Senior Program Manager – Nuclear Programs

Salas O'Brien; Aiken (SC); On-site; USD 200,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Wellness programs and EAP

Job summary

Salas O'Brien is seeking a Senior Program Manager to lead a multi-disciplinary DOE/NNSA support services contract at the Savannah River Site near Aiken, SC. The on-site leader will provide strategic direction, contract management, and oversight of engineering, project management, and administrative staff to ensure mission performance.

The role requires extensive experience with DOE orders, budgeting, scheduling, and risk management, plus strong leadership and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or related field; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years in program, project, or operations management supporting DOE/NNSA/DoD or Federal programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams on complex contracts.
• Knowledge of DOE Orders, ISMS, Quality Assurance, and Federal PM practices.
• Experience budgeting, scheduling, project controls, risk management, and performance reporting.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• PMP or DOE Project Management Certification or equivalent.
• Active DOE Q Clearance preferred; ability to obtain and maintain DOE Q Clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary Program Manager for a multi-disciplinary DOE/NNSA contract at Savannah River Site.
• Lead engineering, project management, technical, administrative, and professional staff.
• Manage execution, staffing, budgets, schedules, and resource planning.
• Oversee project controls, cost, schedule, risk, and performance reporting.
• Ensure contract performance and successful completion of task orders and deliverables.
• Coordinate subcontractors and workforce planning; adapt to mission priorities.
• Ensure compliance with DOE Orders, NNSA directives, and safety requirements.
• Provide executive-level briefings and status updates.
• Support business development by identifying opportunities and proposals.
• Mentor staff and promote safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Project management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Team coordination

Staff mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or related field

Master's degree preferred

Job description

At Salas O'Brien we tell our clients that we're engineered for impact. This passion for making a difference applies just as much to our team as it does to our projects. That's why we're committed to living our values every day: inspiring, achieving, and connecting as shared owners of our success with a focus on a sustainable future.

Building for the long-term means that all of our team members can expect to work on amazing projects with a people-first approach to problem solving. It also means that each member of our team has truly limitless potential to build a unique, meaningful, and high-impact career and they'll receive great total rewards along the way.

About Us

Founded in 1975, Salas O'Brien is an employee-owned engineering and professional services firm focused on achieving impact for our clients, our team, and the world. We know that tomorrow's requirements are today's opportunities, and we are here to design lasting solutions for pressing challenges.

We work across a variety of industries providing integrated engineering and consulting services. Our specialized experience includes design for data centers, healthcare, science and technology, high-rise buildings, clean energy, education, and other building types as well as structural and building sciences, infrastructure asset management, advanced robotics, and more.

Our technical expertise is paired with an exceptional team of business development, human resources, finance and accounting, information technology, and marketing professionals, all of whom play a key role in bringing our commitments to life every day.

Job Summary

The Senior Program Manager serves as the primary on-site leader responsible for managing and executing a multi-disciplinary support services contract supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS). This position provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and contract management for technical, engineering, project management, administrative, and professional support personnel while ensuring successful contract execution, regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, and mission performance across a complex nuclear and national security environment.

• Serve as the primary Program Manager for a multi-disciplinary DOE/NNSA support services contract supporting the Savannah River Site.
• Act as the primary interface between the company, DOE/NNSA customers, and site contractors.
• Lead engineering, project management, technical, administrative, and professional support personnel.
• Manage program execution, staffing, budgets, schedules, and resource planning to meet contract requirements.
• Oversee project controls, cost, schedule, risk, and performance reporting activities.
• Monitor contract performance and ensure successful execution of task orders and deliverables.
• Coordinate subcontractors and support workforce planning, transition activities, and changing mission priorities.
• Ensure compliance with DOE Orders, NNSA directives, Federal regulations, site procedures, and safety requirements.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, technical, operational, and contractual risks.
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders while providing executive-level briefings and status updates.
• Support business development efforts by identifying opportunities, developing proposals, and expanding customer support.
• Mentor and develop staff while promoting a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, or a related field; Master's preferred.
• 10+ years of program, project, or operations management experience supporting DOE, NNSA, DoD, or Federal programs.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary technical teams and managing complex contracts.
• Knowledge of DOE Orders, ISMS, Quality Assurance, and Federal project management practices.
• Experience with budgeting, scheduling, project controls, risk management, and performance reporting.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• PMP, DOE Project Management Certification, or equivalent certification preferred.
• Active DOE Q Clearance preferred; ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance required.

Travel

Primary work location is the Savannah River Site near Aiken, South Carolina. Occasional travel to DOE/NNSA sites, National Laboratories, customer locations, and contractor facilities as required.

Compensation & Benefits

The expected base salary range for this role is $200,000 - $230,000 USD per year. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a comprehensive U.S. based benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Wellness programs and employee assistance resources
• Professional development support

Benefits

For more information, visit our full benefits overview here.

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

Salas O'Brien provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, or local laws. Salas O'Brien will accommodate the disability-related needs of applicants as required by law.