SENIOR PROGRAM MANAGER na CLJ Consulting and Contracting LLC

Job Title: Senior Program Manager
Location: Remote, with onsite at DLA Headquarters (Fort Belvoir, VA) and travel as directed by the Government
Pay: $67.71/HR
Employment Type: Full-Time, Contract (Contingent upon contract award)

Position Summary:

CLJ Consulting and Contracting LLC is seeking a highly skilled Senior Program Manager / Subject Matter Expert to support the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Small Business Innovation Program (SBIP). Under the guidance of the DLA Program Manager, the Senior Program Manager will oversee the SBIR/STTR programs, lead contractor support teams, and ensure technical solutions and schedules are implemented in compliance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS). This role requires deep technical expertise in strategic and critical materials, industrial base assessments, and recycling technologies, combined with proven leadership in managing multi-disciplinary teams and delivering innovative solutions to reduce foreign reliance on critical supply chains.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist the Government SBIP Program Manager in working with Contracting Officers (KO), DLA J68 R&D Program Managers, and customer agency representatives.
• Lead the SBIP contractor support team, coordinate and assign tasks, review team performance, and drive corrective actions as needed.
• Ensure compliance with all PWS requirements, schedules, and deliverables.
• Support and coordinate hiring, onboarding, and training of contractor personnel.
• Provide technical review of R&D projects for innovative approaches in strategic and critical materials, rare earth recycling, and industrial base assessments.
• Serve as a high-level technical advisor to the DLA R&D SBIP PMO, conducting research and reporting on technical requirements for strategic materials industrial processes, recycling, and related R&D initiatives.
• Offer guidance and leadership to evaluate and resolve SBIR/STTR project requirements and issues.
• Deliver comprehensive management advisory and technical services on substantive functions, developing innovative methods, approaches, and solutions for defense industrial base (DIB) challenges.
• Formulate and present findings, briefings, project papers, status reports, and correspondence to foster stakeholder understanding and acceptance of recommendations.
• Coordinate multiple projects to achieve optimal results within cost and schedule constraints.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in science, engineering, or a technical subject area, with relevant work experience in strategic and critical materials, recycling, and industrial base assessments.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading diverse technical and administrative teams.
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in critical and strategic materials technology areas.
• Experience with SBIR/STTR programs in the public and/or private sector preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and program management skills.
• Must possess IT-II security clearance or a current National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC) at the time of proposal submission.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree plus at least seven (7) years of relevant technical work experience, or a Doctoral degree plus at least four (4) years of relevant technical work experience.
• Demonstrated experience advising on R&D initiatives within DoD or other federal agencies.
• Strong background in evaluating industrial processes, materials recycling, and critical materials supply chain risks.