Senior Program Manager

Location: USA NJ Egg Harbor Township

Type of Requisition

Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain

None

Public Trust/Other Required

None

Job Family

Program Delivery and Execution

Job Qualifications

Skills

Business Process Improvements, Deliverables Management, Financial Management, Program Management

Certifications

None

Experience

10 + years of related experience

US Citizenship Required

No

Job Description

About GDIT

At General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), people are our differentiator. As a trusted technology partner to government agencies, we deliver mission-enabling solutions that advance safety, innovation, and national priorities. We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Program Manager to lead a high-visibility Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program focused on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), Counter-UAS (C-UAS) technologies, airport operations, and aviation research.

GDIT is seeking a full-time, on-site Program Manager (PM) for our FAA customer located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center and Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.

This contract supports the FAA's UAS Detection Technologies and Airport Applications Research Program and conducts UAS flight operations, counter-UAS (C-UAS) testing, airport integration initiatives, operational assessments, technology evaluations, and development of future FAA standards and guidance. The program supports National Airspace System (NAS) safety initiatives and emerging aviation technologies that will shape the future integration of UAS into airport operations.

The Program Manager serves as the senior leader responsible for overall contract execution and performance. The PM will provide leadership, strategic direction, technical oversight, financial accountability, customer engagement, and coordination across multiple task orders supporting C-UAS Detection and Mitigation, UAS Airport Applications, and UAS Operations initiatives.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary interface between GDIT and the FAA customer while coordinating activities between local operations, GDIT corporate leadership, subcontractors, vendors, airport stakeholders, and federal partners. This position requires exceptional leadership, aviation program management expertise, strong customer engagement skills, and proven success managing complex technical programs in highly visible and mission-critical environments.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

Provide overall leadership and management of personnel working in a highly technical, mission-critical aviation environment.

Serve as the primary point of contact to the FAA customer for all contractual, technical, operational, and programmatic matters.

Lead execution of a complex FAA contract supporting UAS Detection and Mitigation Technologies and UAS Airport Applications research programs.

Manage multiple concurrent task orders, ensuring successful execution of scope, schedule, budget, technical quality, and customer satisfaction objectives.

Develop and foster effective relationships with customers at multiple organizational levels to enable long-term partnership and mission success.

Direct and coordinate multidisciplinary teams consisting of engineers, project managers, UAS operators, data analysts, GIS specialists, researchers, and subcontractor personnel.

Guide technical staff and subcontractor teams in developing and executing technical work plans, research activities, testing programs, evaluations, reports, and deliverables.

Oversee development and execution of project plans, test plans, schedules, risk management plans, and program reporting requirements.

Ensure compliance with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) requirements, FAA directives, safety requirements, and contract obligations.

Manage program budgets, task-order funding, forecasting, staffing plans, and financial reporting.

Develop and review cost estimates, basis of estimates, and technical proposals supporting task-order growth and contract expansion opportunities.

Lead Program Management Reviews (PMRs), customer briefings, executive reviews, monthly status reporting, and strategic planning efforts.

Coordinate and manage relationships with subcontractors, vendors, airport authorities, federal agencies, and industry partners.

Support research, testing, evaluation, and deployment activities involving UAS, C-UAS, airport technologies, Remote Identification initiatives, and emerging aviation capabilities.

Identify, manage, and mitigate programmatic, technical, operational, safety, and financial risks.

Support development of technical reports, FAA guidance materials, presentations, briefing packages, and executive communications.

Foster a culture of accountability, learning, innovation, collaboration, continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.

Mentor and develop program staff while maintaining high employee engagement and retention.

