Quality Assurance Manager

Aptive seeks an experienced Quality Assurance Manager with a strong background in quality control and

program review to support the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Head Start. The

Quality Assurance (QA) Manager is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a

comprehensive quality control program that aligns with the Federal and contractual standards

governing Head Start monitoring.

Primary Responsibilities

Working closely with cross-functional teams (e.g., logistics, reviewer

management, data analysis), this individual will conduct systematic reviews of processes, monitor

adherence to performance metrics, lead continuous improvement initiatives, and ensure all monitoring

reports and related deliverables comply with legal and Head Start Program Performance Standards

(HSPPS). The QA Manager will also guide the creation and maintenance of a Quality Control Plan (QCP),

ensuring that any deviations from established benchmarks are promptly identified, documented, and

resolved.

The ideal candidate has knowledge of the Head Start program, quality control expertise and experience

with program reviews. They are highly organized and systematic in their project work. They exceed

client expectations with high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in quality assurance or quality control experience, ideally within Federal
  
  

contracting, compliance, or program monitoring environments.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Quality Management, or a related field
  
  

required.

• Professional certifications in Quality Assurance (e.g., Six Sigma, ASQ certifications) strongly
  
  

preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior exposure to Head Start or Early Head Start programs, or federal auditing/compliance is a
  
  

strong advantage.

• Proven track record of leading QA initiatives across multi-layered projects involving diverse
  
  

teams and stakeholder groups.

• Basic to intermediate proficiency with data systems (e.g., MS Office, cloud-based platforms);
  
  

ability to learn specialized tools (e.g., IT-AMS).

• Familiarity with Federal regulations, especially those governing grants management (e.g., FAR)
• Skilled at dissecting complex workflows, identifying process gaps, and verifying data accuracy.
• Capable of guiding cross-functional teams; adept at report writing and formal presentations.
• Adept at root-cause analysis; quickly formulates solutions or corrective actions for compliance
  
  

or performance issues.

• Comfortable overseeing multiple concurrent QA initiatives and meeting strict Federal deadlines.
• Works effectively with project managers, reviewers, IT teams, and federal stakeholders; fosters
  
  

open communication and knowledge-sharing.

• Periodic travel (up to 20% or as necessary) may be required to coordinate with team members
  
  

or support on-site reviews.

About Aptive

Aptive is a management consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia. With more than 500 employees across the U.S., we primarily support the federal government – more than a dozen agencies like Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Defense, Library of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection and the National Science Foundation. Our work focuses on applying creativity, technology and human-centered services to improve performance, bridge divides and elevate the lives of millions of people who count on government. services every day.

EEO Statement

Aptive is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, parental status, veteran status, age, disability, or any other protected class.

Veterans, members of the Reserve and National Guard, and transitioning active-duty service members are highly encouraged to apply.