Operational Program Manager Jobs in Knoxville, TN

Job Title: Program Manager
Location: Knoxville, TN (Preferred). Candidates local to the Knoxville, TN area are preferred to support onsite collaboration; however, qualified candidates located in the Washington, DC area will also be considered for remote work arrangements.
Employment Type: Full-Time
Who We Are
Management Solutions, LLC (MSLLC) is an award-winning management consulting firm delivering solutions for our partners' most complex challenges. Since 2002, we have supported federal and commercial clients through expertise in project and program strategy, delivery and implementation, engineering and technical advisory services, workforce solutions, and digital solutions.
We are distinguished by our reputation for managing mission-critical projects and helping organizations improve performance through innovative, people-centered solutions. MSLLC has been recognized as Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Department of Energy, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and has been named one of the Top Employers in the Greater Knoxville area.
Why Join Our Team
At Management Solutions, we believe our people are the foundation of our success. We are committed to fostering a collaborative and caring culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to grow. We seek professionals who think critically, solve complex problems, and are dedicated to building and sustaining high-performing, client-focused solutions.
Position Overview
The Program Manager is responsible for providing program and project management oversight across complex client initiatives across multiple, large federal defense programs while supporting requirements analysis, operational planning, pricing activities, and financial performance. This client-facing role serves as a key partner to leadership, project teams, and stakeholders to ensure successful execution of program objectives, alignment of resources, and delivery of high-quality solutions.
The Program Manager will oversee program performance by monitoring schedules, risks, deliverables, project financials, and resource utilization across multiple initiatives. This role requires the ability to analyze technical direction, client requirements, and project objectives to develop actionable plans, support pricing and cost estimating efforts, and maintain visibility into program performance through forecasting, reporting, and operational analysis.
The ideal candidate brings a blend of program management, business analysis, project financial management, and stakeholder engagement experience, with the ability to manage competing priorities, coordinate cross-functional teams, and drive projects from planning through execution in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
This role involves executing both program-level management and oversight as well as project-level execution support.
Program Management:

• Lead and oversee program execution across multiple projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives, timelines, budgets, and deliverables.

• Serve as a primary client-facing point of contact, maintaining strong stakeholder relationships and facilitating clear communication across teams.

• Build trust with the client and cultivate a strong relationship to drive the relationship from MSLLC being a "safe pair of hands" to a "trusted advisor."

• Work closely with MSLLC's Account and Relationship Leads to ensure program performance is on budget and meeting revenue and profitability targets, as well as identifying potential opportunities for account growth.

• Develop a growth plan strategy for the program, in connection with the MSLLC Account and Relationship Leads. Pressure test key assumptions to ensure realistic achievement and coordinate across the team to determine the most viable pathways for growth.

• Liaise with MSLLC Functional Managers (as needed) to ensure the appropriate personnel are delivered across projects.

Project Execution:

• Analyze project requirements, technical direction, and client needs to develop actionable plans and support successful project execution.

• Coordinate cross-functional teams to support program priorities, resource alignment, and operational execution.

• Monitor and analyze project performance, schedules, risks, resource utilization, and financial metrics, providing recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.

• Support pricing and cost estimation activities, ensuring accurate forecasting, financial visibility, and alignment with project requirements.

• Track project expenditures, burn rates, and forecasts across multiple projects to support financial stability and informed decision-making.

• Generate timely and accurate program and financial reports, including weekly and monthly status updates, to maintain visibility into performance, risks, and milestones.

• Support development and review of project execution plans (PEPs), project documentation, and proposal-related materials to ensure alignment with client requirements and contractual expectations.

• Collaborate closely with project managers, leadership, and contract teams to assess funding needs, resource allocation, and project execution strategies.

• Identify program risks, financial impacts, dependencies, and operational challenges, proactively developing mitigation strategies.

• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements, internal processes, and applicable regulations while maintaining accurate project documentation and reporting.

• Facilitate meetings, briefings, and presentations with internal and external stakeholders to communicate priorities, recommendations, and program status.

• Manage multiple priorities and support geographically dispersed teams in fast-paced, evolving environments.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics, Project Management, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in program management, project management, business analysis, financial analysis, project controls, management consulting, or other related consulting/program delivery environments.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects or programs involving multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and cross-functional coordination, with experience managing federal defense programs preferred.

• Experience analyzing project requirements, technical direction, scope, or client needs and translating them into actionable plans and deliverables.

• Experience supporting pricing, cost estimating, budgeting, forecasting, burn rate management, or financial reporting for projects or programs.

• Experience monitoring program performance, schedules, risks, deliverables, and financial metrics to support successful project execution.

• Ability to interpret and support proposal documentation, project execution plans (PEPs), statements of work (SOWs), technical direction, or similar project documentation.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with a high attention to detail.

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, leadership, and technical teams.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced environments and adapt to changing business needs.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across project teams, leadership, contracts, and operational stakeholders.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced Excel skills for tracking, reporting, and financial analysis.

• Ability to obtain a federal government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP certification or equivalent project/program management certification.

• Experience supporting federal government contracts, including familiarity with government project environments, reporting requirements, or compliance expectations, ideally within defense or intelligence agencies.

• Experience with Technical Direction Letters (TDLs), project execution plans (PEPs), pricing proposals, cost estimating, or project financial management.

• Familiarity with FAR and DFARS regulations, including experience supporting compliance requirements in government contracting environments.

• Experience supporting federal program financial oversight, including forecasting, variance analysis, subcontractor tracking, labor planning, or resource allocation.

• Experience working within a management consulting or professional services environment.

• Experience leading or supporting geographically dispersed teams and client-facing programs.

• Graduate degree preferred.

Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship is required due to federal contract and/or security clearance requirements.
Working Conditions: This position is primarily performed in an office environment or a home office setting. Employees will be required to use a computer and other office equipment for extended periods. Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods and operate a computer and standard office equipment.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Management Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) is the Law.
Management Solutions is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact Human Resources.
Disclaimer:
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not a complete list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with it.
Management Solutions LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, 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 or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.