Project Manager​/Engagement Lead

The Project Manager and Engagement Lead keeps this engagement running on time, on scope, and on budget — and makes sure NNPS always knows what is happening and why it matters. You are not the deepest technical person on this team; the senior penetration testers, analysts, and specialists handle the technical execution. Your job is to coordinate that team, manage the client relationship, produce clear written status reports, and ensure every deliverable gets across the finish line at the quality S1C and NNPS both expect.

The RFP that governs this engagement requires a named senior technical point of contact who is available for questions and formal check-in calls throughout the engagement.

• Serve as the primary point of contact between S1C and NNPS leadership and IT staff — specifically the NNPS Contract Administrator — for the full duration of the engagement.
• Confirm and document the scope of services, written test plan, and communication protocol in writing before any testing begins, as required by the RFP.
• Establish and maintain an incident and escalation management process to handle any issues that arise during testing — including disruptions to network operations or unexpected findings.
• Define and document who within NNPS is aware of testing activities and to what degree, coordinating with NNPS IT staff to avoid disruption to classroom instruction.
• Produce and deliver written status reports to NNPS on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, covering: progress against the project timeline, testing activities completed and underway, non-critical initial findings, and any anticipated schedule changes.
• Lead the formal kick-off meeting to finalize project schedule and logistics with NNPS.
• Lead the mandatory formal close-out meeting to hand off all final files, data, and deliverables to NNPS.
• Lead the formal final report presentation to NNPS leadership and IT staff, including dedicated Q&A time on findings and remediation steps.
• Manage the post-delivery consultation period — a fixed block of hours (8 to 16 hours) available to NNPS for 30 to 60 days after final report delivery for follow-up questions and remediation guidance.
• Review and approve all deliverable reports before they go to the client — you do not need to write every word, but you are accountable for the accuracy and quality of everything submitted.
• Coordinate subcontractor work and confirm all team members have completed required certifications before on-site work at NNPS facilities, including the Virginia Code § 22.1-296.1 student safety certification.
• Request written extensions from the NNPS Contract Administrator if any phase requires more than the four-week deliverable window specified in the contract

• Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, information technology, business, project management, or a related field — or equivalent professional experience in lieu of a degree.
• Active PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, OR an active mid-level or higher cybersecurity certification such as Security+, CISM, CISSP, or equivalent.
• 3 or more years of experience managing technical projects or client engagements in a cybersecurity, IT services, or government contracting environment.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a primary client point of contact — managing expectations, producing written communications, and presenting findings to leadership.
• Experience producing formal written status reports and project documentation.
• Comfort reviewing technical security findings and translating them into clear language for non-technical stakeholders — you do not need to be a penetration tester, but you need to understand what the team is doing and why it matters.
• Strong organizational skills — this engagement…