Mission Manager Jobs
Mission Manager jobs are open across defense, aerospace, government contracting, and nonprofit sectors, at every level from associate to senior and director, with specializations in program oversight, strategic planning, and cross-functional coordination. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Senior Program Manager – Savannah River Site Mission Support
Location: Aiken, South Carolina (Savannah River Site)
Contract: Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Contractor Support
Reports to: Contractor Executive Leadership
Clearance: Active DOE Q Clearance preferred; ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance required
Position Summary
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) serves as the primary on-site leader responsible for managing and executing a multi-disciplinary support services contract supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
The SPM provides leadership, program integration, and operational oversight for technical, engineering, project management, administrative, and professional support personnel supporting critical DOE and NNSA mission objectives. This position is responsible for ensuring successful contract execution, customer satisfaction, workforce performance, regulatory compliance, and delivery of high-quality mission support services across a complex nuclear and national security environment.
The SPM serves as the primary interface or Sierra Peaks and Savannah River Site contractor and is accountable for integrating resources, managing performance, mitigating risks, and supporting mission priorities associated with nuclear materials management, tritium operations, plutonium modernization initiatives, radioactive waste disposition, environmental remediation, infrastructure modernization, and long-term stewardship activities.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Mission Integration
- Serve as the primary point of contact regarding contract performance and mission support activities at the Savannah River Site.
- Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for all personnel assigned to the contract.
- Lead integration of multidisciplinary teams supporting engineering, project management, environmental compliance, operations support, nuclear safety, technical analysis, business operations, and administrative functions.
- Establish performance expectations and drive accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and customer-focused service delivery across the program.
- Identify, quantify, and support the pursuit of new business opportunities within SRS.
Program and Contract Management
- Develop and manage program execution plans, staffing strategies, budgets, schedules, and resource allocations to meet contract requirements.
- Oversee project planning, project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, risk management, performance measurement, and earned value management activities, as applicable.
- Monitor contract performance metrics and implement corrective actions to ensure successful execution of all task orders and contract deliverables.
- Ensure timely preparation and delivery of technical reports, analyses, assessments, plans, briefings, and other contract deliverables.
- Manage contract scope changes, staffing fluctuations, surge requirements, and emerging mission priorities.
- Coordinate subcontractor activities and ensure effective integration of all contract resources.
- Support transition planning, workforce planning, and organizational readiness efforts associated with evolving DOE/ NNSA mission requirements.
Operational Excellence and Compliance
- Ensure all work is performed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with DOE Orders, NNSA directives, Federal regulations, site procedures, and contractual requirements.
- Promote and enforce Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) principles and a strong nuclear safety culture.
- Support quality assurance, readiness reviews, assessments, audits, inspections, and corrective action programs.
- Identify and mitigate programmatic, technical, operational, and organizational risks.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, customer responsiveness, and mission performance.
Customer and Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all site contractors and other key stakeholders.
- Prepare and deliver executive briefings, status reports, strategic assessments, and program performance updates.
- Ensure customer concerns, priorities, and emerging mission needs are effectively communicated and addressed.
- Represent the company as a trusted mission partner supporting DOE/ NNSA objectives.
- Present the company’s capabilities and services to as wide an audience as possible, to identify new areas to support the Savannah River Site.
- Oversee the development of proposals and scopes of work that accurately reflect customer needs and result in new projects and programmatic support.
Personnel Leadership and Workforce Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of project managers, engineers, scientists, analysts, technical specialists, and administrative professionals.
- Conduct performance management activities and support employee development, succession planning, and workforce retention initiatives.
- Ensure personnel maintain required training, certifications, qualifications, and security clearances.
- Foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous learning.
- Maintain workforce flexibility and resource planning to support changing mission requirements and contract demands.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, physical sciences, nuclear engineering, business administration, project management, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible program, project, or operations management experience supporting DOE/NNSA, Department of Defense, national laboratories, or other Federal programs.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical and professional services teams.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex contracts, programs, or projects in nuclear, environmental, engineering, or national security environment.
- Previous Savannah River Site or DOE/ NNSA experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong understanding of DOE and NNSA missions, organizational structures, and operating environments.
- Knowledge of nuclear operations, environmental management, radioactive waste management, nuclear materials programs, and Federal project management practices.
- Familiarity with DOE Orders, Integrated Safety Management Systems (ISMS), Quality Assurance requirements, Conduct of Operations principles, and applicable Federal regulations.
- Experience with program integration, project controls, risk management, budgeting, scheduling, and performance reporting.
- Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior Federal and contractor leadership.
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and lead high-performing teams in complex mission environments.
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
- DOE Project Management Certification or equivalent professional certification preferred.
Working Conditions
- Primary work location is near the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.
- Occasional travel may be required to other DOE/NNSA sites, national laboratories, and customer locations.
- Position requires routine interaction with personnel working in office, laboratory, industrial, and/or nuclear facility environments.
Senior Program Manager – Savannah River Site Mission Support
Location: Aiken, South Carolina (Savannah River Site)
Contract: Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Contractor Support
Reports to: Contractor Executive Leadership
Clearance: Active DOE Q Clearance preferred; ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance required
Position Summary
The Senior Program Manager (SPM) serves as the primary on-site leader responsible for managing and executing a multi-disciplinary support services contract supporting the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) missions at the Savannah River Site (SRS).
The SPM provides leadership, program integration, and operational oversight for technical, engineering, project management, administrative, and professional support personnel supporting critical DOE and NNSA mission objectives. This position is responsible for ensuring successful contract execution, customer satisfaction, workforce performance, regulatory compliance, and delivery of high-quality mission support services across a complex nuclear and national security environment.
The SPM serves as the primary interface or Sierra Peaks and Savannah River Site contractor and is accountable for integrating resources, managing performance, mitigating risks, and supporting mission priorities associated with nuclear materials management, tritium operations, plutonium modernization initiatives, radioactive waste disposition, environmental remediation, infrastructure modernization, and long-term stewardship activities.
Key Responsibilities
Program Leadership and Mission Integration
- Serve as the primary point of contact regarding contract performance and mission support activities at the Savannah River Site.
- Provide leadership, direction, and oversight for all personnel assigned to the contract.
- Lead integration of multidisciplinary teams supporting engineering, project management, environmental compliance, operations support, nuclear safety, technical analysis, business operations, and administrative functions.
- Establish performance expectations and drive accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and customer-focused service delivery across the program.
- Identify, quantify, and support the pursuit of new business opportunities within SRS.
Program and Contract Management
- Develop and manage program execution plans, staffing strategies, budgets, schedules, and resource allocations to meet contract requirements.
- Oversee project planning, project controls, cost estimating, scheduling, risk management, performance measurement, and earned value management activities, as applicable.
- Monitor contract performance metrics and implement corrective actions to ensure successful execution of all task orders and contract deliverables.
- Ensure timely preparation and delivery of technical reports, analyses, assessments, plans, briefings, and other contract deliverables.
- Manage contract scope changes, staffing fluctuations, surge requirements, and emerging mission priorities.
- Coordinate subcontractor activities and ensure effective integration of all contract resources.
- Support transition planning, workforce planning, and organizational readiness efforts associated with evolving DOE/ NNSA mission requirements.
Operational Excellence and Compliance
- Ensure all work is performed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with DOE Orders, NNSA directives, Federal regulations, site procedures, and contractual requirements.
- Promote and enforce Integrated Safety Management System (ISMS) principles and a strong nuclear safety culture.
- Support quality assurance, readiness reviews, assessments, audits, inspections, and corrective action programs.
- Identify and mitigate programmatic, technical, operational, and organizational risks.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, quality, customer responsiveness, and mission performance.
Customer and Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop and maintain strong working relationships with all site contractors and other key stakeholders.
- Prepare and deliver executive briefings, status reports, strategic assessments, and program performance updates.
- Ensure customer concerns, priorities, and emerging mission needs are effectively communicated and addressed.
- Represent the company as a trusted mission partner supporting DOE/ NNSA objectives.
- Present the company’s capabilities and services to as wide an audience as possible, to identify new areas to support the Savannah River Site.
- Oversee the development of proposals and scopes of work that accurately reflect customer needs and result in new projects and programmatic support.
Personnel Leadership and Workforce Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse team of project managers, engineers, scientists, analysts, technical specialists, and administrative professionals.
- Conduct performance management activities and support employee development, succession planning, and workforce retention initiatives.
- Ensure personnel maintain required training, certifications, qualifications, and security clearances.
- Foster a culture of integrity, professionalism, accountability, safety, quality, and continuous learning.
- Maintain workforce flexibility and resource planning to support changing mission requirements and contract demands.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, physical sciences, nuclear engineering, business administration, project management, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible program, project, or operations management experience supporting DOE/NNSA, Department of Defense, national laboratories, or other Federal programs.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience leading multidisciplinary technical and professional services teams.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex contracts, programs, or projects in nuclear, environmental, engineering, or national security environment.
