Science Program Manager Jobs in Laurel, MD (NOW HIRING)

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LAUKOA is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead a multidisciplinary team supporting the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE), located in Silver Spring, MD. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact between LAUKOA, the Government, and overall contracting team and will be responsible for the successful execution of a complex behavioral health research and program management support contract.

The Program Manager will oversee technical, operational, administrative, and contractual performance while ensuring high-quality delivery of services supporting psychological health research, implementation science, surveillance, research translation, health promotion, and other PHCoE mission areas. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, manage cross-functional teams, coordinate subcontractor performance, and ensure contract requirements are executed on schedule and within budget while maintaining exceptional customer satisfaction.

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as the primary interface between between LAUKOA, the Government, and overall contracting team for all contract matters.
• Provide overall leadership, direction, and management for contract execution.
• Ensure successful delivery of all technical, administrative, and operational requirements identified in the Performance Work Statement.
• Lead a multidisciplinary workforce supporting behavioral health research, implementation science, surveillance, data analytics, health promotion, research adoption, and research execution activities.
• Oversee staffing, recruiting, onboarding, workforce planning, employee performance, and retention.
• Monitor contract performance to ensure quality, schedule, cost, and customer satisfaction objectives are consistently achieved.
• Manage project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements.
• Develop and implement quality control processes and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Identify program risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Support transition-in and transition-out activities to ensure uninterrupted mission support.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Health Agency (DHA), Department of Defense (DoD), and contract requirements.
• Lead recurring status meetings, executive briefings, and program reviews with Government leadership.
• Ensure subcontractors are effectively integrated into overall contract performance and remain aligned with technical and contractual objectives.
• Promote collaboration among research, clinical, analytical, communications, and administrative personnel supporting the PHCoE mission.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and exceptional customer service.
• Support strategic planning efforts and recommend improvements that enhance operational efficiency and mission effectiveness.

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Federal contract and program management.
• Leadership of multidisciplinary professional teams.
• Healthcare, behavioral health, public health, research, or scientific program management.
• Program planning, scheduling, resource management, and execution.
• Risk identification and mitigation.
• Quality assurance and performance management.
• Contract compliance and deliverable management.
• Customer relationship management.
• Executive communication and presentation skills.
• Personnel supervision and performance management.
• Budget oversight and resource allocation.
• Microsoft Office Suite and common project management tools.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of full-time experience serving as a Contract Program Manager overseeing federal contracts or task orders of similar size and complexity.
• Demonstrated success managing multidisciplinary teams supporting complex Government programs.
• Experience serving as the primary interface with Government customers.
• Experience managing multiple simultaneous workstreams and technical deliverables.
• Experience developing staffing plans, monitoring contract performance, and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Experience supporting quality management and continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• Ability to effectively oversee contractor personnel and contract deliverables.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust background investigation and Common Access Card (CAC).
• Occasional CONUS travel may be required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference may be given to candidates with experience supporting:
  • Defense Health Agency (DHA)
  • Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)
  • Military Health System (MHS)
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Experience supporting transition planning and contract start-up activities.
• Experience overseeing geographically dispersed or hybrid workforces.

Salary Range: $135,000 - $160,000

*This Position is Contingent Upon Award.

LAUKOA is an Equal Opportunity/VEVRAA federal contractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

LAUKOA offers a best-in-class benefits program including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; paid vacation and sick leave; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; an Employee Assistance Program; and a flexible work environment. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including critical illness coverage; accident insurance; identity theft coverage; pet insurance, and more.

LAUKOA gives preference to internal candidates. If no internal candidate meets our qualifications, external candidates will be given consideration.