Assistant Program Manager

The Defense Sector is seeking a highly motivated Assistant Program Manager to manage programs within the Maritime Readiness Division in our Chesapeake, VA office. 

 

The candidate will be responsible for effectively executing a Foreign Military Sale Navy program supporting systems upgrades, sustainment material, systems integration support, training, and other efforts related to the transfer and acquisition, operation, and maintenance of naval systems and vessels. The ideal candidate will possess superior analytical and problem-solving skills, provide strong leadership to a globally dispersed team, and establish solid working relationships with foreign partners and technical staff, as well as our external Government customers.

The Assistant Program Manager will provide strategic leadership for contract execution, customer engagement, technical performance, and operational excellence while supporting successful delivery of cost, schedule, and performance objectives. As strategic leader, the successful candidate will guide multidisciplinary teams, foster collaboration, and provide continuity of program management and leadership for delegated activities.  Additionally, the Assistant Program Manager will monitor project activities, develop strong customer and employee relationships, lead highly skilled technical teams, and ensure disciplined execution and compliance across every aspect of contract performance. 

Primary Responsibilities.

• Support the Program Manager in the execution of contract requirements to achieve cost, schedule, technical, and performance objectives.
• Coordinate day-to-day program activities across multidisciplinary teams, subcontractors, vendors, and other program stakeholders.
• Monitor program status, technical progress, schedules, risks, issues, and action items and recommend corrective actions to the Program Manager.
• Support Government and stakeholder engagements, including program reviews, technical reviews, working groups, and status meetings.
• Prepare program briefings, technical documentation, status reports, and other Government-facing deliverables.
• Support program planning and resource allocation activities, including staffing, schedules, budgets, and workload priorities.
• Monitor cost, schedule, and performance metrics and identify emerging trends or issues that may affect program objectives.
• Coordinate engineering, technical, logistics, production, and program management activities supporting ship construction, modernization, repair, and overhaul efforts.
• Support Integrated Program Baseline (IPB), resource-loaded schedule, and program performance management activities.
• Coordinate assigned contractor and subcontractor activities and track deliverables, milestones, and actions through completion.
• Support program risk management by identifying and assessing risks, developing mitigation actions, and tracking risks through resolution.
• Facilitate coordination with U.S. Government and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) stakeholders, as applicable, to support program requirements and execution.
• Support workforce planning, onboarding, training, and personnel management activities to maintain appropriate staffing and continuity of operations.
• Ensure assigned activities and deliverables comply with FAR, DFARS, contractual, administrative, and applicable Navy requirements.
• Act on behalf of the Program Manager for delegated program activities and responsibilities, as authorized.

Basic Qualifications.

• Bachelor’s degree and 15+ years of prior relevant experience with increasing engineering management responsibility are required, including at least five (5) years of USG ship or submarine construction or repair/overhaul experience
• Demonstrated experience with Foreign Military Sales programs
• Demonstrated experience managing programs with geographically dispersed and/or OCONUS (Outside Continental United States) operating environments.
• Strong technical writing, editing, analytical, and information organization skills, with the ability to communicate complex, technical tasks clearly and concisely.
• Ability to work independently, manage rapidly changing priorities, and effectively lead cross-functional initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally and work in maritime, industrial, or forward-deployed environments, including visits onboard vessels in port.
• Active Secret clearance

Preferred Qualifications.

• Current PMP Certification is preferred.

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Original Posting:

October 26, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and 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.