Program Director

Description Senior Program Manager TS/SCI clearance with ability to obtain TS/SCI/Poly Alexandria, VA The Decision Advantage (DA) Business Area at Leidos currently has an opening for a TS/SCI cleared Senior Program Manager in Alexandria, VA . This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of mission optimization capabilities for a classified customer, applying agile software development practices to extend and tailor a mature commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) product to meet demanding operational mission needs. This leader will own day-to-day program execution—cost, schedule, technical performance, quality, and customer satisfaction—while serving as the primary interface to the customer's program office and mission stakeholders. The role blends hands-on agile program leadership with product thinking: balancing COTS product baseline alignment, mission-specific customization, release planning, and sustainment in a secure, fast-moving environment. This position represents a critical opportunity to translate an existing, proven product into mission-optimized outcomes—delivering measurable improvements in planning, resource allocation, and decision speed for the end user, and positioning the program for follow-on scope and expanded mission adoption. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Serve as the single point of accountability for program execution, including cost, schedule, technical baseline, risk, quality, and customer satisfaction. Lead agile software delivery of an existing COTS product—owning release planning, backlog prioritization, sprint cadence, increment reviews, and definition of done in partnership with the product owner and technical lead. Manage the program financial baseline, including EAC/ETC development, monthly financial reviews, variance analysis, funding and staffing plans, and achievement of Annual Operating Plan (AOP) commitments. Engage directly with the customer's program office and mission users to build trusted relationships, translate mission optimization needs into prioritized requirements, and ensure delivery excellence and satisfaction. Balance COTS product baseline integrity against mission-specific customization—working with the product organization to determine what is configured, extended, or contributed back to the core product. Communicate clearly and proactively with leadership, employees, peers, and customers to ensure transparency and shared understanding of goals, risks, dependencies, and outcomes. Own risk and opportunity management, including identification, mitigation planning, and escalation of issues that threaten cost, schedule, or mission outcomes. Lead with a focus on team cohesion, collaboration, and a high-performance culture aligned to Leidos values and mission outcomes. Coordinate cross-functional efforts across Leidos—engineering, security, contracts, subcontracts, finance, talent acquisition, and the COTS product organization—to integrate capabilities and maximize mission and business outcomes. Ensure program compliance with all applicable security requirements, classification guidance, contractual obligations, and Leidos program management standards. Support organic growth by identifying follow-on and adjacent opportunities, contributing to capture and proposal efforts, and demonstrating past performance that strengthens recompete position. Travel as required to support customer engagements, program reviews, and execution activities. Basic Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Business, or a related field and 12+ years of relevant experience; Master's Degree and 10+ years of relevant experience. (Four additional years of related experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.) Must be a U.S. Citizen with an active Top Secret/SCI clearance; must be willing and able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI/Poly and program access. Demonstrated success managing software development programs with full cost, schedule, and technical accountability. Hands‑on experience leading agile software development teams (Scrum, SAFe, Kanban, or similar), including backlog management, release planning, and iterative delivery to an operational user base. Experience executing programs within classified environments, including working within security constraints, classification guidance, and accredited development enclaves. Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship‑building skills—able to influence and align diverse stakeholders including customers, technical teams, and internal leadership. Proven ability to analyze, solve, and execute complex technical and business challenges while instilling confidence among customers, staff, and senior leadership. Demonstrated experience interviewing, hiring, staffing, and developing multi‑disciplinary project teams. Bias for action with a willingness to personally engage at the point of execution—removing friction, driving decisions, and delivering outcomes at speed. Preferred Qualifications Experience delivering, integrating, configuring, or extending a COTS or commercial software product in a government or mission environment. Experience with mission planning, mission optimization, resource allocation, scheduling, or operations research–based decision support solutions. PMP, PgMP, Certified Scrum Master (CSM), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC), or equivalent certification. Experience with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, cloud or hybrid deployment, and software ATO/accreditation processes in classified environments. Experience supporting Special Access Programs (SAPs) or other highly controlled environments. Working knowledge of multiple contract types (FFP, CPFF, T&M) and their impact on agile delivery and program financial management. Experience managing subcontractors, product vendors, and teaming partners across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Experience briefing senior internal and external stakeholders. Demonstrated success growing scope on an existing program through delivery performance and customer trust. If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares. Pay Range: Pay Range $154,050.00 - $278,475.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law. About Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at Commitment to Non-Discrimination All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws. #J-18808-Ljbffr Society of Defense Financial Management