Program Manager

*About Bright Star* Bright Star Solutions is a Washington, DC consulting firm serving federal clients including the U.S. Department of State. We have supported the Department's Center for Analytics for more than four years and were recently awarded a five-year prime contract to continue that work. We are small by design: our people work directly with senior client leadership, own their portfolios, and see the results of their work without layers in between. *The Role* We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead client-facing program management for a technology-focused engagement supporting the Department of State's Center for Analytics (CfA) and Chief Data and AI Officer (CDAO). You will lead a high-performing, cross-functional team of 10 to 12 and work alongside other Program Managers across our 25-person and growing Department of State portfolio, reporting directly to firm leadership. The work spans strategy and execution: strategic planning and organizational design, executive advising through high-polish briefings and compelling papers, and intake and delivery management across a growing portfolio of projects. The right candidate brings a sophisticated understanding of the Department of State and its complex and sensitive data, and operates equally well setting strategy and running the day-to-day. This is a hybrid, primarily on-site role in Washington, DC. State is a relationship-driven client, and an effective Program Manager understands the value of being present for important meetings, face-to-face conversations, and coffees. As a senior hire, you will establish an on-site cadence with the client and Bright Star leadership that balances effectiveness and work-life balance. *Key Responsibilities* * Serve as the primary day-to-day program manager for the CDAO client, managing scope, timelines, and deliverables across multiple concurrent workstreams * Build and maintain trusted relationships with client leadership, including senior technology and data officials * Represent the team in client meetings, briefings, and strategic planning sessions * Own project intake and prioritization: design and run the workflows, prioritization criteria, and routing that bring new work into the pipeline in a consistent, trackable way * Design and implement standardized operating models and project lifecycle frameworks to bring consistency across a growing portfolio of projects * Lead change management and internal communications for major process rollouts, including all-hands announcements and role-specific guidance * Support hiring and recruiting for the CfA team, including scoping roles, screening candidates, and onboarding *Required Qualifications* * Active Top Secret security clearance (contract requirement) * Experience supporting the Department of State * 10+ years of professional experience in consulting, strategy, business analysis, or related roles * 5+ years of program management, including managing teams of 8 or more * Demonstrated experience designing operating models, SOPs, or process frameworks from scratch * Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience drafting executive-level communications * Comfort working directly with senior government stakeholders in hybrid and on-site federal environments * Bachelor's degree *Preferred Qualifications* * PMP certification, or in progress * Experience supporting the Department of State in a data, AI, or technology function * Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams of business analysts, data scientists, engineers, and process-improvement specialists * Familiarity with data platforms, analytics environments, or AI-enabled tools used in enterprise or federal settings * Experience translating technical or data-driven concepts into executive-level communications and strategy artifacts *Benefits* * 401(k) with company match up to 4% * Three weeks of accrued paid time off * Health, dental, and vision insurance *Equal Employment Opportunity* Bright Star is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Pay: $170,000.00 - $190,000.00 per year Benefits: * 401(k) * 401(k) matching * Dental insurance * Health insurance * Health savings account * Paid time off * Vision insurance Experience: * Program management: 5 years (Required) Security clearance: * Top Secret (Required) Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20006