Program Manager

Security Clearance: Active SECRET Clearance Required

Position Overview:

Check Defense is a fast-growing federal contractor seeking an experienced Program Manager (PM) to provide overall leadership, management, and execution oversight for a large-scale U.S. Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training, instruction, maintenance, logistics, and mission support contract supporting the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence (USAACE) and the 2nd Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The successful candidate will serve as the primary interface between the Government and contractor workforce while ensuring successful execution of all contractual, operational, financial, quality, and personnel requirements.

This position requires a proven leader capable of managing a workforce exceeding 100 personnel, overseeing multiple functional disciplines including UAS operations, maintenance, logistics, instruction, information technology, quality assurance, safety, and security programs.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary contractor representative and liaison with the Contracting Officer (KO), Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR), Government leadership, and customer stakeholders.

• Provide overall management, direction, and execution of all contract requirements.

• Ensure contract performance meets mission objectives, quality standards, schedule requirements, and financial goals.

• Develop, implement, maintain, and update the Program Management Plan (PMP).

• Conduct and co-chair In-Process Reviews (IPRs), Program Management Reviews (PMRs), and customer briefings.

• Prepare and deliver executive-level reports, performance metrics, staffing analyses, risk assessments, and operational briefings.

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, DoD, Army, TRADOC, and contract-specific policies and regulations.

• Lead a diverse workforce of instructors, maintainers, logistics specialists, IT professionals, flight observers, and support personnel.

• Direct staffing, recruiting, retention, workforce planning, succession planning, and employee development efforts.

• Ensure adequate staffing levels are maintained to support operational requirements and training schedules.

• Oversee employee qualification, certification, and training programs.

• Manage subcontractor performance and integration into overall contract execution.

• Develop and manage budgets, labor allocations, and contract resources.

• Monitor contract funding, expenditures, invoices, labor utilization, and financial performance.

• Prepare and submit Contract Funds Status Reports, performance reports, and cost tracking documentation as required.

• Identify cost-saving opportunities and process improvement initiatives while maintaining mission effectiveness.

• Ensure successful implementation of the Quality Control Plan (QCP) and Quality Management System (QMS).

• Lead continuous process improvement initiatives and corrective action programs.

• Monitor contract performance metrics, readiness requirements, and customer satisfaction.

• Oversee risk management, safety programs, security programs, and compliance initiatives.

• Ensure timely reporting and resolution of incidents, accidents, security issues, and contract performance concerns.

• Provide strategic oversight of:

  • UAS flight operations support
  • UAS maintenance and readiness programs
  • Military instruction and training support
  • Logistics and supply operations
  • Information technology support
  • Aviation safety and quality programs
  • Government property accountability
  • Environmental and compliance programs

• Ensure mission requirements and customer deliverables are achieved while maintaining regulatory compliance and operational readiness.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Active SECRET security clearance with ability to maintain clearance eligibility.
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Program Management, Aviation Management, Engineering, Military Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of Program Management experience overseeing a DoD contract of similar size and scope with a workforce of 100 or more personnel.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex government contracts involving multiple operational disciplines.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in high-tempo operational environments.
• Ability to develop and present executive briefings to senior government leadership.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and reporting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting U.S. Army Aviation, TRADOC, USAACE, or UAS programs.
• Experience managing UAS training, maintenance, logistics, or operational support contracts.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification.
• Lean Six Sigma Certification.
• Military aviation or unmanned systems background.
• Prior experience with:
• AR 95-20
• AR 95-1
• TRADOC Programs of Instruction
• UAS maintenance and readiness programs
• Government property management systems
• Army logistics systems