Program Manager

Role Overview

The Program Manager is Aquia's primary owner of contract performance on a single large federal engagement. You are accountable for the full lifecycle of program delivery- from client relationships and staffing to budget, risk, and organic growth. You operate as the final escalation point internally and the strategic face of Aquia externally, building the long-term partnership with government stakeholders while ensuring the day-to-day program runs with discipline and excellence.

As Program Manager, you work with significant autonomy. You don’t want a playbook handed to you- you want to write it, execute against it, and adapt it when the environment changes.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Performance & Delivery Oversight

• Serve as the accountable lead for all contract deliverables, milestones, and performance outcomes
• Maintain a strategic contract roadmap aligned to the client's mission priorities and evolving needs
• Own the program risk register, integrating inputs from project and product leads; ensure risks are identified, tracked, and actively mitigated
• Oversee program budget and burn rate; proactively flag variances and model corrective actions
• Monitor contract health against PWS/SOW requirements; escalate issues before they become findings

Client Relationships & Stakeholder Management

• Act as Aquia's primary point of contact with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key government stakeholders
• Build and maintain strategic relationships across the client organization, including leadership levels above the day-to-day POC
• Negotiate scope, timelines, and contract adjustments with the customer as program conditions evolve
• Lead CPARS preparation and manage the formal performance evaluation process
• Represent Aquia with credibility during audits, reviews, and executive touchpoints

Reporting & Communication

• Produce and own monthly Program Status Reports (internal and external), ensuring accuracy, consistency, and strategic framing
• Fulfill all program-level reporting requirements as defined in the contract PWS/SOW
• Serve as incident response communications lead, coordinating Aquia's response posture and stakeholder notifications
• Act as the final internal and client-facing escalation point for program issues

Staffing & Team Leadership

• Define roles and responsibilities across the program team, including subcontractors
• Manage subcontractor relationships: performance, deliverables, and compliance with contract terms
• Own onboarding and offboarding for all program personnel
• Address issues in partnership with Project Managers; create conditions for team performance and retention
• Partner with Aquia recruiting and hiring managers on backfill and growth hiring for your program