Project Manager

Position Summary: The position supports the Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) Command, Control, and Communications (C3) organization (Kennedy Space Center, FL) by owning day-to-day project and schedule integration for Artemis III and Artemis IV Communications. The successful candidate will maintain a current, integrated view of milestones, dependencies, operational need dates, risks, and actions so leadership can resolve conflicts, prioritize resources, and assess mission readiness.

Minimum Requirements:

• Experience building and maintaining integrated schedules for complex technical projects, including linking dependencies, assessing critical and near-critical paths, comparing baseline and forecast dates, and clearly explaining the impact of schedule variance.
• Experience coordinating project execution across engineering, operations, and contractor teams, with the ability to obtain reliable status from work owners, resolve competing priorities, and escalate matters requiring leadership decisions.
• Experience maintaining risk and action registers and translating schedule data into clear reports, briefings, and actionable recommendations for technical and management audiences.
• Proficiency with an integrated scheduling tool such as Microsoft Project or Primavera P6, plus spreadsheet and presentation tools used for analysis and reporting.
• Strong organizational, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work independently in a schedule-driven environment and follow actions through closure.

Responsibilities Include:

• Maintain the integrated Communications Level 4 and Level 5 schedules. Collect updates from IT project managers, engineers, and other work owners; validate milestones and near-term operations against the Program Baseline Manifest; reconcile discrepancies; and document the basis for schedule changes.
• Manage interfaces and operational need dates across IT, LX, Ground Integration Elements (GIEs), AEGIS, and the EGS Program. Track DVO/DVaO alignment and required dates for technical interchange meetings, studies, imagery, and validations. Assess downstream impacts, coordinate recovery options, and elevate unresolved conflicts with a recommended action.
• Lead the Communications integration cadence, including schedule tagups, Level 4/Level 5 reviews, Level 4 overview preparation, and the Level 4 Communications schedule review. Coordinate the daily Communications tagup and weekly Communications Operations review, and provide inputs and follow-through for SETI, ERB, LX, and issue-resolution meetings as needed.
• Coordinate AEGIS work priorities. Consolidate Communications requests, identify competing demands, and recommend a work sequence based on mission needs, dependencies, and available resources. Elevate resource tradeoffs to C3 leadership for decision.
• Prepare program reports and decision material. Deliver weekly Artemis III/IV schedule performance updates, maintain the monthly C3 Program Management Review deck, and provide Earned Value Management and Monthly Status Report inputs. Prepare or present Communications inputs for PRB, PCB, C3FR, and C3 Forums as needed.
• Support planning and change analysis. Develop Communications inputs for Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution and the Phasing Plan; support planning for new capabilities; and analyze how proposed manifest or baseline changes affect milestones, staffing, and operational readiness.
• Maintain continuity records, including the Communications Roles and Responsibilities document, contact list, schedule repository, risk list, action register, and decision records. Record owners and due dates for open items and follow up through closure

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar certification(s).
• NASA, EGS, Artemis, or comparable aerospace or mission-operations experience. Familiarity with communications systems, ground systems, or launch readiness is desirable.
• Experience integrating program and project schedules at multiple levels and supporting baseline changes, Earned Value Management reporting, resource planning, or program governance reviews.
• Ability to present concise schedule status, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to technical teams and leadership.

Education:

• Bachelor or Master’s Degree in Management or Administration.

ARES Benefits:

ARES offers a competitive compensation and benefit package. Full time employees may participate in:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• HSA/FSA Accounts
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Critical Illness & Accident Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• ESOP
• Paid Time Off & Holidays

ARES is an equal opportunity employer and complies with E-Verify. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law. ARES shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a).