Program Manager – Clients Operations - AvantGarde, LLC

The AvantGarde, LLC (AG) Project Manager (PM) manages a diverse team across multiple client contracts for Washington, DC based AG clients providing support in roles such as: Administrative Assistants, Contracting/Acquisition Specialists, IT specialists, Senior Experts or other Specialists, Consultants, etc.   The PM leads teams largely virtually with some on-site visits to client offices in the Metro DC area to meet with teams, clients and attend various DC-based AG management team sessions with the Senior Project Manager (SPM) and AG CEO.  Effectively uses virtual management tactics using various tools regularly such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and telephone.

•          Manages client and employee relationships for up to 8 distinct client contracts (up to 20 FTEs) for AG’s Operational projects at various locations in and outside of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  Maintains strong client and employee relationships through frequent Microsoft Teams, telephone, email and in-person communication to gain feedback on employee performance and delivery, attendance, engagement, and development.  In-person client and employee engagement happens during DC site visits.
•          Serves on the CEO’s AG Management Team (made up of 15-18 PMs/SPMs). Contributes to AG growth, strategy sessions, proposals and cross-management team collaboration.  PM plays key role in expansion of AG existing client growth for assigned portfolio in close coordination and collaboration with AG SPM.
•          Ensures that assigned operational support project work is performed successfully in compliance with client federal contractual expectations and to the satisfaction of the client.  Regularly meets with clients to capture employee performance, praise, or other feedback.   
• Provide management and oversight of support teams working on each assigned client who receive their work assignments and instructions directly from the client.  Ensures AG team members are delivering duties, assignments and work products in accordance to the expectations set forth within each client contract.
•          Responsible for all recruitment and hiring activities (with Senior Project Manager approval) for all contract projects.  Ensures AG vacancies are fully staffed.  Works in close collaboration with AG Recruiters for successful sourcing and placement of hires. Manages client approvals of hire placements for timely onboarding and follows AG’s proven process for placing and onboarding new hires. Manages the client interface and process for security processing. Ensures employees understand and meet client work delivery expectations; prepare and deliver employee position descriptions; ensure employees receive proper training and development necessary to perform their work
•          Ensures employee engagement and accountability including leading all disciplinary or performance conversations in close collaboration with Corporate HR and SPM. Counsels and coaches employees on performance and attendance issues. Regularly inputs client feedback into Corporate HR systems. 
•         Monitor and approve of employee time and attendance at least weekly and immediately after pay period close date. Reviews and approves time off requests in concert with client delivery considerations. Ensures compliance with contract requirements for time and attendance tracking.  
•          Interacts and meets regularly with the Senior Project Manager to review overall portfolio success and provide early alerts of client or employee concerns or potential new opportunities.  Adheres to management of AGs proven escalation process in close collaboration to mitigate and avoid issues.  Presents every 60 days to CEO on performance of client projects.
•          Prepare and provide a detailed deliverables a monthly report of staff performance, tasks, achievements, billable hours and issues with support from an Administrative team member.  Review and maintain current awareness of the contract burn rate utilization tracking prepared by Corporate.
•          delivering duties, assignments and work products in accordance to the expectations set forth within each client contract.
•         Responsible for all recruitment and hiring activities (with Senior Project Manager approval) for all contract projects.  Ensures AG vacancies are fully staffed.  Works in close collaboration with AG Recruiters for successful sourcing and placement of hires. Manages client approvals of hire placements for timely onboarding and follows AG’s proven process for placing and onboarding new hires. Manages the client interface and process for security processing. Ensures employees understand and meet client work delivery expectations; prepare and deliver employee position descriptions; ensure employees receive proper training and development necessary to perform their work
•          Ensures employee engagement and accountability including leading all disciplinary or performance conversations in close collaboration with Corporate HR and SPM. Counsels and coaches employees on performance and attendance issues. Regularly inputs client feedback into Corporate HR systems. 
•          Monitor and approve of employee time and attendance at least weekly and immediately after pay period close date. Reviews and approves time off requests in concert with client delivery considerations. Ensures compliance with contract requirements for time and attendance tracking.  
•          Interacts and meets regularly with the Senior Project Manager to review overall portfolio success and provide early alerts of client or employee concerns or potential new opportunities.  Adheres to management of AGs proven escalation process in close collaboration to mitigate and avoid issues.  Presents every 60 days to CEO on performance of client projects.
•          Prepare and provide a detailed deliverables a monthly report of staff performance, tasks, achievements, billable hours and issues with support from an Administrative team member.  Review and maintain current awareness of the contract burn rate utilization tracking prepared by Corporate.

•       Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field desired (HR, Management, Business Administration or related field). Substantial experience (8+ years of          experience) can substitute degree with some college or professional development.
•       Requires at least 2 years of supervisory or management experience in areas of Operations (HR, IT, Procurement etc) in any areas of government (state, local, federal) OR the private sector, OR government contractor.  Government or Government contracting experience highly desired.
•       Must have demonstrated ability to engage subordinate team in empowering, engaging, collaborative leadership style (AGs culture is highly engaged leadership culture with placing our people first and leading with nurturing of our employees)
•       Must have at least 2-3 years managing clients and leading in “client relationship management” with a strong background in a customer centric delivery model.
•      Ability to manage and juggle multiple priorities and client project teams with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
•      Excellent communication skills required including effective interpersonal communication for employee and client relationship management and advanced written communication skills to prepare content for monthly reports, develop employee documentation, and engage with the client.
•      Requires advanced experience using Microsoft Office tools (such as Outlook, Teams, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc).
•      Exceptional ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with other PMs.
•      Must be a self-starter with the ability to self-manage and work effectively and proactively in a remote work environment independent from day-to-day direction.
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