Project Management Specialist

PDS Defense, Inc.; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Short-term disability insurance

Direct deposit

Career counseling services

Paid holidays

Skills training

Employee referral bonus

Affordable medical coverage plan

DailyPay

Job summary

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Project Management Specialist in Herndon, VA to lead HR project workstreams around large-scale acquisitions, data integration, and compliance.

The role emphasizes Day 1 readiness, post-merger integration, and rigorous documentation with frequent status updates to HR leadership. The ideal candidate has 7+ years managing HR projects, 3+ years in M&A, and experience in matrixed organizations, with strong change management and HR function background.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience managing HR projects.
• 3+ years of M&A implementation.
• Experience with complex, matrixed organizations.
• Advanced knowledge of change management principles and practices.
• Experience in another HR function (benefits, talent acquisition, learning and development) preferred.
• Aerospace industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Project Management & Acquisition Support: 60% of time, tracking milestones, resources, risk logs.
• Provide HR project support for large-scale US acquisitions and communicate status to HR leadership.
• Coordinate between internal HR and other functions to align with acquisition timelines.
• Collect, analyze, and visualize integration data; maintain dashboards and weekly progress reports for 2026-2027 objectives.
• Execute tasks such as auditing data migrations and compliance checklists for Day 1 readiness and post-acquisition integration.
• Ensure thorough documentation and keep PMO tools updated for audit-readiness and data integrity.
• Schedule meetings, capture action items, and ensure timely completion for Administrative and Compliance Governance (30%).
• Assist in gathering documents for US labor law compliance and regulatory filings related to the acquisition.
• Support internal and external partnerships across HR, global teams (incl Airbus Regional teams) and all functions to facilitate smooth transitions for newly acquired employee groups.
• Other duties as assigned: support US HR on key improvement projects (5%).

Job description

Light Industrial/Manufacturing

Project Management Specialist Herndon, VA Posted: 10/21/2026

Job Description

Job ID#:

226854

Job Category:

Light Industrial/Manufacturing

Position Type:

Associate - W2

Shift:

1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Project Management Specialist, in Herndon, VA.

Job Description:

Project Management & Acquisition Support: 60%

Provide tactical HR project support for large-scale US acquisition workstreams, focusing on tracking talent milestones, resource schedules, and risk logs.

Maintain and communicate real-time project status updates to HR leadership and the M&A Program Management Office (PMO).

Act as a point of contact to coordinate activities between internal HR departments and other business functions to ensure alignment with acquisition timelines.

Collect, analyze, and visualize integration data. Maintain dashboards and generate weekly reports to track the progress of the 2026-2027 strategic objectives.

Execute assigned project tasks—such as auditing employee data migrations or checking compliance checklists—to ensure Day 1 operational readiness or post acquisition integration.

Ensure rigorous documentation for all M&A activities; keep project management tools updated daily to ensure audit-readiness and data integrity.

Administrative and Compliance Governance: 30%

Schedule and facilitate project meetings, capture detailed action items, and follow up with owners to ensure timely completion.

Assist in gathering necessary documentation for US labor law compliance and regulatory filings related to the acquisition.

Change Management and Communication: 5%

Support internal and external partnerships across HR, global as well as in the context of the Airbus Regional teams) and all other functions, to facilitate a smooth transition for newly acquired employee groups.

Other duties as assigned: 5%

Support the US HR team on other key improvement projects.

ABOUT YOU

Equipped with a degree in a related field or equivalent experience paired with professional experience ideally as a Project Specialist, Post Merger Integration Assistant or similar. We are looking for a team player with the following experience, skills and mindset:

7+ years of experience managing HR projects

3+ years of M&A implementation

Experience working with complex, matrixed organizations

Advanced knowledge of change management principles and practices

Experience working in another HR function (benefits, talent acquisitions, learning and development), preferred

Aerospace Industry experience, preferred

Physical Requirements:

Onsite or remote: 60 % on site

Vision: able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings: Daily

Hearing: able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on production floor including safety warnings or alarms.Daily

Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily

Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts. Daily

Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Rarely

Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Rarely

Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Rarely

Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on computer. Daily

Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.Rarely

Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on production floor. Daily

Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. Rarely

Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily

Personal Protective Equipment required: Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site:

Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visit, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance:

No Clearance

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act

• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers

• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled