Senior Project Manager

Overview

Nakupuna Resources is seeking a Senior Project Manager to join our team of consultants supporting the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Adaptive Capabilities Office (ACO) within the Department of War (DOW). The position will provide programmatic, financial, and administrative Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS), as well as Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Assistance (SETA) support, to advance the ACO mission across existing and planned programs. A&AS support areas include Management and Professional Support, Studies, Analyses, and Evaluations, and Engineering and Technical Services.

Responsibilities

The following outlines management’s definition of the essential functions for this role but does not limit the duties that may be assigned. The candidate will be expected to operate effectively both as part of a team and independently to meet client requirements.

• Plan, organize, and manage day-to-day execution of task order requirements, ensuring alignment with DARPA Adaptive Capabilities Office strategic objectives, milestones, and performance expectations.
• Develop and manage integrated project schedules, risk registers, and action trackers to maintain visibility into dependencies, resource needs, and deadlines across all workstreams.
• Coordinate with Government Program Managers to refine technical objectives, define scope, assess progress, and validate that project outcomes fully support research and program execution needs.
• Prepare formal project documentation including status reports, briefing materials, decision papers, and other deliverables required to support executive-level decision making.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration with engineering, technical, research, and financial teams to ensure A&AS and SETA support is synchronized and delivered efficiently.
• Manage work assignments, workflows, and priorities for contractor staff to ensure timely completion of tasks, equitable distribution of work, and adherence to quality management processes.
• Monitor performance metrics against defined cost, schedule, and technical baselines, and recommend corrective actions when performance deviates from expectations.
• Support the development and execution of acquisition strategies, technical evaluations, and documentation packages required for future ACO program planning and contract support.
• Ensure compliance with contract terms, DARPA directives, security requirements, and other applicable federal regulations governing research, analysis, and advisory services.
• Maintain effective communication channels with government stakeholders to establish expectations, manage changing requirements, and ensure transparency throughout the lifecycle of the task order.
• Support strategic planning by developing recommendations, identifying risk-mitigation strategies, and advising on opportunities to accelerate program outcomes or increase impact.
• Coordinate logistics, staffing, records management, and documentation control to support technical reviews, demonstrations, working group meetings, and decision forums.
• Be accountable for team performance. Coach and mentor team members. Be accountable for employee engagement. Manage personnel actions, including recruiting and hiring process as well as performance plans.
  
  

Qualifications

Skills/Qualifications: The ideal candidate possesses expertise and experience in the project management, specifically in support of research and defense organizations. Specifically, the ideal candidate will be familiar with and have experience with the following technical knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Project management skills and experience leading teams. Experience working in or with federal government and/or military is required.
• Excellent writing, editing, and oral communication skills. Proven experience briefing senior leaders.
• Experience supporting a research and development organization and working with technical experts is required.
• Willingness to take initiative and solve problems.
• Strong time management skills and ability to prioritize. Ability to work under pressure and sometimes after core business hours to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to adapt in a fast-paced environment.
  
  

Education and Experience:

• This position requires a bachelor’s degree or higher as well as a minimum of 10 years of professional experience.
  
  

Clearance: This position requires an active SECRET security clearance. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Location: The effort will be performed at the DARPA facility located at 675 North Randolph Street, Arlington, VA 22203.

Physical Requirements: The ideal candidate must at a minimum be able to meet the following physical requirements of the job with or without a reasonable accommodation :

• Ability to perform repetitive motions with the hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Ability to engage in and follow audible communications in emergency situations.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and working on a computer.