Program Manager

About Aquia Inc.

Named the “#1 Best Remote Startup to Work For in 2025” by Built In, Aquia is a digital services firm specializing in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and compliance automation for the U.S. government.  

Founded by Veterans, we are passionate about making our country digitally capable and secure. Since 2021, we’ve generated millions in cost savings through cloud services and licensing optimization, enabled civil servants to double health care fraud investigations through streamlined cloud-based systems, and reduced authorization timelines by 74% through modernized security processes. Last year, we were named the 2024 Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business (SDVOSB) of the Year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Role Overview

The Program Manager is Aquia's primary owner of contract performance on a single large federal engagement. You are accountable for the full lifecycle of program delivery- from client relationships and staffing to budget, risk, and organic growth. You operate as the final escalation point internally and the strategic face of Aquia externally, building the long-term partnership with government stakeholders while ensuring the day-to-day program runs with discipline and excellence.

As Program Manager, you work with significant autonomy. You don’t want a playbook handed to you- you want to write it, execute against it, and adapt it when the environment changes.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Performance & Delivery Oversight

• Serve as the accountable lead for all contract deliverables, milestones, and performance outcomes
• Maintain a strategic contract roadmap aligned to the client's mission priorities and evolving needs
• Own the program risk register, integrating inputs from project and product leads; ensure risks are identified, tracked, and actively mitigated
• Oversee program budget and burn rate; proactively flag variances and model corrective actions
• Monitor contract health against PWS/SOW requirements; escalate issues before they become findings

Client Relationships & Stakeholder Management

• Act as Aquia's primary point of contact with the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) and key government stakeholders
• Build and maintain strategic relationships across the client organization, including leadership levels above the day-to-day POC
• Negotiate scope, timelines, and contract adjustments with the customer as program conditions evolve
• Lead CPARS preparation and manage the formal performance evaluation process
• Represent Aquia with credibility during audits, reviews, and executive touchpoints

Reporting & Communication

• Produce and own monthly Program Status Reports (internal and external), ensuring accuracy, consistency, and strategic framing 
• Fulfill all program-level reporting requirements as defined in the contract PWS/SOW
• Serve as incident response communications lead, coordinating Aquia's response posture and stakeholder notifications
• Act as the final internal and client-facing escalation point for program issues

Staffing & Team Leadership

• Define roles and responsibilities across the program team, including subcontractors
• Manage subcontractor relationships: performance, deliverables, and compliance with contract terms
• Own onboarding and offboarding for all program personnelAddress issues in partnership with Project Managers; create conditions for team performance and retention
• Partner with Aquia recruiting and hiring managers on backfill and growth hiring for your program

Business Development & Organic Growth

• Identify and pursue organic growth opportunities within your portfolio; document and communicate white space to Aquia business development leadership
• Contribute to proposal efforts and past performance write-ups tied to your program
• Represent Aquia's capabilities in client conversations in a way that positions the firm for expanded work

 

Required Qualifications

You must be a US Citizen or Permanent Resident, currently residing in the US, and able to obtain Public Trust clearance.

Experience

• 8+ years of program or project management experience in federal IT contractingPMP, PgMP, CSM, or equivalent program management certification
• Direct experience supporting CMS programs required
• Demonstrated experience owning contract performance on a federal program- including COR relationships, deliverables, and CPARS
• Experience managing teams of 20+ people, including subcontractors or matrixed staff
• Proven track record managing program budgets and burn rate in a T&M or fixed-price federal contract environment
• Experience negotiating scope changes and contract modifications with government clients

Domain Knowledge

• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS and contract vehicle structures (IDIQ, BPA, T&M, FFP)
• Familiarity with federal IT compliance frameworks: FISMA, NIST 800-53, and FedRAMP concepts
• Exposure to digital modernization, cloud modernization, or cybersecurity programs preferred
• Understanding of federal program reporting requirements (status reports, CDRLs, deliverable tracking)

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to translate technical delivery status into executive-level narratives
• Strong judgment in ambiguous situations; knows when to escalate, when to decide, and when to involve others
• Organized and detail-oriented without losing sight of the strategic picture
• Comfortable managing conflict- with clients, subcontractors, and internal team members- professionally and effectively
• Collaborative partner to Aquia project managers, technical leads, and internal operations

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Medicare parts A/B/C/DExperience with agile delivery in a federal context (SAFe, Scrum, or hybrid)
• Familiarity with Aquia's core practice areas: security, compliance, engineering, and UX/UI
• Experience supporting agency-wide programs with multiple workstreams and cross-functional teams

 

Benefits

• Premium health care plans (90% employer-paid)
• Employee stock plan
• 100% 401k match (up to IRS annual max)
• Generous PTO package
• Personal training and development budget

 

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Aquia Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any federal, state, or local protected class.