Project Manager, Federal Programs

Department: Academic Affairs


Classification: Administrative Faculty


Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty


Job Type: Full-Time


Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)


Location: Fairfax, VA


Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship


Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes


Criminal Background Check: Yes


Security Clearance Check: Yes

About the Department:


Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) at George Mason University serves as the university's central hub for workforce development, executive education, and applied professional learning. CPE partners with federal agencies, industry, and academic units across Mason to design and deliver highimpact training programs that strengthen the region's talent pipeline.

CPE supports strategic university initiatives by offering flexible, missionaligned programs-including short courses, certificate programs, customized federal training, and largescale workforce skilling efforts-that advance organizational performance and address emerging national security, defense, and technology needs. As part of GMU's research and innovation ecosystem, CPE collaborates closely with Mason Defense, academic colleges, and research centers to ensure programs are responsive, experiential, and aligned with federal workforce priorities.

CPE also supports George Mason University's efforts to expand and deliver impactful defense and national security programs through applied research, federal partnerships, workforce development, and strategic initiatives. The department collaborates closely with academic units, research centers, and federal agencies to advance mission-critical national security objectives.


About the Position:


The Project Manager (Federal Contracts) supports federal, defense, and nationalsecurityaligned programs within George Mason University's Mason Defense initiative within CPE.


This role oversees the planning, coordination, and delivery of federal contract-funded programs, ensuring regulatory compliance, highquality program execution, and alignment with Mason's mission to advance workforce readiness and national security education.


Responsibilities:

Project Leadership and Execution

• Leads endtoend delivery of federal and defensealigned programs operated through Mason Defense and CPE;
• Develops, manages, and tracks program schedules, milestones, and deliverables; and
• Coordinates with internal GMU units, faculty, partner organizations, government stakeholders, and subcontractors.

Contract and Compliance Management

• Ensures adherence to FAR, DFARS, and agencyspecific federal acquisition regulations;
• Manages contract deliverables, reporting, documentation, audits, and compliance protocols; and
• Partners with GMU's Office of Sponsored Programs and other internal compliance teams as needed.

Financial and Budget Oversight

• Tracks budgets, expenditures, invoices, and financial forecasts for defensefunded programs; and
• Supports cost proposals, budget modifications, and pricing for new or expanding contract efforts.

Stakeholder Communication

• Serves as a primary liaison between government sponsors, GMU leadership, and program teams;
• Provides executivelevel updates, briefings, and performance summaries; and
• Communicates program status across Mason Defense, CPE, and university partners.

Team and Vendor Coordination

• Supports staffing, onboarding, and resource allocation for program personnel;
• Oversees subcontractor work to ensure quality and compliance; and
• Facilitates coordination with faculty, instructional designers, and subjectmatter experts for trainingbased programs.

Other duties as assigned from time to time

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Project Management, Public Administration, Engineering, IT, or related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Generally, 5+ years of project management experience, including typically 3+ years supporting federal or defense government programs;
• Experience delivering programs under FFP, T&M, or CostPlus contracts;
• Strong knowledge of FAR/DFARS and federal procurement regulations;
• Excellent organizational, communication, and documentation capabilities;
• Proficiency in tools such as MS Project, SharePoint, Smartsheet, or Jira;
• U.S. citizenship required; and
• Active [Clearance Level] or the ability to maintain a US security clearance is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field;
• PMP, CAPM, Agile/Scrum, or DoD program management certification;
• Experience supporting defensefocused entities (DoD, DHS, IC, DoN, Army, Air Force);
• Experience with federal workforce development, training programs, or universitybased contract management; and
• Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM).

Instructions to Applicants:


For full consideration, applicants must apply for Project Manager, Federal Programs at Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.


Posting Open Date: April 8, 2026


For Full Consideration, Apply by: May 15, 2026


Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement


Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.


If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!


George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

Equity Statement


George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information


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