Readiness & Sustainment Portfolio Manager (Virginia Beach, VA)

Sustainment Manager

Position Overview

The Sustainment Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing a portfolio of defense-related programs and contracts focused on naval readiness, lifecycle sustainment, maintenance, engineering, and technical support services. This position provides strategic, operational, and financial oversight to ensure programs are executed efficiently, meet customer requirements, and deliver high-quality results within established schedules and budgets.

The Portfolio Manager leads multidisciplinary teams, manages prime and subcontractor relationships, oversees profit and loss (P&L) performance, and develops customer partnerships across the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense (DoD). Working closely with Business Development and executive leadership, this role also identifies growth opportunities, supports strategic planning, and expands the organization's presence within the defense and maritime sectors.

The ideal candidate brings extensive experience managing large-scale federal government contracts, a strong understanding of naval maintenance and sustainment operations, and a proven ability to lead complex technical programs while maintaining financial and operational accountability.

Location: San Diego, California, or Norfolk/Virginia Beach, Virginia

Key Responsibilities

Portfolio and Program Management

• Provide strategic and operational oversight of a portfolio of naval readiness, sustainment, maintenance, engineering, and technical services contracts.
• Direct the planning, scheduling, execution, and approval of all assigned program activities, ensuring deliverables meet customer requirements, quality standards, and contractual obligations.
• Oversee multiple prime contracts, subcontracts, and task orders, maintaining accountability for scope, schedule, cost, performance, and overall program execution.
• Ensure programs are delivered on time and within budget while maintaining high standards of quality and customer satisfaction.
• Establish and monitor program performance metrics, identify operational risks, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Coordinate resources and priorities across multidisciplinary teams to support evolving customer and mission requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable government regulations, contractual requirements, and organizational policies.

Financial and Contract Management

• Maintain full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility for assigned programs and contracts within the readiness and sustainment portfolio.
• Direct financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation activities to maximize operational efficiency and profitability.
• Oversee contract financial performance, including revenue, costs, margins, labor utilization, and subcontractor expenses.
• Manage and monitor Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, ensuring effective financial and contractual execution.
• Evaluate program performance against financial targets and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency and operational results.
• Oversee prime and subcontractor performance, ensuring contractual commitments, deliverables, and financial expectations are met.
• Support contract reviews, financial reporting, and strategic investment decisions.

Customer Relationship Management

• Build, maintain, and strengthen relationships with existing government customers, defense organizations, and industry partners.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for customer leadership, maintaining regular communication and ensuring customer expectations are consistently addressed.
• Consult with customers to understand operational requirements, identify challenges, and develop solutions that support mission readiness.
• Promote customer satisfaction through responsive communication, quality service delivery, and proactive problem resolution.
• Represent the organization in customer meetings, program reviews, strategic discussions, and industry engagements.
• Develop long-term partnerships that support contract retention, customer confidence, and future business opportunities.

Business Development and Strategic Growth

• Partner with Business Development and Strategic Planning teams to identify, pursue, and develop new customers, contracts, and program opportunities.
• Support the development of marketing strategies, business plans, proposals, and capture initiatives aligned with organizational capabilities.
• Maintain a diverse pipeline of opportunities across naval readiness, maintenance, lifecycle sustainment, engineering, and technical services.
• Evaluate emerging customer needs, defense industry trends, and evolving technologies to identify opportunities for future growth.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to assess new opportunities, develop solutions, and align resources with business objectives.
• Support strategic growth initiatives involving new contract vehicles, teaming arrangements, and subcontractor partnerships.

Team Leadership and Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, train, and develop program managers, technical personnel, and multidisciplinary teams to maximize performance and professional growth.
• Oversee personnel management activities, including recruiting, hiring, performance evaluations, promotions, and workforce planning.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and communication across assigned programs and teams.
• Promote a positive and collaborative work environment that encourages employee engagement, professional development, and operational excellence.
• Identify staffing and training requirements to ensure teams have the capabilities needed to meet current and future program demands.
• Ensure employees operate in accordance with organizational policies, procedures, and applicable government requirements.
• Foster a culture focused on quality, customer satisfaction, cost efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Technical Oversight and Operational Excellence

• Provide leadership across technical service areas supporting naval and defense readiness, maintenance, and sustainment programs.
• Oversee program activities involving intermediate- and operational-level maintenance, integrated logistics support, and lifecycle management of naval systems and equipment.
• Support programs involving hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) systems, combat systems, unmanned surface vessels (USVs), and related defense technologies.
• Ensure technical teams deliver effective maintenance, engineering, workforce development, and sustainment solutions.
• Monitor evolving technologies, maintenance practices, and industry developments to identify opportunities to improve service delivery and operational readiness.
• Drive process improvements that enhance program execution, resource utilization, technical quality, and customer outcomes.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related discipline from an accredited institution.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in federal government contracting, defense program management, technical services, or related industries.
• 5+ years of experience managing a portfolio of contracts and task orders with an average annual revenue run rate of approximately $20 million.
• Demonstrated experience managing Firm Fixed Price (FFP) and Time and Materials (T&M) contracts.
• Proven experience leading federal contracts and programs supporting one or more of the following areas:
• Intermediate- or operational-level maintenance.
• Integrated logistics support (ILS).
• Hull, mechanical, and electrical (HM&E) or combat system lifecycle support.
• Workforce development and technical training.
• Unmanned surface vessel (USV) maintenance.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple complex programs and multidisciplinary technical teams supporting DoD customers.
• Experience overseeing program budgets, financial performance, contract execution, and resource allocation.
• Strong understanding of federal contracting requirements, customer relationship management, and defense industry operations.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with government customers, executive leadership, technical personnel, and subcontractor partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing a portfolio of prime contracts and subcontracts with average annual revenue of approximately $35 million.
• 5+ years of experience supporting the lifecycle management, maintenance, or sustainment of U.S. Navy systems and equipment.
• 3+ years of experience working with nontraditional government contracting vehicles, including Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
• Experience supporting NAVSEA Warfare Centers, Naval Operational and Intermediate Level Maintenance Commands, or other U.S. Navy organizations.
• Familiarity with defense acquisition processes, naval maintenance requirements, and military sustainment operations.
• Experience developing strategic growth initiatives and expanding federal government contract portfolios.

Core Competencies and Leadership Attributes

• Strategic leadership with the ability to manage and grow complex contract portfolios.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L management and contract profitability.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage competing program priorities.
• Excellent customer relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong understanding of naval readiness, maintenance, and lifecycle sustainment operations.
• Results-oriented approach to program execution, operational efficiency, and quality management.
• Effective decision-making, risk management, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to motivate teams, develop talent, and maintain a positive organizational culture.
• Adaptability and the ability to navigate changing customer requirements and defense industry priorities.

Security Requirements

• Must possess an interim or fully adjudicated DoD Secret security clearance.
• Must be eligible to access military facilities, naval installations, and other secure government locations.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain appropriate identification credentials, including REAL ID where required for domestic air travel or access to secure federal facilities.