Program Manager, Graduate Research Fellowship Program

UpSlope Advisors is seeking an experienced and highly qualified Program Manager (PM) to lead our support of a government agency's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The PM will be responsible for managing day-to-day operations and ensuring timely completion of all contract tasks and deliverables. As the primary liaison, the PM will oversee the full lifecycle of this high-visibility program, which represents a significant portion of the Agency's annual award actions—comparable in scope to a large division or small directorate.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall program leadership and contract oversight
• Serve as the primary liaison between the contractor and the Agency
• Lead planning, execution, quality control, and risk management activities
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality work products in compliance with contract terms
• Oversee the development and maintenance of IT platforms, including Drupal CMS and .gov site migration
• Support strategic outreach and publicity efforts (training, metrics, social media)
• Ensure effective help desk operations, particularly during peak periods (up to 5000 tickets/month)
• Manage reviewer recruitment and coordination
• Supervise application compliance and eligibility checks
• Support merit review logistics, including conflict screening and panel operations
• Provide post-award administrative services
• Ensure all deliverables meet accessibility standards (WCAG 2.0, Section 508)

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience managing federal contracts and programs
• Proven track record leading complex, multi-functional teams
• PMP certification preferred
• Experience in education, research, or outreach program management highly desirable
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and client relationship management skills
• Demonstrated success in quality control, project reporting, and stakeholder engagement

Security Requirement

Ability to pass a background check 

About Us
UpSlope Advisors is an 8(a), professional engineering services company that provides expert mission-first technical and programmatic support for US Intelligence Community (IC), Department of Defense (DoD), and Federal agencies. As a ‘Mission First / People First’ company, we believe that success starts with the people. Our employees are the heart of our client(s) mission and enabling success for both our clients and employees requires opportunity for personal and professional growth. At UpSlope, we take pride in our ability to offer a competitive benefits package and a balanced work environment that allows our employees to thrive.