Project Manager

Role Summary

The Project Manager owns the end-to-end delivery of a single federal engagement — accountable for executing RPG's delivery lifecycle, maintaining quality and compliance standards, and ensuring the client consistently experiences a disciplined, responsive, and high-performing project. This role drives delivery outcomes through strong planning discipline, proactive risk management, and consistent execution — serving as the primary operational point of contact for the client from kickoff through closeout.

About the role

The Project Manager operates within RPG's matrix structure with a dual reporting relationship: to their Capability Lead for people development, performance, and professional growth, and to the Director, Delivery Operations for delivery execution, EPMO compliance, and project performance. The Capability Lead is the people manager; the Director, Delivery Operations is the delivery authority — and this distinction shapes how the PM operates day to day.

Key Accountabilities

• Own end-to-end delivery for an assigned federal engagement — from contract award through closeout, following RPG's mandatory delivery lifecycle

• Lead project initiation — establishing delivery expectations, aligning stakeholders, and standing up required planning documentation within established timelines

• Drive active execution — maintaining delivery rhythm through regular client communication, status reporting, deliverable quality reviews, and ongoing risk management

• Closely manage documentation hygiene across the engagement — complete, current, and retrievable at any point in the lifecycle

• Demonstrate fluency in the relevant contract type (FFP, T&M, CPFF, IDIQ task orders) and apply contract-specific financial discipline — including burn rate management and fee protection on cost-reimbursable engagements

• Maintain utilization and timecard compliance — reviewing reports regularly and escalating out-of-standard items to Delivery Operations and Finance

• Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the client — managing day-to-day communications and delivery relationships with professionalism and consistency

• Build and maintain client confidence through communication, quality deliverables, and proactive issue resolution

• Escalate delivery risks, client concerns, and compliance issues early and transparently

• Deliver outcomes that strengthen client trust, support re-compete positioning, and contribute to RPG's past performance record

• Position the engagement strategically — building the client narrative that supports re-compete and follow-on positioning, not just current-period delivery satisfaction

Delivery Leadership & Team Accountability

• Lead the delivery environment on the assigned engagement — setting clear expectations for quality, timeliness, and accountability across the project team

• Direct the day-to-day work of Delivery Professionals — assigning tasks, tracking progress, and intervening when execution is at risk, without formal people management authority

• Manage resource allocations within the project — monitoring capacity and escalating risks to Delivery Operations before they affect delivery

• Coordinate with the Capability Lead and Delivery Operations to ensure the right expertise is available at the right time

• Contribute delivery-based observations to the performance scorecard when requested

• Model the professional standards, delivery discipline, and escalation behaviors RPG's delivery framework requires

• Align with and actively support RPG PMO standards, playbook standards, and DDO direction — adopting standardized tooling, templates, and reporting without exception

Delivery Contribution & Organizational Growth

• Connect delivery performance to growth opportunities — recognizing and surfacing observations from active engagements that could support contract expansion, re-compete positioning, or improved client value

• Contribute to solutioning and proposal efforts when engaged — providing delivery-grounded input on team construct, scope feasibility, and execution approach

• Manage subcontractors to the same quality and compliance standards as RPG Delivery Professionals — monitoring performance, reviewing invoices, and escalating concerns through the appropriate corrective action process

• Contribute to RPG's institutional knowledge — participating in lessons learned, submitting playbook improvements, and supporting re-compete assessments

• Build capability and professional effectiveness continuously — seeking feedback, applying learning from each engagement, and developing the skills and judgment that support growth toward Program Manager Success

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Public Administration, or a related field required. Equivalent experience may substitute.

• Minimum 5+ years of experience managing federal government contracts or projects, with demonstrated accountability for delivery quality, scope, schedule, and financial performance

• Experience supporting cybersecurity and large enterprise implementation projects preferred

• Experience leading client-facing federal engagements — managing COR/CO relationships, producing required deliverables, and maintaining contractual compliance

• Demonstrated proficiency in risk management, change control, and proactive escalation practices in a federal delivery environment

• Familiarity with federal compliance requirements relevant to assigned engagements — including FAR/DFARS, HIPAA, CUI, or agency-specific standards as applicable

• Proficiency in project management tools — e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, or equivalent for schedule and resource tracking

• Experience with federal timekeeping and financial systems — Unanet or equivalent strongly preferred

• Experience drafting governance and system documentation: SOPs, MOUs, ISAs, System Guides, User Training, etc.

• Familiarity with documentation and collaboration platforms used in federal environments — SharePoint Online, Confluence, Teams, or equivalent

• PMP certification required

• ITILv4 certification required; 30-day waiver may be granted to obtain certification

• Experience in federal health agency environments (VA, DHA, BUMED, HHS) preferred

• Agile/SAFe certification or demonstrated experience with agile delivery methodologies a plus

• Active and current federal security clearance preferred