Program Manager Senior - TS/SCI

VMD Corp; Quantico (VA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Xcelerate Solutions in McLean, VA is seeking a Senior Program Manager for Entity Vetting & Security Operations to lead a high-volume vetting ecosystem interfacing with government leadership. The role requires an active Top-Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and oversees a dispersed workforce of about 300 personnel.

You will drive operational excellence, merging policy with execution, and partner with customers to eliminate backlogs while implementing next-generation security vetting

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in business, Economics, Finance, Law or related technical field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (Must be current).
• 10+ years of experience managing federal government programs of similar size, scope, and complexity.
• 10+ years of specialized experience interacting with high-ranking officials in government programs of similar size, scope and complexity.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of accountability for a dispersed workforce of ~300 personnel, ensuring alignment with DCSA’s Industrial Security and Counterintelligence Directorates.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Government leadership, providing data-driven insights on backlog reduction, risk trends, and workflow optimization.
• Translate complex legislative mandates (e.g., Section 847) into executable operational plans, ensuring the workforce adapts quickly to changing threat landscapes.
• High-Volume Management: Oversee the VTU to ensure the timely intake of 1,000 weekly sponsorship packages and inquiries.
• Analytic Rigor: Ensure the DDU and CI units produce high-quality EVAs and TIRs that meet Intelligence Community standards.
• Quality Control: Maintain a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) that guarantees 95%+ accuracy across all deliverables.
• Lead a multi-tiered team of Deputy PMs and Unit Chiefs to manage recruitment, retention, and training for a mix of administrative, intelligence, and risk management roles.
• Manage operational surge requirements, shifting resources dynamically between Triage, Due Diligence, and Risk Mitigation tasks to prevent bottlenecks.
• Oversee the contract budget, burn rates, and financial reporting to ensure fiscal discipline on a Firm Fixed Price level of effort.

Education

Master’s degree in business / Economics / Finance / Law or related field

PMP Certification (Must be current)

Job description

Program Manager Senior – Entity Vetting & Security Operations

We are seeking a strategic Program Manager / Operator – a leader who bridges the gap between executive policy and daily execution. You will be the primary interface with government leadership (Mission Chief, Contracting Officer), responsible for the health, performance, and evolution of a complex, high-volume vetting ecosystem. Your responsibilities are dual-focused:

Operational Excellence: Ensure the daily processing of 200,000+ annual vetting inquiries and risk assessments meet strict timeliness and quality standards.

Strategic Transformation: Partner with the customer to refine processes, clear backlogs, and implement the next generation of industrial security vetting (FOCI, NISP, and Section 847).

Security Clearance

Active Top-Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (Tier 5 Investigation)

Location

Quantico, VA

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of accountability for a dispersed workforce of :300 personnel, ensuring alignment with DCSA’s Industrial Security and Counterintelligence Directorates.
• Act as a trusted advisor to Government leadership, providing data-driven insights on backlog reduction, risk trends, and workflow optimization.
• Translate complex legislative mandates (e.g., Section 847) into executable operational plans, ensuring the workforce adapts quickly to changing threat landscapes.
• High-Volume Management: Oversee the \"Verification & Triage Unit\" (VTU) to ensure the timely intake of :1,000 weekly sponsorship packages and inquiries.
• Analytic Rigor: Ensure the \"Due Diligence\" (DDU) and \"Counterintelligence\" (CI) units produce high-quality Entity Vulnerability Assessments (EVAs) and Threat Information Responses (TIRs) that meet Intelligence Community standards.
• Quality Control: Maintain a Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP) that guarantees 95%+ accuracy across all deliverables, from data entry to complex legal risk strategies.
• Lead a multi-tiered team of Deputy PMs and Unit Chiefs to manage recruitment, retention, and training for a mix of administrative, intelligence, and risk management roles.
• Manage operational surge requirements, shifting resources dynamically between Triage, Due Diligence, and Risk Mitigation tasks to prevent bottlenecks.
• Oversee the contract budget, burn rates, and financial reporting to ensure fiscal discipline on a Firm Fixed Price level of effort.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Master’s degree in business, Economics, Finance, Law or related technical field
• Certification: Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification (Must be current).
• 10 + years of experience managing federal government programs of similar size, scope, and complexity
• 10 + years of specialized experience interacting with high-ranking officials in government programs of similar size, scope and complexity

Preferred Qualifications

• DCSA/Industrial Security Fluency: Deep understanding of the National Industrial Security Program (NISP), 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), and the specific challenges of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) mitigation.
• Supply Chain/Risk Management: Experience managing programs focused on Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM), Vendor Vetting, or Third-Party Risk.
• Scale & Complexity: Proven track record managing contracts with 200+ FTEs and multiple subcontractors. Experience with \"high-volume\" processing centers (e.g., background investigations, claims processing) is a major differentiator.
• Data-Driven Mindset: Ability to use data analytics to forecast workloads, identify bottlenecks, and present \"program health\" metrics to leadership (beyond just \"green/red\" charts).
• Change Agent: Experience leading teams through organizational transformation, technology modernization (e.g., migration to NBIS/NISS), or policy shifts.

About Xcelerate Solutions

Founded in 2009 and headquartered in McLean, VA, Xcelerate Solutions (www.xceleratesolutions.com) is one of America's fastest-growing companies. Xcelerate’s culture is defined by our diversified workforce of dynamic and versatile professionals, supported with growth and development opportunities that contribute to individual and company growth. This strong commitment to our employees has been recognized by our inclusion on the Washington Business Journal’s “50 Best Places to Work” list as well as being a “Great Place to Work” certified company with a 4.6 star, and a 99% CEO approval Glassdoor rating. Come find out why Xcelerate Solutions is one of the top DC Metro employers!

Xcelerate Solutions is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, equal pay, disability, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, or expression of another protected characteristic. As part of this commitment to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals, Xcelerate provides reasonable accommodation if needed because of an applicant's or an employee's disability.

Pay Transparency Notice: Xcelerate Solutions will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.