Senior Program Manager — Defense & Rapid Acquisition Leader

Dcode Group, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 116,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Dcode Group, Inc. is seeking a mission-driven Senior Program Manager to lead high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. You will guide major workstreams delivering measurable mission outcomes and help stand up rapid acquisition capabilities.

The role requires navigating ambiguity, leading teams, and advising stakeholders, with salary range $116,000-$152,000 and active TS clearance preferred. Eligibility for clearance is required.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of leadership of government-facing programs or workstreams.
• Experience with DoD or federal clients in acquisition, innovation, technology integration, or program management.
• Ability to lead projects and deliver measurable outcomes in complex, ambiguous environments.
• Experience advising stakeholders and influencing decisions at multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong understanding of program management principles, with exposure to agile methodologies.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to develop executive-level briefings and decision-ready materials.
• 6+ months of continuous full-time work in a SCIF.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects or major workstreams delivering measurable mission outcomes in high-tempo environments.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable plans, operating models, and repeatable processes.
• Design and implement frameworks for rapid acquisition, including intake, evaluation, decision-making, and transition workflows.
• Drive execution through agile, sprint-based delivery models, ensuring progress is measurable and iterative.
• Ensure teams remain focused on outcomes (mission impact, speed, ROI) rather than outputs.
• Identify risks, anticipate challenges, and proactively implement mitigation strategies.
• Serve as trusted advisor to client stakeholders with data-driven recommendations on program and process improvements.
• Facilitate alignment across leadership, program offices, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, and operating charters.
• Enable faster, more disciplined decision-making through standardized approaches.
• Establish and implement performance measurement frameworks, including leading indicators.
• Develop ROI and impact models to support investment decisions and future scaling efforts.
• Ensure pilots and initiatives are structured as evidence-generating experiments.
• Drive continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and refining processes.
• Support the design and execution of engagement models with startups, academia, and emerging technology partners.
• Lead and manage team members across projects, ensuring high-quality delivery and professional growth.
• Onboard new team members and accelerate time to productivity.
• Manage team utilization across projects to ensure effective resourcing and delivery.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Manage contract execution to ensure compliance, performance, and profitability targets are met.
• Monitor delivery health, flag risks early, and implement solutions to improve efficiency and scalability.

Skills

Program management

DoD / federal clients

Leadership

Agile methodologies

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

SCIF experience

Job description

Dcode Group, Inc. is seeking a mission-driven Senior Program Manager to lead high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. You will guide major workstreams delivering measurable mission outcomes and help stand up rapid acquisition capabilities.

The role requires navigating ambiguity, leading teams, and advising stakeholders, with salary range $116,000-$152,000 and active TS clearance preferred. Eligibility for clearance is required.