Program Manager Jobs in District of Columbia
Program Manager jobs in District of Columbia are concentrated in federal government contracting, defense, public health, and international development, with demand ranging from entry-level coordinators to senior program directors overseeing multimillion-dollar initiatives. The heaviest hiring is in Washington DC proper, where anchor employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and SAIC maintain large program management workforces supporting federal agencies. The most in-demand specialties are IT program management, federal acquisition and contracts oversight, and public sector transformation. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 169+ Program Manager jobs
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every day by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping take science a step beyond through solutions that address some of the world’s toughest challenges, including helping bring life-changing therapies to patients.
Description
Join Thermo Fisher Scientific as a Project Management Manager supporting the process development organization within the BIO network. In this role, you will lead project management activities across a portfolio of client programs, partnering closely with technical, analytical, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, business, and client-facing teams to enable successful execution from early development through technology transfer and manufacturing readiness.
The Project Management Manager will provide leadership, structure, and oversight for BioProcess Sciences project execution, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, resources, risks, dependencies, and deliverables. This role is responsible for driving cross-functional execution, strengthening communication across internal teams, supporting client commitments, and enabling timely progression of programs toward key development and clinical manufacturing milestones.
The successful candidate will bring strong project management discipline, people leadership, stakeholder management, and technical understanding of biologics process development. This individual will help establish and continuously improve project management processes, support team prioritization, proactively identify and escalate risks, and ensure project teams are equipped to deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic CDMO environment.
Education
- Advanced degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience in project/program management, process development, manufacturing, or related industry settings
- Preferred fields of study: Life Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Business, or related field
- Professional certifications preferred, such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, or other project/program management certifications
- Experience in biologics, bioprocess development, CDMO operations, GMP/GxP environments, or pharmaceutical development strongly preferred
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage project management activities for BIO BPS process development programs, including project planning, execution, monitoring, risk management, escalation, and delivery of key milestones
- Oversee a portfolio of biologics process development projects, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, resources, dependencies, deliverables, and client commitments
- Partner closely with analytical development, upstream and downstream process development, quality, business management, supply chain, and manufacturing sites to drive integrated program execution
- Manage, coach, and develop project managers and/or project coordinators supporting BPS programs, including prioritization guidance, performance feedback, workload management, and professional development
- Establish and maintain clear project governance, meeting cadence, action tracking, escalation pathways, decision-making forums, and communication expectations across cross-functional teams
- Drive proactive identification, communication, and mitigation of project risks, issues, scope changes, timeline impacts, and resource constraints
- Support client-facing project teams by ensuring accurate, timely, and transparent updates related to process development progress, risks, mitigation plans, and deliverables
- Facilitate alignment across drug substance process development, analytical development, manufacturing, quality, and technology transfer teams to support successful program progression
- Ensure project plans are integrated with key development milestones, including process development, scale-up, material generation, process characterization, technology transfer, GMP readiness, and IND-enabling activities, as applicable
- Monitor project performance against timelines, deliverables, budget, and resource assumptions; identify gaps and escalate to appropriate leadership to support timely resolution
- Develop, maintain, and improve project management tools, dashboards, templates, reporting mechanisms, and best practices for the BIO BPS organization
- Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project execution, cross-functional communication, client experience, operational efficiency, and portfolio visibility
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, transparency, scientific excellence, and client-focused delivery across project teams
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of biologics process development, including upstream and/or downstream development, analytical interfaces, scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing readiness
- Experience working in a CDMO, biopharmaceutical development, GMP/GxP, or regulated life sciences environment
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional development programs with multiple internal and external stakeholders
- Strong project management expertise, including schedule development, critical path management, risk management, action tracking, resource planning, stakeholder communication, and governance
- Ability to manage multiple programs, competing priorities, and shifting business needs in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
- Strong people leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and guide project management professionals
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills across technical teams, business stakeholders, senior leadership, and client-facing teams
- Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and drive accountability across cross-functional teams
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to translate technical project details into clear business, operational, leadership, and client-facing communications
- Knowledge of project management tools and systems such as Smartsheet, MS Project, SharePoint, Power BI, JIRA, or similar platforms
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain project discipline while adapting to changing business and technical priorities
- Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to quality, partnership, transparency, and delivery excellence
- Understanding of regulatory expectations, quality systems, and documentation practices relevant to biologics development and GMP manufacturing preferred
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Missouri is $103,100.00–$154,700.00.This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
Job Description
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every day by enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping take science a step beyond through solutions that address some of the world’s toughest challenges, including helping bring life-changing therapies to patients.
Description
Join Thermo Fisher Scientific as a Project Management Manager supporting the process development organization within the BIO network. In this role, you will lead project management activities across a portfolio of client programs, partnering closely with technical, analytical, manufacturing, quality, regulatory, business, and client-facing teams to enable successful execution from early development through technology transfer and manufacturing readiness.
The Project Management Manager will provide leadership, structure, and oversight for BioProcess Sciences project execution, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, resources, risks, dependencies, and deliverables. This role is responsible for driving cross-functional execution, strengthening communication across internal teams, supporting client commitments, and enabling timely progression of programs toward key development and clinical manufacturing milestones.
The successful candidate will bring strong project management discipline, people leadership, stakeholder management, and technical understanding of biologics process development. This individual will help establish and continuously improve project management processes, support team prioritization, proactively identify and escalate risks, and ensure project teams are equipped to deliver high-quality outcomes in a dynamic CDMO environment.
