SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER - Savannah River Site Mission Support

Senior Program Manager – Savannah River Site Mission Support 

Location: Aiken, South Carolina (Savannah River Site)

Contract: Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Contractor Support

Reports to: Contractor Executive Leadership

Clearance: Active DOE Q Clearance preferred; ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance required

Position Summary

The Senior Program Manager (SPM) serves as the primary on-site leader responsible for managing and executing a multi-disciplinary support services contract supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS).

The SPM provides leadership, program integration, and operational oversight for technical, engineering, project management, administrative, and professional support personnel supporting critical DOE and NNSA mission objectives. This position is responsible for ensuring successful contract execution, customer satisfaction, workforce performance, regulatory compliance, and delivery of high-quality mission support services across a complex nuclear and national security environment.

The SPM serves as the primary interface or Sierra Peaks and Savannah River Site contractor and is accountable for integrating resources, managing performance, mitigating risks, and supporting mission priorities associated with nuclear materials management, tritium operations, plutonium modernization initiatives, radioactive waste disposition, environmental remediation, infrastructure modernization, and long-term stewardship activities.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership and Mission Integration

• Serve as the primary point of contact regarding contract performance and mission support activities at the Savannah River Site.
• Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for all personnel assigned to the contract.
• Lead integration of multidisciplinary teams supporting engineering, project management, environmental compliance, operations support, nuclear safety, technical analysis, business operations, and administrative functions.
• Establish performance expectations and drive accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and customer-focused service delivery across the program.
• Identify, quantify, and support the pursuit of new business opportunities within SRS.

Program and Contract Management

• Develop and manage program execution plans, staffing strategies, budgets, schedules, and resource allocations to meet contract requirements.
• Oversee project planning, project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, risk management, performance measurement, and earned value management activities, as applicable.
• Monitor contract performance metrics and implement corrective actions to ensure successful execution of all task orders and contract deliverables.
• Ensure timely preparation and delivery of technical reports, analyses, assessments, plans, briefings, and other contract deliverables.
• Manage contract scope changes, staffing fluctuations, surge requirements, and emerging mission priorities.
• Coordinate subcontractor activities and ensure effective integration of all contract resources.
• Support transition planning, workforce planning, and organizational readiness efforts associated with evolving DOE/ NNSA mission requirements.

Operational Excellence and Compliance

• Ensure all work is performed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with DOE Orders, NNSA directives, Federal regulations, site procedures, and contractual requirements.
• Promote and enforce Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) principles and a strong nuclear safety culture.
• Support quality assurance, readiness reviews, assessments, audits, inspections, and corrective action programs.
• Identify and mitigate programmatic, technical, operational, and organizational risks.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, customer responsiveness, and mission performance.

Customer and Stakeholder Engagement

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all site contractors and other key stakeholders.
• Prepare and deliver executive briefings, status reports, strategic assessments, and program performance updates.
• Ensure customer concerns, priorities, and emerging mission needs are effectively communicated and addressed.
• Represent the company as a trusted mission partner supporting DOE/ NNSA objectives.
• Present the company’s capabilities and services to as wide an audience as possible, to identify new areas to support the Savannah River Site.
• Oversee the development of proposals and scopes of work that accurately reflect customer needs and result in new projects and programmatic support.

Personnel Leadership and Workforce Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of project managers, engineers, scientists, analysts, technical specialists, and administrative professionals.
• Conduct performance management activities and support employee development, succession planning, and workforce retention initiatives.
• Ensure personnel maintain required training, certifications, qualifications, and security clearances.
• Foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous learning.
• Maintain workforce flexibility and resource planning to support changing mission requirements and contract demands.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, physical sciences, nuclear engineering, business administration, project management, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible program, project, or operations management experience supporting DOE/NNSA, Department of Defense, national laboratories, or other Federal programs.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical and professional services teams.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex contracts, programs, or projects in nuclear, environmental, engineering, or national security environment.
• Previous Savannah River Site or DOE/ NNSA experience strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong understanding of DOE and NNSA missions, organizational structures, and operating environments.
• Knowledge of nuclear operations, environmental management, radioactive waste management, nuclear materials programs, and Federal project management practices.
• Familiarity with DOE Orders, Integrated Safety Management Systems (ISMS), Quality Assurance requirements, Conduct of Operations principles, and applicable Federal regulations.
• Experience with program integration, project controls, risk management, budgeting, scheduling, and performance reporting.
• Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior Federal and contractor leadership.
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and lead high-performing teams in complex mission environments.

Certifications

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• DOE Project Management Certification or equivalent professional certification preferred.

Working Conditions

• Primary work location is near the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.
• Occasional travel may be required to other DOE/NNSA sites, national laboratories, and customer locations.
• Position requires routine interaction with personnel working in office, laboratory, industrial, and/or nuclear facility environments.