Senior National Defense & Military Program Area Manager II​/III; National Partnerships Office

Senior National Defense & Military Program Area Manager II/III (National Partnerships Office)

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Responsibilities:

• Be the program management focal point for the Department of Defense (DoD)-related reimbursable program activities, including direct interactions with DoD customers.
• Be responsible to the Manager, National Partnerships Office (NPO) and the Director, Astronomy and Physics Directorate (APD) for the development and execution of work for National Defense and Military customers.
• Ensure that both business development and execution of work for the National Defense and Military programs portfolio are conducted in a manner consistent with APD direction and policy, with timely resolution of problem areas. The portfolio covers research and analysis, technology development, systems engineering and integration, test and evaluation, and mission support across major DoD functional areas.
• Develop and sustain institutional relationships with Defense and Intelligence agencies and mature these relationships to strategic partnerships.
• Engage in JPL’s technology planning processes and understand customer needs for technology and system developments that align with JPL’s NASA technology plan.
• Identify and mature opportunities for Defense agency sponsorship of tasks or projects performed by JPL.
• Lead and guide proposal development teams, and guide proposed efforts through sponsor acquisition processes and NASA/JPL contracts processes.
• Provide technical oversight to work under execution, through interactions with the execution team, and communication with the DoD customer.
• Engage with the JPL science and technology community to identify and leverage JPL’s capabilities to meet customer needs.
• Manage successful implementation and closeout of contractually committed technical work.

• Typically requires a Bachelor's or higher with 4 years of supervisory and/or management experience.
• Top Secret / SCI security clearance is required.
• Extensive line/project management experience; success in program development, advocating new projects and developing technology/research programs.
• Understanding of the role of technology in project planning, mission design, and technology development and infusion in a project-oriented enterprise culture.
• Extensive exposure to and understanding of a broad range of technical disciplines such as space-based radar, hyperspectral imaging, laser technologies, surveillance, spectral imagery, cybersecurity, AI/ML.
• Knowledge of the organizational structure, roles and practices of defense and intelligence agencies and of related funding/budgeting processes.
• Experience in developing systems or technologies in a defense and intelligence environment, with flight prototypes and demonstrations.
• Demonstrated leadership and communication skills; ability to interact with senior DoD staff.

• Ph.D. in engineering or related field with 8 years of experience, or MA/MS with 10 years, or BA/BS with 12 years, or equivalent technical experience.
• Military rank of Colonel (or Navy Captain) or higher, or civilian equivalent, with freedom from or very narrow restrictions on representing JPL defense agencies.
• Direct experience managing defense and intelligence agency-sponsored projects and tasks.
• Knowledge of project management, program development, and federal procurement policies and practices.
• Familiarity with JPL processes and procedures; experience working with technical leaders.
• Understanding reimbursable work acquisition and related financial and technical processes.
• Awareness of NASA-related programs and how mutual benefits can be identified for DoD and intelligence sectors.

Note: This position may be classified at a level higher than the posted level. A determination will be made after final candidate identification. The typical full-time annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, CA and Washington, DC is $234,832-$310,544.

Note: Must have…