Program Manager

Leonard Workforce Solutions is hiring on behalf of a manufacturing client supporting a high visibility Department of Defense initiative. This role will lead oversight and execution of a government funded project operating under an Other Transaction Authority agreement.

The Program Manager will serve as the primary liaison between the company and the government sponsor. This individual is responsible for ensuring full compliance with contract requirements, managing reporting obligations, overseeing financial tracking, and coordinating internal teams to deliver on project milestones.

This is a high accountability role requiring strong government contracting knowledge, cross functional leadership, and executive level communication skills.

Government and Stakeholder Interface

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the Consortium Management Organization and government sponsor
• Manage all communications, reporting submissions, and status updates
• Attend program reviews, update meetings, and stakeholder briefings

• Ensure all agreement milestones, deliverables, and reporting obligations are met
• Interpret and manage compliance with OTA terms and associated regulations
• Ensure adherence to ITAR, EAR, CUI, CMMC, and applicable defense regulations
• Monitor intellectual property and data rights requirements
• Maintain documentation in accordance with government standards

• Track project costs, milestones, and funding allocations
• Coordinate invoice submissions in alignment with agreement terms
• Monitor cost share requirements where applicable
• Support audit readiness and financial documentation compliance

• Track cost, schedule, and technical performance metrics
• Identify and mitigate schedule, regulatory, and technical risks
• Maintain a risk register and provide proactive issue resolution

• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, procurement, accounting, and executive leadership
• Track internal deliverables and ensure alignment with government objectives
• Support integration of new production capabilities into existing operations

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• Experience managing government funded defense programs
• Strong understanding of Department of Defense contracting and regulatory frameworks
• Working knowledge of OTA agreements, FAR, DFARS, CUI, and ITAR compliance
• Proven project management experience in a manufacturing or defense environment
• Strong financial oversight and reporting experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience working within the Defense Industrial Base supply chain
• Experience supporting prototype or production ramp up programs
• Formal project management certification

• Highly organized leader who owns deliverables and deadlines
• Confident communicator comfortable interacting with government representatives
• Strong risk assessment and mitigation skills
• Ability to influence cross functional teams without direct authority
• Strategic thinker who can align execution with larger government objectives
• Primarily office based with some interaction in manufacturing settings
• Position requires access to controlled technical data
• Candidates must be authorized to access ITAR or EAR controlled information

This is a critical leadership role within a defense focused manufacturing environment. The selected candidate will play a central role in ensuring the successful execution and compliance of a high impact government initiative.