Program Manager (Job 1224)

DLH delivers improved health and national security readiness solutions for federal programs through science research and development, systems engineering and integration, and digital transformation. Our experts in public health, performance evaluation, and health operations solve the complex problems faced by civilian and military customers alike by leveraging advanced tools – including digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud enablement, modeling, and simulation, and more. With over 2,400 employees dedicated to the idea that “Your Mission is Our Passion,” DLH brings a unique combination of government sector experience, proven methodology, and unwavering commitment to innovation to improve the lives of millions.

Overview

The Program Manager serves as a principal advisor to the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Scientific Information Officer (SIO) on all matters related to information technology projects, enterprise operations, organizational performance, and personnel dynamics within the branch. The incumbent provides strategic guidance across a diverse portfolio of IT initiatives, ensures alignment with agency mission and priorities, and supports the CIO/SIO in decision-making through expert analysis, operational insight, and confidential counsel. 

The Program Manager represents the CIO/SIO in high-level meetings, coordinates cross-functional efforts, and plays a critical role in maintaining operational stability and workforce cohesion. *Serves in an executive advisory or chief-of-staff-style role* 

Responsibilities

• Provides expert recommendations to the CIO/SIO on strategic planning, organizational priorities, and resource allocation for IT programs and operations. 
• Synthesizes complex information from project teams, business units, and governance bodies to inform executive decision-making. 
• Prepares executive briefings, position papers, dashboards, and recommendations on emerging issues, risks, and opportunities. 
• Represents the CIO/SIO in internal and external engagements, ensuring consistent communication of organizational priorities and strategies. 
• Oversees the planning, execution, and performance of major IT projects and programs, ensuring alignment with federal policy, cybersecurity requirements, and agency objectives. 
• Implements program governance frameworks, metrics, and evaluation processes to monitor progress, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement. 
• Coordinates with project managers, technical leads, senior federal staff, and stakeholders to resolve issues, mitigate risks, and ensure timely delivery of mission-critical capabilities. 
• Reviews program documentation—including charters, schedules, risk registers, and acquisition artifacts—to ensure quality and compliance. 
• Advises the CIO/SIO on business operations, budget planning, workforce needs, and process optimization across the IT organization. 
• Supports operational continuity by identifying systemic issues, recommending process improvements, and ensuring effective coordination across functional teams. 
• Conducts analysis of operational data, staffing trends, budget tracking, and service delivery metrics to recommend actionable improvements. 
• Leads or contributes to initiatives in IT governance, policy development, performance management, and organizational modernization. 
• Serves as a trusted confidant to the CIO/SIO for sensitive personnel concerns, interpersonal conflicts, and leadership challenges within the branch. 
• Provides discreet advisory support, identifies root causes of personnel issues, and recommends strategies for resolution, organizational health, and leadership alignment. 
• Facilitates communication between staff, supervisors, and leadership to ensure issues are addressed promptly and professionally. 
• Maintains strict confidentiality, professionalism, and discretion in all personnel-related matters. 

In addition to supporting the CIO/SIO, the Program Manager holds critical responsibilities for successful contract delivery and company alignment on behalf of DLH: 

• Maintain full compliance with contract requirements, corporate policies, and quality standards. 
• Serve as the primary liaison between DLH leadership and the federal customer. 
• Provide regular performance updates to DLH leadership, including program health, risk posture, staffing needs, and customer satisfaction. 
• Lead recruitment coordination, staffing plans, workforce optimization, and performance management for all program personnel. 
• Support employee engagement, retention strategies, and performance review inputs. 
• Manage subcontractor performance, ensuring clear expectations, deliverables, and alignment with DLH standards. 
• Identify opportunities for organic growth, scope expansion, and future work; partner with BD/Capture/Proposal teams for recompetes and strategic pursuits. 
• Elevate critical risks or challenges to DLH executives with thoughtful recommendations and solutions. 

Qualifications

• Master’s in Business or some related field.  18 years of relevant experience. PMP Certifications required. 
• This position requires deep expertise in IT program management, executive communication, and organizational leadership.
• Managed enterprise-level requirements across active and developmental programs, ensuring alignment with mission, architecture, and operational priorities. 
• Directed and oversaw the execution of complex, multi-project portfolios totaling 40M+ annually across government environments. 
• Led programs from initiation through closeout, including planning, acquisition, execution, risk management, and operational transition. 
• Managed and coordinated FAR- and OTA-based contracts, ITAR/TAA compliance, and technical evaluations for technology-driven programs. 
• Lead programs involving sensitive and classified systems, ensuring security, access control, and compliance with federal and cyber and data protection policies. 
• Developed and led training programs and system deployments for large, distributed user bases supporting enterprise IT platforms. 
• Directed collaboration across the enterprise to integrate systems, reduce redundancy, and optimize shared services. 
• Led creation and review of technical specifications, system architectures, and engineering proposals, including source selection and evaluation support.
• Must be able to obtain a Public Trust clearance

Basic Compensation: $140,000 - $160,000 yearly salary

The salary range listed reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of posting. The final offer may vary based on skills, experience, geographic location, market conditions, and internal equity. Additional compensation may include performance incentives and program-specific awards. We do not use salary history to determine compensation, in line with applicable law.

Benefits

DLH Corp offers our employees an excellent benefits package, including Personal Time Off (PTO), medical, dental, vision, supplemental life with AD&D, short and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, parental leave, legal services, and more. We want our employees to save for their future; therefore, we offer a 401(k) Retirement Plan, which includes a matching component. DLH is dedicated to your career development, providing training to help drive success, with access to our best-in-class e-learning suite for formal and informal learning, professional and technical certification preparation, and education assistance at accredited institutions