Program Manager

At Ardent , we hire people who want more than a job — they want to serve a mission that matters. Our teams support the federal government’s most critical national security and defense priorities, helping protect the nation, strengthen resilience, and advance the technologies and capabilities that keep America secure. For veterans, cleared professionals, and purpose-driven innovators, Ardent is a place to continue serving alongside a team that understands the importance of the mission and the people behind it.

We also know top talent has choices, which is why we back our mission with benefits and flexibility that stand out: competitive pay, comprehensive health coverage, flexible PTO, federal holidays off, tuition reimbursement, professional development support, wellness stipends, and a culture that values and rewards hard work, dedication, and adaptability. If you want to build something meaningful, while enjoying the kind of flexibility and support that you need to do your best work — Ardent is where your next mission begins.

Ardent is seeking a Program Manager to join our team.

This is an onsite position in Suitland, MD .

Position Description:

Ardent is seeking a Program Manager to lead all aspects of contract operational support for a large-scale federal modernization program supporting the U.S. Census Bureau’s Decennial Transformation and Application Modernization (DTAM) effort. This role provides overall direction of program activities, has full responsibility for financial management, methods, and staffing, and establishes goals and plans that meet project objectives. The Program Manager directs a Contractor Program Management Office (CPMO), interfaces with the senior levels of the Government’s organization, and ensures contractor compliance across schedule, cost, quality, risk, and deliverables. Decision-making and domain knowledge may have a critical impact on overall program implementation. May supervise others.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Provide the overall management framework, governance, structure, and controls to manage all requirements of the order, leading a dedicated Contractor Program Management Office (CPMO)

Develop, document, implement, and maintain a Contract Management Plan (CMP), including the Staffing Plan and Subcontractor Management Plan

Manage technical and administrative requirements in alignment with PMI PMBOK® standards, including governance, schedule, cost, and quality controls, issue and risk management, and change management

Obtain formal Contracting Officer (CO) approval before any change to scope, cost, or schedule, and maintain a detailed Change Log

Oversee recruiting, onboarding, suitability processing, supervision, and retention of all personnel and subcontractor resources

Maintain an active risk management process and Risk Register, and report risks, issues, and mitigation plans in all required weekly and monthly reports

Establish and maintain a Communication Plan, escalation procedures, and a Communications and Decision Log

Develop and maintain the Contractor Work Breakdown Structure (CWBS) and provide schedule inputs to the Decennial Integrated Master Schedule (IMS)

Develop, deliver, and adhere to a Quality Control Plan (QCP) and participate in monthly QASP performance reviews

Lead Transition-In and Transition-Out activities, ensuring continuity of operations and knowledge transfer

Conduct Kick-Off, Weekly Status, Monthly Cost and Schedule, and Program Management Review (PMR) meetings, producing minutes and action-item tracking

Establish and maintain technical and financial reporting to show project progress to Government stakeholders and customers

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Management, or a related field

15+ years of experience providing technical and management leadership on major programs, with full responsibility for financial management, methods, and staffing (SME level)

Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification

Proven experience as a program manager directing all aspects of contract operational support involving multiple complex and inter-related project tasks

Demonstrated ability to manage teams of contractor personnel and maintain contractor interface with senior levels of the customer organization

Expertise in program governance, schedule, cost, quality, risk, and change management aligned with PMI PMBOK®

Experience managing federal contract deliverables, QASP/quality surveillance, and CDRL-style reporting

Strong financial management, staffing, and subcontractor management experience

Experience managing large-scale federal IT modernization or System of Systems (SoS) programs

Familiarity with Agile and scaled agile (SAFe) delivery in a federal environment

Experience supporting U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce, or similar federal statistical/IT programs

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including executive briefing to senior Government stakeholders

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