Overview SUMMARY: The Program Manager will lead complex Test & Evaluation (T&E) programs supporting the Potomac River Test Range in Dahlgren, VA. This role oversees the planning, execution, and management of major weapons systems testing efforts, ensuring technical rigor, schedule performance, and mission success. The Program Manager serves as the primary interface with government customers, manages diverse technical teams, and ensures all program activities comply with Navy, Marine Corps, and DoD standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Program Manager will lead complex Test & Evaluation (T&E) programs supporting the Potomac River Test Range in Dahlgren, VA. This role oversees the planning, execution, and management of major weapons systems testing efforts, ensuring technical rigor, schedule performance, and mission success. The Program Manager serves as the primary interface with government customers, manages diverse technical teams, and ensures all program activities comply with Navy, Marine Corps, and DoD standards.
Program Leadership & Execution - Provide strategic direction and day-to-day leadership for a large-scale T&E programs supporting Navy and Marine Corps weapons systems.
- Develop and manage program plans, schedules, milestones, and performance metrics to ensure successful execution.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams of engineers, testers, and analysts across multiple concurrent test events.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for government stakeholders, delivering clear communication, status reporting, and technical briefings.
- Oversee the planning, coordination, and execution of rigorous weapons systems testing, including live-fire, performance, environmental, and safety evaluations.
- Ensure all test activities comply with range safety requirements, DoD T&E policies, and applicable technical standards.
- Guide data collection, analysis, and reporting to support system certification, fielding decisions, and acquisition milestones.
Financial & Resource Management - Develop and manage program budgets, cost estimates, and long-range financial forecasts.
- Track expenditures, monitor burn rates, and optimize resource allocation across test events and task orders.
- Conduct cost analyses to support decision-making and lifecycle planning.
Quality Assurance & Compliance - Implement and maintain ISO 9000-aligned quality assurance processes across all program activities.
- Ensure compliance with DoD security requirements for handling classified information.
- Conduct internal audits, corrective actions, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement - Build and maintain strong relationships with government customers, range personnel, engineering teams, and external partners.
- Facilitate technical interchange meetings, design reviews, and after-action assessments.
- Promote a collaborative, high-performance environment across all program teams.
REQUIRED SKILLS - Ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional technical experience
- Eight (8) years of specialized experience in the hands-on development and rigorous evaluation/testing of major weapons systems.
- Six (6) years of demonstrated Program Management experience over efforts of comparable size and complexity, including managing complex projects and diverse teams.
- Demonstrated leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively manage diverse teams and build strong relationships with clients and stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively in a Test and Evaluation (T&E) environment with engineers, testers, and Government personnel.
- Proven Program Management expertise using industry-standard methodologies (e.g., PMI, Agile).
- Extensive knowledge of weapons systems development, evaluation, and testing processes, from concept to deployment.
- Expertise in life cycle planning and cost analysis, including developing and managing budgets, forecasting costs, and optimizing resource allocation.
- Experience with Navy and/or Marine Corps weapons systems and acquisition processes preferred.
- Prior experience managing T&E programs.
- Prior experience managing contracts involving multiple subcontractors and complex technical requirements.
- Deep understanding of Quality Assurance principles and practical experience implementing ISO 9000 standards.
- Must have an active Secret clearance or higher.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: As assigned.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential functions require light to moderate physical exertion in lifting and carrying items weighing from 10 to 50 pounds with occasional lifting over 50 pounds with assistance. The position requires long periods of standing, stooping, climbing and working in areas of operating equipment. Work shall be performed both at off-site and on-site locations.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Coordinates, supervises, and/or manages support personnel.
ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FACTORS: As a condition of employment, must pass a pre-employment drug screening, as well as have acceptable reference and background check results.
The Tatitlek Corporation gives hiring, promotion, training and retention preference to Tatitlek shareholders, shareholder descendants and shareholder spouses who meet the minimum qualifications for the job.
As an equal opportunity employer, The Tatitlek Corporation recognizes that our strength lies in our people. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or employment. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business.
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