Deputy Program Director

Company Overview

Work Where it Matters

Akima Systems Engineering (ASE), an Akima company, is not just another federal systems support contractor. As an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), our mission and purpose extend beyond our exciting federal projects as we support our shareholder communities in Alaska.

At ASE, the work you do every day makes a difference in the lives of our 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, a group of Alaska natives from one of the most remote and harshest environments in the United States.

For our shareholders, ASE provides support and employment opportunities and contributes to the survival of a culture that has thrived above the Arctic Circle for more than 10,000 years.

For our government customers, ASE delivers solutions in maritime IT, systems engineering, and integration across the Department of Defense and stands ready to help improve operational performance at a reasonable and sustainable cost.

As an ASE employee, you will be surrounded by a challenging, yet supportive work environment that is committed to innovation and diversity, two of our most important values. You will also have access to our comprehensive benefits and competitive pay in addition to growth opportunities and excellent retirement options.

Description

The Deputy Program Director (DPD) serves as the operational extension of the Program Director, supporting the day-to-day execution and performance of a diverse portfolio of Department of Defense and other Federal programs. The DPD provides leadership across program operations, financial performance, staffing, contractual compliance, customer engagement, risk management, and business growth. This role enables the Program Director to focus on strategic priorities while ensuring programs remain financially healthy, properly staffed, contractually compliant, and responsive to customer requirements. The DPD also supports growth, capture, and new business activities while building strong relationships with Government customers, industry partners, and internal stakeholders.

This Hybrid position requires that you live within commuting distance from Panama City, FL.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight across multiple Federal/DoD programs, projects, and task orders.
• Lead, mentor, and hold Program/Project Managers accountable for cost, schedule, staffing, technical performance, risk, and customer satisfaction.
• Monitor portfolio financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, utilization, funding, forecasts, EACs, burn rates, and contract ceilings.
• Identify emerging operational, financial, staffing, and contractual risks and drive corrective actions through resolution.
• Coordinate with Contracts, Finance, HR, Recruiting, Security, Procurement, and other shared services to resolve program requirements and ensure compliance.
• Support customer and executive engagement, including program reviews, performance issues, mission requirements, and senior Government/industry relationships.
• Support workforce planning, recruiting, retention, succession planning, and development of current and future program leadership.
• Support business development and organic growth, including capture, recompetes, proposals, pricing, solution development, and follow-on opportunities.
• Support transition and stand-up of new awards and ensure effective movement from capture/proposal through program execution.
• Provide senior leadership with concise operational and financial reporting, early warning of significant issues, and actionable recommendations, while serving as Acting Program Director when required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology, Program Management, or related discipline
• 20 years of progressively responsible experience supporting Federal Government or DoD programs, including significant program or project management responsibility
• 10 years of experience supporting federal services contracts supporting NAVSEA NSWCs
• Demonstrated success with program growth, capture, recompetes, and contract expansion, including measurable revenue growth.
• Experience managing multi-site, geographically dispersed teams and large workforce transitions.
• Strong understanding of federal contract financial management, including forecasting, invoicing, funding (CLIN and SLIN management), accruals, AP/AR, and cash flow (DSO).
• Experience across FFP, CPFF, T&M, IDIQ, and task-order contracts.
• Demonstrated ability to improve customer satisfaction, contract performance, and CPARS outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams including engineering, logistics, administrative, and mission-support functions.
• Experience with contract transitions, incumbent workforce integration, staffing growth, and retention.
• Experience supporting capture/proposal activities and organic growth strategies.
• Familiarity with configuration management, technical data, systems engineering, and engineering-support programs.
• Experience coordinating complex personnel onboarding requirements.
• Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain/maintain a Secret clearance.
• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.

Job ID

2026-25895

Work Type

Hybrid