IT & Cybersecurity Program Manager, CHAOS Industries

• The ideal candidate has deep experience leading IT and cybersecurity project and program teams in secure government environments and brings a strategic mindset suited for a fast-moving, high-innovation startup working with the Department of Defense
• Must be a U.S. citizen eligible for access to government facilities and sensitive information
• Ability to obtain additional clearances as required by contract
• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Business, or related field
• 5+ years of IT and/or cybersecurity project and/or program management experience, including 3+ years supporting DoD or federal programs
• Proven ability to manage programs of $1M+ value and teams of 10+ members
• Experience leading in environments without strong existing project management structures
• Experience scaling project and program operations within a startup or early-stage organization
• Expert proficiency with project and work management tools (MS Project, Jira, Smartsheet), platforms, and agile methodologies
• Solid grasp of risk management, critical path analysis, and dependency mapping
• Strong understanding of DoD IT systems, architectures, and cybersecurity frameworks
• Familiarity with systems development lifecycle methodologies and DevSecOps concepts

Desirable

• We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to shape and drive the company’s project and program execution discipline across IT, cybersecurity, infrastructure, enterprise systems, and DoD-aligned technology initiatives
• This role combines hands-on project and program delivery with strategic organizational development
• You will design lightweight-but-scalable Disciplined Agile ways of working, establish foundational project and program governance, and set the stage for a future Enterprise Project Management Office (PMO) that supports both corporate initiatives and DoD customer programs
• Strategic Departmental PMO Foundations & Leadership:
• Establish the initial project and program management framework for the department using Disciplined Agile (DA) methodology principles—context-driven, fit-for-purpose, minimal bureaucracy, focused on flow and value delivery
• Partner with company leadership to align IT and cybersecurity projects and programs with strategic objectives, customer commitments, and compliance requirements
• Drive continuous improvement in ways of working (WoW), team throughput, and technical delivery processes
• Introduce scalable governance, reporting, and project controls appropriate for a startup working in regulated DoD environments
• Build foundational project and program management practices from the ground up, shaping organizational standards and preparing the company for future PMO implementation.Champion organizational readiness for a future PMO, including intake processes, prioritization models, work visualization, and cross-team coordination
• Project Planning & Execution:
• Lead end-to-end delivery of IT and cybersecurity initiatives supporting DoD programs, including infrastructure buildouts, system implementations, secure network deployments, enterprise tools, and software or automation capabilities
• Build adaptive project plans that incorporate hybrid approaches (Agile, Lean, Kanban, iterative, traditional) selected based on context, constraints, and government customer expectations
• Manage scope, schedules, risks, and resources while maintaining alignment with contract deliverables, DoD technical requirements, and security standards
• Coordinate across internal engineering, cybersecurity, compliance, facilities, and operations teams as well as any third-party partners or contractors
• Build transparent communication channels and cadence-based reporting for executive leadership and DoD customers
• Compliance, Security & Regulatory Alignment:
• Ensure all program activities comply with DoD cybersecurity requirements, including NIST 800-171/CMMC
• Maintain strict adherence to ITAR, EAR, and all export control regulations
• Help establish and uphold policies and procedures for handling CUI and classified materials; ensure teams understand and adhere to secure work protocols
• Partner with Information Assurance, Security, IT, and other enterprise teams to support assessment and accreditation activities
• Build compliance checkpoints into program workflows to reduce rework, improve audit readiness, and maintain compliance programs post-operationalization
• Contract & Customer Management:
• Operate programs in alignment with FAR/DFARS, contract requirements, and customer expectations
• Track and report deliverables, milestones, burn-down/burn-up metrics, risks, and performance indicators
• Prepare briefings, status updates, and customer communications for government program offices and oversight personnel
• Support on proposals, capture activities, Rough Order of Magnitude (ROM) estimates, and technical inputs for new business opportunities
• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence:
• Provide project and program management leadership to establish scalable standards, best practices, and governance frameworks, guiding the evolution toward a formal Project Management Office (PMO)
• Lead cross-functional teams across cyber, IT operations, engineering, product, and other business functions, fostering collaboration and execution
• Mentor teams on Disciplined Agile, Definition-of-Done delivery practices, and effective work orchestration
• Facilitate cross-departmental relationship building, ensuring alignment and transparency across teams
• Build a culture of incremental improvement, throughput optimization, and value-focused execution
• Guide workforce planning, performance evaluations, and professional development for project personnel