This position can be based in Washington, DC, Orlando, FL or San Antonio, TX

The Work

The Project Manager Level I Quality Control Lead serves as a linchpin in delivering high-quality, compliant project outcomes while ensuring efficient and effective use of resources. The role combines foundational project management responsibilities with a critical focus on quality assurance practices, requiring close collaboration with teams and adherence to the client’s management standards. Success in this position is marked by achieving stakeholder satisfaction, meeting deliverable requirements, and maintaining compliance with federal quality guidelines.

This position performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of Cayuse.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day management for small-scale or narrowly scoped projects or assist higher-level managers with larger projects.
• Track milestones, deliverables, and project schedules to meet deadlines.
• Coordinate between cross-functional teams, including technical, programmatic, and administrative personnel.
• Act as a liaison between stakeholders, including leadership and contractors, to ensure effective communication and expectations alignment.
• Organize team meetings, briefings, and reporting to ensure transparency in project status, obstacles, and successes.
• Identify potential risks or challenges to project timelines or deliverables and propose mitigation strategies.
• Maintain a project risk register and escalate significant risks to senior leadership as necessary.
• Maintain project artifacts, including project charters, project plans, risk analysis, and decision logs, using client approved document and project management tools.
• Generate accurate and timely reports for internal reviews and audits.
• Adhere to the client’s program management framework, governance protocols, and acquisition standards in the execution of all project responsibilities.
• Coordinate with contracting officers to ensure deliverables align with contractual obligations.
• Develop and enforce a Quality Control Plan (QCP) aligned with the client’s policies, contractual requirements, and industry best practices (e.g., ISO 9001:2015, CMMI standards).
• Define measurable quality objectives and standards to assess work deliverables and performance.
• Conduct audits and reviews of project deliverables, processes, and outcomes to ensure the quality of services meets the client’s specifications.
• Provide corrective action recommendations and follow-ups to address non-compliance or deficiencies in quality.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by capturing lessons learned and implementing best practices for improved efficiency and quality.
• Analyze and interpret project data to identify trends, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and provide actionable insights.
• Maintain oversight of quality process documentation, ensuring team members understand and follow the client’s quality control procedures.
• Train staff on best practices for maintaining quality, including configuration management, process documentation, and issue resolution.
• Supervise regular inspection and testing protocols necessary to verify deliverable quality (such as hardware, software, or system functionality if applicable).
• Provide verification and validation activities for critical deliverables, ensuring alignment with client’s design and operational standards.
• Work closely with the client’s leadership, contractors, and external stakeholders to clarify quality requirements and ensure project alignment with goals.
• Actively participate in Integrated Project Teams (IPTs) to resolve technical or process-related challenges.
• Develop and manage quality metrics to measure the overall health of projects under the PM’s oversight.
• Report on quality risks, incidents, and compliance trends to key decision-makers.
• Monitor project workflows and deliverables, identifying gaps where efficiencies or improvements can be introduced.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for addressing quality issues, escalating when necessary to higher-level management.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications – Here’s What You Need

• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience performing quality control duties in any field.
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as PMBOK, Agile, or Scrum.
• Experience using project management software (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira, or other client specific tools).
• Strong understanding of quality assurance standards and frameworks applicable to government processes.
• Practical experience handling quality control protocols for IT systems, homeland security operations, or federal projects.
• Ability to draft quality reports and present results to leadership or review committees.
• Familiarity with federal acquisition regulations (FAR), government specific policies, and organizational quality benchmarks.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, with preference for an active Secret or Top-Secret Clearance depending on the assigned project.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Business Administration, Information Technology, or Homeland Security).
• Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Quality Auditor (CQA), or Six Sigma Green Belt/Lean certifications may be highly desirable.
• Must be able to pass a background check. May require additional background checks as required by projects and/or clients at any time during employment.

Minimum Skills:

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate in a clear, professional, and articulate manner.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to develop and deliver compelling presentations.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with high-level attention to detail.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize in a fast past environment with changing priorities; adaptable to change and a quick learner.
• Must be self-motivated and able to work well independently as well as on a multi-functional team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Proficient in MS Office, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Desired Qualifications:

• Relevant DHS experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Our Commitment to you / overview of benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance; Wellness Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability options
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (Company Provided)
• Voluntary Life and AD&D options
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with matching after one year
• Paid Time Off

Reports to: Program Manager

Working Conditions

• Professional office environment.
• Must be physically and mentally able to perform duties extended periods of time.
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity tools with sufficient speed to meet the demands of this position.
• Must be able to establish a productive and professional workspace.
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time looking at computer screen.

• May be asked to work a flexible schedule which may include holidays.
• May be asked to travel for business or professional development purposes.
• May be asked to work hours outside of normal business hours.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cayuse is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, skills, and abilities. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment in accordance with any applicable federal, state, or local law.