mPower is seeking an exceptional Program Manager to lead two complementary federal contracts providing comprehensive research support services. This role represents a rare opportunity to serve as both operational anchor and strategic thought partner across a portfolio spanning scientific operations, programmatic support, and strategic advisory services – managing teams of professionals delivering everything from biomedical engineering and lab operations to grants management, ethics advisory, and program coordination. You'll be the trusted face of mPower to federal leadership, building relationships where your counsel is sought and valued, while orchestrating sophisticated service delivery across program operations.
This isn't typical program management. Success here means navigating complex federal dynamics while maintaining operational rigor across diverse technical and programmatic service lines. You'll help shape the evolution of how research support is delivered – transitioning legacy models into scalable, outcome-oriented frameworks positioned for multi-organization expansion. The right person thrives at the intersection of relationship building and delivery excellence, operates with flexibility when priorities shift, and instinctively understands what it takes to be seen as an indispensable partner. If that resonates, this is your opportunity to lead work that directly enables scientific discovery.
Client Partnership & Strategic Leadership
- Serve as primary point of contact with federal client leadership, building trust and credibility that positions mPower as strategic partner rather than vendor
- Navigate client dynamics and competing priorities with sophisticated acumen, reading rooms and influencing outcomes without formal authority
- Anticipate client needs before they're articulated, identifying opportunities to deepen impact and expand service value
- Lead business reviews and strategic sessions with federal leadership, demonstrating operational depth and forward vision
Operational Excellence & Service Delivery
- Own performance across both contracts including service quality, deliverables, risk mitigation, and continuous improvement spanning scientific operations, programmatic support, and strategic advisory services
- Lead multiple teams of professionals across diverse domains: biomedical engineers and lab technicians supporting research operations, grants management specialists and ethics advisors enabling programs, plus program coordinators and strategic planning staff
- Build scalable operational frameworks that work across both laboratory-focused and program-focused service delivery, adapting governance to the technical or administrative nature of the work
- Manage resource optimization across contracts, balancing dedicated FTE support with fractional and surge capacity models
- Coordinate with mPower back-office on contract administration, compliance, burn rate management and HR/recruiting
Team Leadership & Culture
- Screen and onboard talent across technical and programmatic disciplines, ensuring strong fits for capability and cultural alignment
- Cultivate an integrated team culture where technical staff supporting labs and programmatic staff enabling research operations operate with shared values of excellence, flexibility, and client-centricity
- Provide mentorship and performance management tailored to diverse roles, understanding that success may look different for different roles, but they all require the same commitment to quality
- Foster retention by creating environments where people feel supported, challenged, and connected to the scientific mission regardless of whether they work in labs or program offices
Service Evolution & Delivery Innovation
- Lead evolution from legacy staffing models to outcome-oriented service delivery – translating job descriptions into work products and capacity units, enabling more responsive and scalable support
- Implement innovative delivery approaches designed to scale across multiple organizations while maintaining quality and responsiveness regardless of context
- Translate operational insights into service improvements and expanded capabilities that better serve evolving client needs across research environments
- Collaborate with mPower leadership on briefings, proposals, and quotes relevant to the contracts’ evolution over time, providing ground truth from delivery across diverse technical and programmatic domains
- Build organizational knowledge and repeatable frameworks that enable mPower to deliver similar excellence across future opportunities in both scientific operations and research administration
Required Qualifications
- 7+ years of program management experience, with at least 3 years managing federal contracts or complex service delivery engagements funded by government agencies
- Bachelor’s degree, or higher, in business administration or a related field
- Demonstrated success leading teams across multiple disciplines in dynamic, mission-driven environments – ideally spanning both technical/scientific staff and programmatic/administrative functions
- Track record of building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, with ability to navigate organizational dynamics and influence without formal authority
- Strong operational capabilities including process design, quality frameworks, and continuous improvement
- Solid understanding of federal contracting environment including contract administration and agency operational dynamics
- Executive presence and communication skills that enable confident representation at senior levels
- Comfort operating in ambiguity where priorities shift and requirements evolve, maintaining focus on outcomes while adapting approach
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with NIH, HHS, or federal research agencies in scientific operations, lab support, grants administration, or program coordination functions
- Familiarity with biomedical research environments, laboratory operations, grants lifecycle, ethics and compliance advisory, or research program management
- Background implementing service delivery models that scale across multiple clients or organizational units
- PMP or equivalent management certification
$140,000 - $185,000 a year
mPower, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Qualified applicants or employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy (including childbirth or related condition), citizenship, familial status, mental or physical disability status, veteran status, genetic information, other non-disqualifying disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.