Senior Program Manager

Nakupuna Consulting; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Nakupuna Companies is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead a large team supporting DPAE-SO mission. The PM will oversee diverse functions including executive admin, financial management, strategic communications, logistics, information management, and data analytics to ensure ships get to sea and stay ready.

The ideal candidate has 15+ years in DoD acquisition or Navy program management, with DoD capabillities and ability to obtain a CAC and Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Experience in DoD program management, technical or business management.
• Experience communicating with SES/Flag level personnel and supervising staff.
• PMP certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall project management oversight to meet cost, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Maintain relationships with the customer and interface with government leadership.
• Develop project planning documentation and full-scale project plans.
• Drive performance improvement and cost efficiencies.
• Lead hiring and staffing to ensure required skills on the team.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to align execution and deliverables.
• Support business development and capture activities for related opportunities.

Skills

NAVSEA PM

SES comms

PMP cert

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Senior Program Manager

Job Locations: US-D.C.-Washington

• Job ID: 2026-7129
• Type: Full-Time Salaried
• Company: Nakupuna Consulting

Overview

Nakupuna Companies is seeking a Senior Program Manager (PM) to lead a team supporting Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive - Shipyard Operations (DPAE - SO) Professional Support Services requirements. This individual will lead a large, dynamic team that supports DPAE-SO's mission of getting ships to sea and keeping them ready. This person will serve as both a leader and strategic advisor to DPAE SO leadership in leading a team across a broad range of activities to include executive administrative support, financial management, strategic communications, graphics and ceremonial support, industrial supply and logistics management, information management and security, and data analytics.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall project management oversight ensuring project meets cost, schedule, and performance requirements. Manage resources across the project to ensure exceptional performance. Lead the Nakupuna and subcontractor team by providing strategic direction that is aligned with the mission and strategy of DPAE - SO.
• Maintain effective relationships with the customer and interface routinely with government leadership to align efforts and resources, resolve issues, and provide advice and recommendations.
• Ensure development of project planning documentation outlining the management approach, management controls, organizational resources to be employed, deliverables, and delivery dates, etc. Ensure development of full-scale project plans.
• Drive performance improvement and process/cost efficiencies.
• Perform personnel performance management functions (e.g., set performance goals, assess performance, provide coaching/mentoring, address performance and/or conduct issues as they arise (recommend disciplinary actions).
• Actively engage in hiring processes, ensure project teams are appropriately staffed to execute PWS requirements and achieve client expectations.
• Coordinate projects with interdependencies between various integrated product teams to ensure effective outcomes.
• Ensure deliverables are aligned across projects within the contract; build culture of excellence in service delivery.
• Identify new business opportunities on the program and nurture relationships for existing and new work in the future.
• Maintain employee morale and corporate culture, while fostering employee growth.
• Oversee and report to senior management and executive leadership on project execution and financial performance, including metrics such as profit margin, utilization, cost execution.
• Ensure invoices are accurate and approved in a timely fashion.
• Coordinate with Nakupuna Leadership and Shared Services to facilitate necessary support to ensure successful project execution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the program office to ensure alignment in execution.
• Keep DPAE - SO leadership abreast of execution performance, potential risks to successful execution, and opportunities.
• Develop and drive long-term planning for employee development, contract success, recompetes, and growth.
• Support business development activities for PAE Industrial Operations, PAE Maritime, and other former NAVSEA organization opportunities by identifying, qualifying, prioritizing, and tracking pursuits across multiple sources.
• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with PAE Industrial Operations, PAE Maritime and adjacent Navy organizations, industry partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support or lead teaming strategy, including partner identification, teaming discussions, coordination of NDAs and teaming agreements, and development of mutually beneficial pursuit structures.

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications: The ideal candidate possesses expertise and experience in NAVSEA, specifically program/project management supporting NAVSEA program offices. The ideal candidate will also be familiar with and have experience with the following technical knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge of DoD program management, technical, or business management.
• Experience communicating with SES/Flag level personnel is required along with supervisory experience.
• PMP Certification preferred.

Education and Experience: The following are desirable levels of experience:

• Bachelor's degree in any technical or managerial discipline required; Master's degree preferred.
• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of professional experience in the Defense acquisition process, program management, technical, or business management.
• Minimum of ten (10) years relevant experience in DoD/Navy program management.
• Experience in federal contract capture and business development is preferred.

Clearance Requirements: Must be a U.S. Citizen with the ability to obtain a government-issued CAC and possess a Secret clearance.

The Nakupuna Companies use a market-based compensation strategy to ensure that our employees are compensated within applicable market ranges commensurate with multiple factors, including but not limited to the individual's particular combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, and position location. The projected compensation range for this position is $180,000.00 to $210,000.00 (annualized USD). The salary range displayed represents the typical salary range for this position and is just one component of Nakupuna Companies total compensation package for employees.