Program Manager (Part-Time, 0.5 FTE)
Location: Monterey, CA (Remote/Hybrid considered, subject to contract requirements)
Employment Type: Part-Time (Approximately 20 hours per week)
Security Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a favorable background investigation.
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to provide strategic leadership for a multidisciplinary team supporting the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS). This part-time leadership position serves as the primary interface between the contractor team and Government leadership, ensuring successful execution of educational, instructional, multimedia, communications, web, and program support services. The Program Manager is responsible for overall contract performance, customer engagement, workforce leadership, and continuous improvement while empowering a team of experienced professionals delivering day-to-day mission support. This role is ideal for an accomplished leader with experience in higher education, military education, professional services, or complex organizational management who is interested in a flexible leadership opportunity.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary point of contact between the contractor team and Government leadership.
- Provide overall leadership and oversight for contract execution, ensuring all performance objectives are achieved.
- Lead a multidisciplinary team supporting instructional design, educational technology, multimedia production, communications, web services, program analysis, and administrative support.
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with NPS leadership, faculty, staff, and mission partners.
- Provide strategic guidance to project leads while fostering collaboration, accountability, and exceptional customer service.
- Oversee workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, employee retention, and succession planning to maintain uninterrupted mission support.
- Monitor contract performance, identify risks, and implement proactive solutions to improve operational effectiveness.
- Lead transition and phase-in activities while ensuring continuity of operations.
- Review contract deliverables, status reports, staffing metrics, and customer feedback to ensure consistent performance.
- Promote process improvements, innovation, and operational efficiencies that enhance mission outcomes.
- Ensure compliance with all contractual requirements, company policies, and applicable Government regulations.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience managing professional services contracts, academic support programs, or similarly complex organizations.
- Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams in higher education, government, military, or other professional services environments.
- Proven ability to develop strong customer relationships and effectively manage diverse stakeholders.
- Experience with workforce management, staffing, recruiting, employee development, and performance management.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, or another Federal agency.
- Experience supporting colleges, universities, military educational institutions, or continuing education programs.
- Familiarity with instructional technologies, learning management systems (LMS), or academic support operations.
- Previous experience supporting the Naval Postgraduate School or comparable military academic institutions.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent.
- Master's degree in Business Administration, Education, Public Administration, Organizational Leadership, or a related discipline.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a collaborative leader who understands how to balance strategic oversight with customer engagement. They are comfortable working with senior Government leaders, faculty, and professional staff while empowering experienced team members to excel in their respective disciplines. Success in this role requires sound judgment, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to build trust across a diverse academic and operational environment.