- Previous Savannah River Site or DOE/ NNSA experience strongly preferred.
Knowledge and Skills
- Strong understanding of DOE and NNSA missions, organizational structures, and operating environments.
- Knowledge of nuclear operations, environmental management, radioactive waste management, nuclear materials programs, and Federal project management practices.
- Familiarity with DOE Orders, Integrated Safety Management Systems (ISMS), Quality Assurance requirements, Conduct of Operations principles, and applicable Federal regulations.
- Experience with program integration, project controls, risk management, budgeting, scheduling, and performance reporting.
- Strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to senior Federal and contractor leadership.
- Proven ability to build collaborative relationships and lead high-performing teams in complex mission environments.
Certifications
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
- DOE Project Management Certification or equivalent professional certification preferred.
Working Conditions
- Primary work location is near the Savannah River Site in Aiken, South Carolina.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q Clearance.
- Occasional travel may be required to other DOE/NNSA sites, national laboratories, and customer locations.
- Position requires routine interaction with personnel working in office, laboratory, industrial, and/or nuclear facility environments.
Mission Manager Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Mission Manager JobsMission Manager Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Burns & McDonnell16
- HITT Contracting15
- Layton Construction15
- Rinvio14
- Ryan Companies US12
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services16
- Construction & Real Estate13
- Healthcare & Medical Services3
- Manufacturing2
- Aerospace & Defense1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in mission manager jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as operations, business, or engineering
- Experience managing cross-functional teams or coordinating multi-stakeholder programs
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for executive-level briefings and reports
- Proficiency with project management tools and mission tracking or planning software
- Active or adjudicated security clearance for defense and government contracting positions
- PMP certification or equivalent project management credential preferred by many employers
Tips for Your Mission Manager Job Search
Tailor your resume to mission scope
Mission manager roles prioritize demonstrated ownership of end-to-end outcomes. Rewrite your work history to show the scope of each mission, the stakeholders involved, and the measurable result, not just the tasks you performed.
Highlight your security clearance early
Defense and government contracting listings frequently require an active or adjudicated clearance. Put your clearance level and expiration status at the top of your resume so hiring managers can qualify you before reading anything else.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists mission manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Match your language to the sector
A mission manager resume for a federal contractor reads differently than one for a humanitarian nonprofit. Mirror the terminology in each job description, whether that is CONOPS, operational readiness, or programmatic impact, so your application passes initial screening.
Prepare a cross-functional leadership story
Interviewers for mission manager roles consistently probe how you align teams with competing priorities. Develop two concrete examples of coordinating across departments or partner organizations under a tight timeline and practice delivering them in under two minutes.
Negotiate by anchoring to mission complexity
When you receive an offer, ground your counter in the operational complexity of the role, number of stakeholders, budget authority, and geographic scope. Framing your ask around mission accountability tends to land better than citing market data alone.
Mission Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most mission managers?
The companies hiring the most mission managers right now include Burns & McDonnell, HITT Contracting, and Layton Construction, with the largest share of openings in Texas, California, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Defense contractors, federal agencies, and large nonprofits account for the majority of active postings.
How many mission manager jobs are remote?
About 31% of mission manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements most common in strategic planning, program oversight, and nonprofit program management roles. Positions tied to classified work, operational coordination, or on-site mission execution are almost always on-site or in a secure facility.
How do you become a mission manager?
Start by building experience in project coordination, operational planning, or program support, ideally within your target sector. Move into roles with increasing cross-functional responsibility, document outcomes rather than activities, and pursue a PMP or equivalent credential. For defense-focused paths, obtaining a security clearance early through a junior role significantly broadens your options.
Can you get hired as a mission manager without direct experience?
Yes, especially through associate or junior mission manager titles common in defense and nonprofit sectors. Employers often hire candidates who have served in military operations, program coordination, or logistics roles and can demonstrate transferable skills. Frame your experience around mission outcomes, stakeholder alignment, and cross-team execution rather than specific job titles you have held.
What does the mission manager interview process look like?
Most mission manager interviews run across multiple stages, beginning with a recruiter screen focused on background and clearance status, followed by a panel interview with program leads or directors. Candidates are typically asked to walk through a past mission or project end-to-end, address how they handled competing priorities, and sometimes complete a written scenario or briefing exercise.
Where can I find and apply to mission manager jobs?
You can find and apply to mission manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, find the listings that match your background and target sector, and apply directly to each one that fits.
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