Program Manager I

Description

Alutiiq is hiring a Contractor Program Manager to lead operations and maintenance of the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system for the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron under Mission Delta 2. GEODSS detects, tracks, identifies, and reports on man-made objects in Earth orbit, feeding the National Space Defense Center, the 18th Space Defense Squadron, and the National Space Intelligence Center. The system operates from three geographically separated detachments — Stallion Range at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, and Mount Haleakala on Maui — each running three one-meter telescopes on a 24/7 basis, with mission operations conducted between civil sunset and sunrise.

You will be the single point of accountability to the Government Program Manager, Contracting Officer, and site Contracting Officer Representatives for the performance of the entire program. This is a designated key personnel position; the Government reviews and approves the qualifications package for this role, and any change to the incumbent requires a replacement package within seven days.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as the contractor’s single point of authority for GEODSS O&M across all three detachments, reporting any problem affecting requirement accomplishment or contractor performance to the CORs, Government PM, and CO within one business day
• Own the program Management Plan — organizational structure, lines of authority, manning levels, position descriptions, qualification and certification requirements, training approach, work scheduling, and integration with the Quality Management Program
• Direct the three Site Managers and the program-level functional leads for system administration, line tactics, environmental, civil engineering, weapon system maintenance, and logistics/transportation
• Maintain staffing continuity: keep vacancies under 60 calendar days, submit a Vacancy Fill Plan within three business days of any vacancy, and deliver an updated organizational chart within five business days of each new hire
• Drive performance against the contract’s measured objectives — monthly completion rates for SOI, maneuver, Category I, and cislunar taskings; sensor availability of no less than 99% per month; and zero reportable COMSEC or security incidents
• Oversee the Quality Program and Quality Program Plan, keeping the quality function organizationally independent of operational and technical management, and ensure timely Site Quality Status Reports
• Represent the program at the weekly IPT, bi-weekly MFT status meetings, the annual Program Management Review, the annual GEODSS PIWG, and Space Domain Awareness forums
• Lead contract transition and phase-in, including staffing, clearance initiation, property inventories, and phase-out planning
• Manage execution of cost-reimbursable travel and local purchase line items, develop budget inputs, and prepare unfunded requirement justifications with impact statements
• Own contingency planning and crisis response across the three sites, including natural disasters, work stoppages, and site evacuations
• Develop technical and cost proposals for Individual Job Orders at the request of the Contracting Officer
• Maintain the program’s cybersecurity and CMMC compliance posture and oversee all contract deliverables
  
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI access
• U.S. Citizenship
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, management, or a related discipline, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years managing DoD operations and maintenance or mission operations service contracts [Alutiiq to confirm minimums against the Labor Categorization Tool skill level of Senior]
• Demonstrated experience as the accountable program or site manager on a firm-fixed-price Government services contract with measured performance objectives
• Experience managing a workforce covered by a collective bargaining agreement — two of the three GEODSS sites are represented by the IBEW
• Experience managing geographically separated operations, including remote or OCONUS locations
• Track record of on-time Government deliverable submission and favorable CPARS ratings
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to brief senior Government audiences
• Willingness and ability to travel to Socorro, New Mexico and to Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience with GEODSS, the Space Surveillance Network, or comparable optical or radar sensor sites
• Background in space domain awareness, space surveillance, or satellite ground systems operations
• Prior support to 15 SPSS, Mission Delta 2, Space Systems Command, or predecessor organizations
• Experience leading a contract transition or phase-in on a recompete
• Familiarity with IMDS, JDRS, AF Form 1067 modification processes, and Air Force technical order systems
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
• Master’s degree in a technical or management discipline