Ensure exceptional contract performance and successful delivery of customer outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years of program and project management experience leading complex technical, aviation, engineering, or federal government programs.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting FAA, aviation, airport operations, aerospace, defense, UAS, C-UAS, air traffic, or related technical programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, multi-disciplinary teams across geographically distributed locations.
• Proven experience managing subcontractors, vendors, and teaming partners in support of federal contracts.
• Experience managing task-order-based contracts, IDIQ contracts, or other complex federal acquisition vehicles.
• Demonstrated expertise with FAA Acquisition Management System (AMS) contracting processes and customer environments.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and direct technical and operational personnel in a fast-paced environment.
• Outstanding verbal, written, presentation, and customer communication skills.
• Experience managing program finances, budgeting, forecasting, staffing, resource planning, and financial reporting.
• Experience developing and implementing program management best practices, processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully engage executive leadership, government stakeholders, technical teams, and customers.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to obtain and maintain all required airport access credentials and government suitability requirements.
• Ability to travel as required to support program activities, testing, evaluations, demonstrations, and customer meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Master's degree in Engineering, Aviation, Systems Engineering, Operations Research, Business Administration, Management Science, or a related field.
• Prior FAA experience or direct support to FAA organizations.
• Experience supporting the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center.
• Experience leading aviation research, development, testing, and evaluation programs.
• Experience with UAS Detection and Mitigation technologies.
• Experience with airport operations, airfield systems, airport technology programs, or aviation safety initiatives.
• Familiarity with FAA Orders, Advisory Circulars, Part 107 regulations, Part 139 airport operations, and National Airspace System operations.
• Experience with Safety Management Systems (SMS) and Safety Risk Management (SRM) processes.
• Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.
• Experience supporting emerging technologies, operational demonstrations, technology validation, and standards development initiatives.
• Familiarity with GIS, geospatial analytics, sensor systems, and data analytics programs.
• Experience supporting DoD, DHS, or other federal aviation and security organizations.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Aviation, Operations Research, Business, Mathematics, Management Science, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Master's degree preferred.
• PMP certification preferred.

Work Environment

• Full-time, on-site position located in Egg Harbor, New Jersey.
• Work is performed in a technical aviation environment that may include airport operations areas, test sites, laboratories, flight operations environments, and customer facilities.
• Position may require periodic travel to airports and research locations throughout the United States.
• Ability to support occasional work outside normal business hours to accommodate flight operations, testing activities, customer meetings, and program milestones.

Why Join GDIT

At GDIT, you'll help solve some of the nation's most complex aviation and technology challenges while supporting the future integration of UAS into the NAS. You'll work alongside industry-leading professionals, support highly visible FAA initiatives, and directly contribute to advancing aviation safety, innovation, and operational efficiency.

Benefits

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance and Disability Coverage
• 401(k) with Company Match

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development Opportunities

Career Growth and Advancement Programs

The likely target candidate for this requisition is a senior FAA/aviation program leader capable of managing a multi-million-dollar research and operations portfolio while serving as a trusted advisor to FAA leadership and GDIT executives.

Labor Category Description: Serves as overall program manager and administrator for a contract and associated Task Orders. Provides leadership; strategic and tactical planning; and oversight in the management and administration of the contract. Has experience managing and supervising the work efforts of subordinate personnel. Serves as the primary interface and point of contact with the Contract Officer and Contract Officer Representative on Task Order(s) and project matters.

Candidate must be proficient in the Government contract process and standards, planning tools (i.e. work breakdown structures of products and services within the cost and schedule for each Task Order, Gantt charts, critical path analyses, PERT charts, etc.), budgeting, and report development.

Years of Relevant Experience: 10-15

Degree Requirements: Bachelor's Degree in operations research, engineering, business, mathematics, management science.

Relevant Experience Requirement and Other Information: Candidates must have management experience in programs/projects, preferably aviation and/or research related. Project Manager Professional (PMP) certification is not required, but highly advised.

The likely salary range for this position is $170,000 - $230,000. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Travel Required

None

Telecommuting Options

Onsite

Work Location

USA NJ Egg Harbor Township

Additional Work Locations

Total Rewards at GDIT

Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave.

To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Our Identity Verification Process

As part of the hiring process, we will ask you to complete an identity verification process that leverages advanced biometrics and artificial intelligence to ensure authenticity and protect against identity fraud. You are expected to be on camera during virtual interviews. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud. By proceeding, you authorize the collection, processing, and use of your biometric data for identity verification and security purposes.

About Our Work

We are GDIT. A global technology and professional services company that delivers technology solutions and mission services to every major agency across the U.S. government, defense and intelligence community. Our 26,000 experts extract the power of technology to create immediate value and deliver solutions at the edge of innovation. We operate across 50+ countries worldwide, offering leading mission-ready capabilities in AI, cloud, cyber and software development.

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Equal Opportunity Employer / Individuals with Disabilities / Protected Veterans