Director, Program Startup and Transition Management

Director, Program Startup and Transition Management

Job ID: 2618318

Location: , United States

Date Posted: Oct 22, 2026

Category: Program Management

Subcategory: Program Mgmt

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Public Trust

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: None

Potential for Remote Work: Hybrid

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Job Description

Description

The Director of Program Startup and Transition Management develops startup and transition solutions, plans, and materials, supports proposal development, post-proposal submission startup/transition planning, and performs as the startup/transition manager on select, enterprise and business group efforts. The position requires an individual with significant experience in large program startup and transition-related activities and who is an expert in those strategies, methodologies and execution. Superior written and oral communications skills are essential as is the ability to travel periodically for extended periods in the leadership and management of startup/transition activities.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop reusable artifact and transition materials for use by solution architects across the company's portfolio of capture opportunities.
• Support business development, capture, and proposal efforts through effective written artifacts and verbal communications/presentations that articulate both the details and value of startup/transition management aspects of SAIC's proposed solution
• Create comprehensive, integrated startup/transition plans/schedules (generally in Gantt format) spanning standard non-technical and technical phase-in activities (e.g., program management processes and tools, knowledge transfer, recruiting/staffing, clearances and access requirements, quality and risk management, facilities preparation, asset management, communication and reporting, subcontract engagement, and service delivery startup/transition and operational readiness)
• Prepare the program leadership for post-startup/transition management of the environment.
• Responsible for the successful program management of the startup/transition of a contract and/or task order for SAIC Federal/Government customers ranging from few days to months, generally on-site with the client
• Upon award, lead and manage (both directly as well as a team of indirect reports) the execution of each startup or transition to ensure on-time delivery and no disruption to a customer's ongoing operations or service delivery
• Provide guidance, direction, and mentoring to the startup/transition team
• Develop trusted relationships based on proactive communications and transparency both with the direct customer as well as the program team
• Deliver reports that effectively convey status of the startup/transition (weekly and daily) to SAIC corporate leadership and the direct customer or other program stakeholders from the customer's environment.
• Proactively escalate challenges/risks/issues to SAIC and client leadership, developing effective mitigations and contingencies.
• Large, complex program management experience (16+ years) that spans non-technical and technical aspects of government contracts/programs, particularly as it relates to startup, transition and transformation management
• Significant experience with Firm Fixed Price and defined deliverable programs
• Experience with complex engineering, integration and production programs
• Experience with complex enterprise IT programs
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, particularly as it applies to proposals, client presentation development/delivery, and program management
• Experience in developing comprehensive and effective solutions and written plans and schedules to address program startup/transition
• Experience with various clearance levels (e.g., Public Trust, Secret, Top Secret) and the processes for managing them
• 10+ years of experience with Federal and DoD customer base in program management, transition management, and/or service delivery leadership roles
• Experience with program, project, and transition management processes, tools, protocols
• Experience managing people and teams/programs
• Clearable up to Top Secret level

Qualifications

• Bachelors and eighteen (18) or more years of large, complex program or project management or a Masters and sixteen (16) years or more of large, complex program or project management.

• Demonstrated ability of solutioning, authoring, and leading startups and transitions throughout the entire opportunity capture life-cycle.

• Experience as a Program Manager and working with Program Managers.

• Experience with managing programs/teams with 50+ resources

• HIGHLY DESIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification

• Active Clearance (DoD, NASA, DHS, Public Trust, etc.)

Target salary range: $180,001 - $220,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

Overview

SAIC accepts applications on an ongoing basis and there is no deadline.

SAIC is a premier mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, intelligence, and civilian markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services, and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.

We are approximately 23,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. SAIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.3 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.

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