TSA Program Manager

Battelle Memorial Institute; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Battelle Memorial Institute is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead the TSA Open Architecture initiative, spanning testing, data management, standards, and systems integration nationwide in a multi-year portfolio. This hybrid role is based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

The successful candidate will manage execution, staffing, quality, and contract performance across multiple Mission Support Areas, with responsibility for compliance, risk, and customer engagement in a

Qualifications

• Ten years of program management experience with at least five years in federal programs of similar size and complexity.
• Familiarity with TSA security screening technologies and OA initiatives.
• Strong controls, risk, performance, and contract-management for large federal programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with federal clients and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single program-level point of contact and lead execution across all OA Mission Support Areas.
• Interface with TSA stakeholders (CO, COR) and government technical leads, industry, OEMs and standards bodies.
• Direct and manage cross-functional teams supporting data management, evaluation frameworks, and open architecture development nationwide.
• Develop and maintain the Program Management Plan (PMP) and Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for each MSA.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

Battelle delivers when others can't. We conduct research and development, manage national laboratories, design and manufacture products and deliver critical services for our clients-whether they are a multi-national corporation, a small start-up or a government agency.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Summary

Battelle is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead execution of work supporting the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Open Architecture (OA) initiative, advancing a secure, interoperable, vendor-agnostic transportation security screening ecosystem. The program spans a broad, multi-year portfolio of testing, evaluation, standards, data management, and systems-integration activities executed nationwide. This is a hybrid position located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area (National Capital Region) .

This is a high-impact leadership role for a professional with deep experience managing complex Federal programs, leading multidisciplinary technical teams, and delivering high-quality performance in regulated, mission-critical environments. The successful candidate will serve as the single program-level point of contact and will be responsible for program execution, staffing, quality, compliance, customer engagement, and overall contract performance across multiple concurrent Mission Support Areas (MSAs).

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single program-level point of contact and lead execution across all Open Architecture Mission Support Areas, ensuring delivery aligns with contract scope, schedule, quality, staffing, and cost expectations.
• Serve as the primary interface with TSA stakeholders - including the Contracting Officer (CO), Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and Government technical leads - as well as industry, OEM, and standards-body stakeholders, while maintaining disciplined scope control and contract compliance.
• Direct and manage cross-functional matrixed teams supporting DICOS data management, detection algorithm and evaluation-framework activities, Common Workstation standardization, Threat Image Projection, image quality standards, and open architecture development on a nationwide basis.
• Develop, maintain, and execute the Program Management Plan (PMP) and an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) for each MSA, managing performance, risk, staffing, and subcontractor coordination against them.
• Plan and lead program kickoff meetings, quarterly Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and recurring conference calls; prepare and deliver technical progress reports, weekly IMS/POA&M updates, and the Monthly Contractor Status Report (CSR).
• Maintain the Program Deliverables List (PDL) and ensure timely, compliant submission and secure storage of all contract deliverables.
• Coordinate program logistics, Government-furnished equipment (GFE)/Government-furnished information (GFI), site access, and travel required to support test, evaluation, and integration activities.
• Ensure full compliance with applicable TSA, DHS, FAR, HSAR, security, privacy, and information-handling requirements, including Zero Trust and cybersecurity (RMF) safeguards for program data, algorithms, and systems.
• Build and sustain a strong workforce by overseeing staffing plans, recruitment, retention, and human-resource management, and ensure workforce readiness across a diverse set of technical environments.
• Oversee safety and quality performance and ensure implementation of robust quality-management approaches across laboratory, checkpoint, and field environments.
• Support program financial and contractual discipline, including invoice support, labor-category alignment, and documentation readiness, as well as internal financial forecasting and reporting.
• Coordinate closely with subcontracting partners to align scope, cost, schedule, and quality, and lead orderly program transition-in and transition-out activities.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical sciences, systems engineering, operations, program management, or a related field.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of program management experience, including at least five (5) years specializing in managing similar Federal programs of similar size and complexity.
• Familiarity with TSA, security screening technologies and associated OA initiatives.
• Strong understanding of program controls, risk management, performance management, and contract compliance for large Federal programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience engaging with Federal clients and senior stakeholders.
• Ability to travel as required to support program needs, up to 25%.
• Sole US Citizenship with an active SECRET clearance or the eligibility and willingness to obtain and maintain a SECRET clearance, and to obtain and maintain TSA