Education
- Advanced degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor’s degree plus 8 years of relevant experience in project/program management, process development, manufacturing, or related industry settings
- Preferred fields of study: Life Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Business, or related field
- Professional certifications preferred, such as PMP, Lean Six Sigma, Agile, or other project/program management certifications
- Experience in biologics, bioprocess development, CDMO operations, GMP/GxP environments, or pharmaceutical development strongly preferred
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage project management activities for BIO BPS process development programs, including project planning, execution, monitoring, risk management, escalation, and delivery of key milestones
- Oversee a portfolio of biologics process development projects, ensuring alignment of scope, timelines, resources, dependencies, deliverables, and client commitments
- Partner closely with analytical development, upstream and downstream process development, quality, business management, supply chain, and manufacturing sites to drive integrated program execution
- Manage, coach, and develop project managers and/or project coordinators supporting BPS programs, including prioritization guidance, performance feedback, workload management, and professional development
- Establish and maintain clear project governance, meeting cadence, action tracking, escalation pathways, decision-making forums, and communication expectations across cross-functional teams
- Drive proactive identification, communication, and mitigation of project risks, issues, scope changes, timeline impacts, and resource constraints
- Support client-facing project teams by ensuring accurate, timely, and transparent updates related to process development progress, risks, mitigation plans, and deliverables
- Facilitate alignment across drug substance process development, analytical development, manufacturing, quality, and technology transfer teams to support successful program progression
- Ensure project plans are integrated with key development milestones, including process development, scale-up, material generation, process characterization, technology transfer, GMP readiness, and IND-enabling activities, as applicable
- Monitor project performance against timelines, deliverables, budget, and resource assumptions; identify gaps and escalate to appropriate leadership to support timely resolution
- Develop, maintain, and improve project management tools, dashboards, templates, reporting mechanisms, and best practices for the BIO BPS organization
- Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance project execution, cross-functional communication, client experience, operational efficiency, and portfolio visibility
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, transparency, scientific excellence, and client-focused delivery across project teams
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of biologics process development, including upstream and/or downstream development, analytical interfaces, scale-up, technology transfer, and manufacturing readiness
- Experience working in a CDMO, biopharmaceutical development, GMP/GxP, or regulated life sciences environment
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional development programs with multiple internal and external stakeholders
- Strong project management expertise, including schedule development, critical path management, risk management, action tracking, resource planning, stakeholder communication, and governance
- Ability to manage multiple programs, competing priorities, and shifting business needs in a fast-paced, matrixed environment
- Strong people leadership skills with the ability to coach, develop, and guide project management professionals
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills across technical teams, business stakeholders, senior leadership, and client-facing teams
- Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority and drive accountability across cross-functional teams
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
- Ability to translate technical project details into clear business, operational, leadership, and client-facing communications
- Knowledge of project management tools and systems such as Smartsheet, MS Project, SharePoint, Power BI, JIRA, or similar platforms
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to maintain project discipline while adapting to changing business and technical priorities
- Customer-focused mindset with a commitment to quality, partnership, transparency, and delivery excellence
- Understanding of regulatory expectations, quality systems, and documentation practices relevant to biologics development and GMP manufacturing preferred
Compensation and Benefits
The salary range estimated for this position based in Missouri is $103,100.00–$154,700.00.This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes:
A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs
Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement
At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy
Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan
Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount
For more information on our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.thermofisher.com/global/en/total-rewards
See All 169+ Program Manager Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Manager JobsProgram Manager Jobs by City in District of Columbia
Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Program Manager Job Market in District of Columbia
A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Amyx9
- HealthFitness4
- PBG3
- Peraton3
- mission one3M
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services14
- Technology & Software8
- Education5
- Consumer Goods2
- Staffing & Recruiting2
What District of Columbia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program manager jobs across District of Columbia.
- Bachelor's degree in a related field such as business, public administration, or engineering
- PMP certification from the Project Management Institute is frequently listed as required or preferred
- Experience managing federal government contracts or programs within the DC market
- Proficiency with program management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, or Smartsheet
- Active security clearance or demonstrated eligibility to obtain one preferred by many DC employers
- Strong stakeholder communication skills for working across government agencies and contractor teams
Program Manager Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a program manager in District of Columbia?
Most program manager roles in DC require at least a bachelor's degree in business, public administration, engineering, or a related field. DC does not issue a state license for program managers, but the PMP certification from the Project Management Institute carries significant weight with federal contractors and agencies in the market. Many employers also recognize the CAPM for candidates earlier in their careers, and a secret or top-secret clearance substantially expands your options in the federal contracting sector.
Which companies hire program managers in District of Columbia?
Employers hiring program managers in District of Columbia right now include Amyx, HealthFitness, and PBG, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. DC's federal contracting ecosystem means many of these openings sit with large defense and professional services firms that hold long-term government contracts.
Which District of Columbia cities have the most program manager jobs?
The cities with the most program manager openings in District of Columbia are Washington, Pentagon, and Foggy Bottom. Washington DC dominates because it is home to federal agencies, civilian and defense contractors, and international organizations, while areas in the surrounding region such as Arlington and Bethesda draw significant volume due to major contractors and federal office campuses located just outside the district itself.
Are there remote program manager jobs in District of Columbia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 68% of program manager openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, reflecting how much of this work involves documentation, coordination, and stakeholder reporting rather than on-site presence. The most remote-friendly roles tend to be in IT program management and policy-driven programs where agency proximity is less critical.
How can I get hired as a program manager in District of Columbia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path in DC is starting as a project coordinator or program analyst with a federal contractor or within a government agency. Employers like Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and ICF run associate and junior analyst programs that place candidates without direct PM experience on federal project teams. Earning a CAPM certification before applying demonstrates commitment and knowledge of PM methodology, and many candidates transition from roles in government contracting support, budget analysis, or policy coordination once they have documented project involvement.
Where can I find and apply to program manager jobs in District of Columbia?
You can find and apply to program manager jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current DC openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level, clearance status, and specialization, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 169+ Program Manager Jobs in District of Columbia
Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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