Program Manager, Federal Programs

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Security Clearance Check: Yes

Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) at George Mason University serves as the university’s central hub for workforce development, executive education, and applied professionallearning. CPE partners with federal agencies, industry, and academic units across Mason to design and deliver high‑impacttraining programs that strengthen the region’s talentpipeline.

CPE supports strategic university initiatives by offering flexible,mission‑aligned programs—including short courses, certificateprograms, customized federal training, and large‑scale workforceskilling efforts that advance organizational performance and address emerging national security, defense, and technology needs.

As part of GMU’s research and innovation ecosystem, CPEcollaborates closely with Mason Defense, academic colleges, and research centers to ensure programs are responsive, experiential,and aligned with federal workforce priorities.

CPE also supports George Mason University’s efforts to expand and deliver impactful defense and national security programs throughapplied research, federal partnerships, workforce development, and strategic initiatives. The department collaborates closely with academic units, research centers, and federal agencies to advancemission-critical national security objectives.

The Program Manager leads and oversees federally funded contractprograms supporting research, academic initiatives, or strategicoperations with George Mason University’s Mason Defense initiativewithin CPE. The Program Manager ensures effective programexecution, compliance with federal regulations, financial stewardship, and seamless collaboration with universitystakeholders, federal sponsors, subcontractors, and research teams.

This role is essential in maintaining Mason’s commitment tohigh‑impact research, national security partnerships, and efficientcontract performance.

• Leads the planning, execution, and delivery of federal contractprogram objectives in alignment with university policies and sponsor requirements;
• Oversees project timelines, milestones, deliverables, and performance metrics; and
• Facilitates collaboration between faculty researchers,administrative staff, technical teams, federal sponsors, and subcontractors.

• Ensures program operations comply with FAR, DFARS, OMB Uniform Guidance, federal agency regulations, and George Mason Universitystandards;
• Monitors contract modifications, deliverables, reporting requirements, and documentation; and
• Supports audits, site visits, and federal reviews, ensuring timely and accurate submission of required materials.

• Develops and manages program budgets, forecasts, spendingplans, and cost-tracking mechanisms;
• Ensures compliance with federal cost principles and universityfinancial policies; and
• Assists in developing budgets for contract extensions,expansions, or renewal proposals.

• Serves as the primary liaison between George Mason University and federal sponsors;
• Prepares and presents program briefings, updates, and performance reports; and
• Coordinates meetings, workshops, and reviews with internal and external partners.

• Supports hiring, onboarding, and supervision of program staff,researchers, and subcontractors;
• Assigns work, monitors performance, and ensures appropriateresource allocation; and
• Promotes a collaborative working environment across teams and partner institutions.

• Supports proposal development, capture activities, and strategic planning for future sponsored programs;
• Identifies process improvements and implement efficienciesacross program operations; and
• Ensu…