Task Order Manager - Program Manager

The Task Order Manager - Program Manager is a leadership position responsible for the overall management, execution, performance, and growth of multiple federal government task orders and contracts supporting the Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Department of Defense (DoD), and other federal agencies. The individual must be capable of independently managing assigned programs, building strong customer relationships, leading and developing personnel, addressing performance challenges, and identifying opportunities to improve contract execution and expand the company's federal portfolio.

The Task Order Manager - Program Manager serves as a primary point of contact for assigned contracts, ensuring contractual requirements, deliverables, performance standards, and customer expectations are consistently met.

In addition to day-to-day contract management, the position plays an important role in identifying opportunities for organic growth, expanding existing contract scope, supporting recompete strategies, and collaborating with Business Development and Capture teams to pursue new task orders and related business opportunities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Task Order and Program Management

• Provide overall leadership, management, and oversight of multiple federal government task orders, ensuring successful execution in accordance with contractual requirements, company policies, and customer expectations.
• Serve as the primary management point of contact for assigned task orders, maintaining effective communication with Government Contracting Officer's Representatives (CORs), Contracting Officers (COs), federal program managers, subcontractors, and internal stakeholders, consistent with contractual authority and communication protocols.
• Manage all aspects of task order execution, including contract initiation, transition, staffing, operational performance, deliverable management, option period planning, and contract closeout.
• Ensure compliance with contract Statements of Work (SOWs), Performance Work Statements (PWSs), Quality Assurance Surveillance Plans (QASPs), and other applicable contract requirements.
• Monitor contract performance, identify potential risks or performance deficiencies, and implement timely corrective actions to maintain customer satisfaction and contract compliance.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and maintenance of contract-specific management plans, standard operating procedures (SOPs), processes, and reporting requirements.
• Ensure contract deliverables, monthly status reports, financial reports, and other required submissions are accurate, complete, and submitted within established deadlines.
• Coordinate with Project Controls, Contracts, Finance, Human Resources, Security, and other corporate departments to ensure efficient and effective task order operations.
• Manage subcontractor and teaming partner performance, ensuring responsibilities, deliverables, staffing commitments, and contractual obligations are fulfilled.
• Facilitate regular internal program reviews and customer meetings to evaluate contract performance, identify challenges, establish priorities, and implement improvements.
• Maintain awareness of contract periods of performance, funding limitations, labor categories, staffing requirements, and upcoming contract milestones.
• Identify opportunities to standardize processes, improve operational efficiencies, reduce administrative burdens, and enhance overall program performance.
• Escalate significant contractual, financial, staffing, or performance concerns to appropriate company leadership with recommended courses of action.

Financial Management and Contract Performance

• Maintain overall responsibility for the financial health and performance of assigned task orders, including revenue, profitability, expenditures, funding utilization, and labor management.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain task order budgets, spend plans, staffing projections, and financial forecasts in coordination with Project Controls and Finance.
• Monitor contract ceilings, obligated funding, labor utilization, burn rates, and funding requirements to prevent funding shortfalls, unauthorized expenditures, or interruptions in contract performance.
• Review financial reports and contract performance metrics to identify trends, potential risks, and opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency.
• Coordinate with Project Controls to ensure timely and accurate preparation, review, and submission of invoices, travel expenses, subcontractor costs, and other financial documentation.
• Evaluate labor category assignments, staffing allocations, and resource utilization to ensure alignment with contract requirements and approved budgets.
• Support contract modifications, funding requests, option period planning, and adjustments to staffing or contract scope.
• Monitor actual expenditures against planned budgets and proactively address unfavorable variances.
• Work with company leadership to establish and monitor financial performance objectives for assigned contracts.
• Ensure contract management practices support company financial goals while maintaining compliance with applicable federal contracting requirements.

Personnel Management, Hiring, and Staffing

• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee development, and retention for personnel assigned to managed task orders.
• Evaluate current and projected staffing requirements to ensure appropriate personnel and resources are available to meet contract obligations.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and Recruiting to develop position descriptions, identify qualified candidates, conduct interviews, and support hiring decisions.
• Manage staffing transitions, employee replacements, vacancies, and surge requirements while minimizing disruptions to contract performance.
• Provide leadership, direction, and support to assigned employees, ensuring personnel understand their responsibilities, performance expectations, and customer requirements.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations, provide constructive feedback, recognize outstanding performance, and identify professional development opportunities.
• Address employee performance, attendance, conduct, and workplace concerns in coordination with Human Resources and company leadership.
• Promote employee engagement, professional growth, accountability, collaboration, and retention across assigned programs.
• Maintain regular communication with employees and customer representatives to assess workload, staffing effectiveness, morale, and potential areas of concern.
• Identify and develop employees capable of assuming additional responsibilities or leadership roles within existing and future contracts.
• Coordinate employee compensation recommendations, promotions, retention strategies, and personnel actions with appropriate company leadership and Human Resources.
• Ensure employees comply with company policies, contractual requirements, security procedures, timekeeping standards, and customer-specific workplace expectations.

