisor on mission needs.
• Translate loosely defined problems into baselined scope and deliverables.
• Orchestrate a distributed SME workforce across concurrent efforts.
• Manage planning, execution, and quality of client deliverables and forecasts.
• Own program financial performance and growth opportunities.
• Lead proposal development and pipeline conversion from shaping to close.

Skills

Program management

Client relationship management

Communication at all levels

Strategic thinking

Travel readiness

Team leadership

Top Secret clearance

US Citizenship

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

Graduate degree in relevant field

Tools

CRM (Microsoft Dynamics)

Proposal tools

AI for proposals

Job description

Battelle delivers when others can’t. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients—whether they are a multi‑national corporation, a small start‑up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Summary

Battelle’s Rapid Mission Technologies (RMT) Portfolio within the Advanced Microsystem Solutions (AMS) business line delivers solutions at the intersection of physics, hardware and software at mission speeds. The portfolio focuses on prototyping and rapidly developing solutions across complex systems from ideation to platform delivery. The speed and depth of programs requires a diversity of systems engineering, test and evaluation expertise, digital engineering, and domain specialists to deliver mission relevant solutions in mission relevant timelines.

The Secure Architecture Advisory Services (SA&AS) Program Manager will drive a set of programs that support various strategic accounts across the portfolio by enabling client access to critical SMEs across Battelle needed to solve some of the nation’s most challenging national security problems. The PM will build upon current programs to secure new projects, provide input to guide internal investment, orchestrate market engagements, and build the program infrastructure to grow into larger markets. You’ll work closely with engineering leads to ensure high‑quality, mission‑relevant deliverables, and Division Managers to drive execution and innovation.

This position will operate from our Columbus, Ohio offices.

Responsibilities

• Engage and build relationships with clients to collect, understand, and define their requirements, analyze and translate those requirements into project plans and milestones, and create realistic resource‑loaded schedules to manage and report progress.
• Lead execution across a portfolio of advisory and SME‑based contracts, ensuring alignment of scope, schedule, cost, and mission outcomes.
• Serve as the primary customer interface and trusted advisor, shaping mission needs and influencing future work.
• Translate loosely defined customer problems into baselined scope, deliverables, and execution plans.
• Orchestrate a distributed, matrixed workforce of subject‑matter experts across multiple concurrent efforts.
• Build and maintain a responsive SME network to align expertise with emerging customer needs.
• Manage the planning, organizing, and delivery of tasks and projects, overseeing independent analysis and establishing the quality of client deliverables.
• Own program financial performance.
• Lead proposal development and pipeline conversion from opportunity shaping through program close‑out, the full lifecycle.
• Align proposals with portfolio strategy, pricing, and resource availability.
• Serve as single‑threaded PM lead for programmatic content in proposals.
• Partner with finance, contracts, and operations teams to manage forecasting, reporting, and variance resolution.
• Implement program business rhythm, including staff meetings, reviews, and reporting cycles.
• Ensure high‑quality delivery in environments where success is measured by mission impact rather than traditional deliverables.
• Ensure delivery of mission impact where outcomes may not follow traditional deliverable structures.
• Manage client expectations and leverage client relationships to develop additional business opportunities.
• Coach others, recognize their strengths, and encourage them to take ownership of their personal development.

Key Qualifications

You know how to motivate staff and teammates, are driven, and are comfortable rolling up your sleeves. You thrive in a fast‑paced, cross‑discipline, collaborative environment. You are strategic, adaptable, and self‑motivated.

• Bachelor’s in computer science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field of study with (8‑10) years’ experience with considerations for advanced degrees.
• (5‑7) years of demonstrated project/program management experience, including experience with government contracts.
• Demonstrated experience with proposal management and leading and winning proposals within the cyber domain.
• Demonstrated ability communicating at all levels; executive management, teaming partners, and customers.
• Familiar with CRM systems (preferred Microsoft Dynamics) and proposal tools, including AI for proposals.
• Experience managing a dispersed workforce across various functions in support of large‑scale client efforts.
• Strong communication skills across executive stakeholders, technical teams, and customers.
• Willingness to travel to regional office sites, conferences, and partner locations across the United States.
• US Citizenship with a Top Secret clearance & full‑scope polygraph.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Math, Physics, Physical Sciences, Business, or equivalent.
• Experience supporting research, development, and production of secure state‑of‑the‑art technical capabilities.
• Shipley Certification or equivalent certification.
• Project/Program/Portfolio Management Professional certification(s).
• Experience supporting advanced R&D, cybersecurity, or national security programs.
• Background in technical/management consulting or advisory services delivery.

Benefits: Live an Extraordinary Life

• Balance life through a compressed work schedule: Most of our team follows a flexible, compressed work schedule that allows for every other Friday off—giving you a dedicated day to accomplish things in your personal life without using vacation time.
• Enjoy enhanced work flexibility, including a hybrid arrangement: You have options for where and when you work. Our Together with Flexibility model allows you to work 60% in‑office and 40% remote, with Monday and Tuesday as common in‑office days, dependent on team and position needs.
• Take time to recharge: You get paid time off to support work‑life balance and keep motivated.
• Prioritize wellness: Stay healthy with medical, dental, and vision coverage with wellness incentives and benefits plus a variety of optional supplemental benefits.
• Better together: Coverage for partners, gender‑affirming care and health support, and family formation support.
• Build your financial future: Build financial stability with an industry‑leading 401(k) retirement savings plan. For most employees, we put in 5 percent whether you contribute or not, and match your contributions on top of that.
• Advance your education: Tuition assistance is available to pursue higher education.

A Work Environment Where You Succeed

For brilliant minds in science, technology, engineering and business operations, Battelle is the place to do the greatest good by solving humanity’s most pressing challenges and creating a safer, healthier and more secure world.

You will have the opportunity to thrive in a culture that inspires you to:

• Apply your talent to challenging and meaningful projects.
• Receive select funding to pursue ideas in scientific and technological discovery.
• Partner with world‑class experts in a collaborative environment.
• Nurture and develop the next generation of scientific leaders.
• Give back to and improve our communities.

Vaccinations & Safety Protocols

Battelle may require employees, based on job duties, work location, and/or its clients’ requirements to follow certain safety protocols and to be vaccinated against a variety of viruses, bacteria, and diseases as a condition of employment and continued employment and to provide documentation that they are fully vaccinated. If applicable, Battelle will provide reasonable accommodations based on a qualified disability or medical condition through the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act or for a sincerely held religious belief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (and related state laws).

Battelle is an equal opportunity employer. We provide employment and opportunities for advancement, compensation, training, and growth according to individual merit, without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, genetic information, disability, veteran‑status veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable Federal, state, or local law. Our goal is for each staff member to have the opportunity to grow to the limits of their abilities and to achieve personal and organizational objectives. We will support positive programs for equal treatment of all staff and full utilization of all qualified employees at all levels within Battelle.

The above statements are intended to describe the nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, activities and skills required of staff members. No statement herein is intended to imply any authorities to commit Battelle unless special written permission is granted by Battelle's Legal Department.

For more information about our other openings, please visit www.battelle.org/careers