Contract Growth, Business Development, and Capture Support

• Identify and pursue opportunities for organic growth within assigned contracts, including additional staffing requirements, expanded scopes of work, new technical capabilities, and emerging customer needs.
• Build and maintain strong professional relationships with existing federal customers to strengthen customer satisfaction, increase contract retention, and position the company for future opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Vice President, Business Development, Capture, and Proposal Development teams to identify and evaluate opportunities for new task orders, contract extensions, recompetes, and related federal work.
• Monitor customer priorities, mission requirements, procurement forecasts, and upcoming contract opportunities to identify potential business growth.
• Support the development of capture strategies by providing contract performance information, customer insights, staffing strategies, technical approaches, and operational lessons learned.
• Contribute to the preparation and review of technical proposals, management approaches, staffing plans, transition plans, past performance narratives, and other proposal materials.
• Assist with pricing strategies and labor category development by providing staffing projections, operational requirements, and knowledge of existing contract performance.
• Participate in customer meetings, industry engagements, and teaming discussions to support business development and strategic positioning.
• Identify potential teaming partners, subcontractors, and specialized resources that could strengthen existing contract execution or support new business opportunities.
• Support contract recompete planning by identifying incumbent strengths, performance accomplishments, staffing considerations, and potential competitive risks.
• Work with company leadership to establish realistic growth objectives for assigned programs and actively contribute to achieving those objectives.
• Ensure business development and customer engagement activities are conducted in accordance with federal procurement integrity requirements and applicable organizational policies.

Strategic Leadership, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement

• Provide strategic and operational input to the Vice President, Senior Vice President, and executive leadership regarding contract performance, staffing requirements, financial risks, customer priorities, and business growth opportunities.
• Develop and implement management strategies that support successful task order execution, employee performance, customer satisfaction, and organizational growth.
• Identify and recommend improvements to internal processes, contract management procedures, reporting requirements, and resource allocation.
• Ensure assigned contracts operate in accordance with applicable Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR), contractual requirements, security procedures, and company policies.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of company quality management standards, internal controls, and applicable ISO 9001 and CMMI processes.
• Participate in internal program reviews, management assessments, compliance reviews, and audits as required.
• Promote effective collaboration between Program Management, Project Controls, Contracts, Finance, Human Resources, Business Development, and other corporate departments.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior program managers, task order leads, and other personnel as appropriate.
• Contribute to corporate strategic planning initiatives by identifying operational improvements, emerging customer requirements, potential contract risks, and opportunities for continued growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, Finance, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in federal government contracting, program management, contract operations, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience managing federal contracts, task orders, programs, or multiple concurrent projects.
• Demonstrated ability to manage contract budgets, labor utilization, financial forecasts, funding requirements, and overall contract profitability.
• Experience managing employees, recruiting and hiring personnel, conducting performance evaluations, and addressing workforce challenges.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven experience overseeing multiple federal task orders with responsibility for contract execution, staffing, financial performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Demonstrated experience managing government contracts under GSA Multiple Award Schedules, Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs), Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts, or similar federal contracting vehicles.
• Experience supporting DOE, NNSA, DoD, or other federal civilian or national security agencies strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success maintaining positive customer relationships and identifying opportunities for contract growth or expanded support.
• Experience supporting federal proposal development, contract recompetes, staffing plans, technical approaches, or business development initiatives preferred.
• Familiarity with federal contract compliance, procurement regulations, security requirements, and quality management practices.
• Experience managing subcontractors, teaming partners, and geographically dispersed personnel is desirable.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Additional certifications in federal acquisition, contract management, leadership, or business development are desirable.

LOCATION: This position is full-time and hybrid in Rockville, MD.

SALARY: Salaries are determined based on several factors including external market data, internal equity, and the candidate’s related knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position. The range for this position is $135k-$150k.

BENEFITS

• Employer-paid employee Medical, Dental and Vision Care
• Family Health Care offered
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Federal Holidays
• 401(k) with Employer Match

About MELE

With over 300 employees and offices in Rockville, MD, Washington, DC, and Albuquerque, NM, MELE is a veteran-owned government contractor empowering its customers with innovative solutions for more than three decades. MELE has team members located across the U.S. and has served more than a hundred countries across hundreds of project locations. The company offers technical, engineering, and programmatic support expertise to a host of U.S. federal and international agencies, including, but not limited to, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, INTERPOL, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. MELE’s services include national security, intelligence, IT/cybersecurity, facility management and engineering, CBRNE defense and nuclear security, emergency response training/management, and mission and program support.

MELE Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. MELE Associates, Inc. is an E-Verify employer.