Program Manager / Contract Manager

Location: North Carolina (Remote with periodic on-site coordination at participating community colleges)

Employment Type: Full-Time

About AKIVA

AKIVA is an AI native engineering firm specializing in enterprise services, domain specific solutions, and high-performance infrastructure from strategy through deployment. We build innovative systems that drive measurable results for commercial enterprises and government agencies. AKIVA is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).

Position Overview

AKIVA is seeking a Program Manager / Contract Manager to serve as the primary point of contact and overall lead for AKIVA's direct hire staffing services supporting the North Carolina Community College System and its participating community colleges. This individual provides corporate oversight of the contract, ensures compliance with all contract requirements and service levels, manages performance reporting, coordinates issue resolution, and drives continuous improvement. The Program Manager conducts quarterly business reviews, tracks key performance indicators, and ensures consistent, responsive service delivery across all participating colleges throughout the contract period. As an AKIVA team member, you will have access to AI powered project management, reporting, and analytics tools that streamline oversight and reporting workflows.

Key Responsibilities

•       Serve as the primary liaison with the NCCCS Contract Administrator and participating community college Contract Administrators.

•       Provide overall contract oversight and ensure compliance with all contract terms, conditions, and service-level requirements.

•       Manage contract performance, quality assurance, and continuous improvement initiatives.

•       Coordinate escalations and drive timely issue resolution across participating colleges.

•       Monitor staffing metrics, requisition fulfillment timelines, and recruitment performance against contract standards.

•       Conduct quarterly business reviews and prepare periodic management reports covering placement activity, hours worked, and attendance.

•       Oversee onboarding and offboarding coordination and ensure accurate recordkeeping across all placements.

Required Qualifications

•       5+ years of program or contract management experience, including staffing, recruiting, or professional services delivery.

•       Demonstrated experience managing government or public sector contracts and service-level agreements.

•       Strong understanding of recruitment operations, requisition workflows, and performance reporting.

•       Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder management, and presentation skills.

•       Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, for management reporting.

•       Ability to manage multiple priorities and coordinate teams across distributed locations.

•       Must be authorized to work in the United States

Preferred Qualifications

•       Experience supporting staffing or direct hire contracts for higher education or state government clients.

•       PMP, CSP (Certified Staffing Professional), or equivalent professional certification.

•       Familiarity with Vendor Management Systems (VMS) and Managed Service Provider (MSP) environments.

•       Experience with North Carolina state procurement processes and eVP vendor requirements.

•       Familiarity with AI powered project management, reporting, and analytics tools.

Tools, Technologies & Frameworks

Project & Reporting: Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Project | Collaboration: Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, Outlook | Staffing Systems: Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), Vendor Management Systems (VMS) | Methodologies: Service-Level Management, KPI Tracking, Continuous Improvement

What AKIVA Offers

•       Professional development and skill-building opportunities

•       Supportive management team with Veteran-owned company values

•       Opportunity to work on impactful public sector engagements

•       Long-term contract engagement with potential for extension

•       AI productivity tools and training provided at no cost to employees

Comprehensive Benefits Package

•       401(k) with generous company match

•       Medical Insurance

•       Dental Insurance

•       Vision Insurance

•       Short-Term & Long-Term Disability Insurance

•       Paid Time Off (PTO)

•       Profit Sharing

Join Our AI Innovation Network

Interested in staying connected with AKIVA's AI initiatives, research, and opportunities?

Join our AI Innovation Network here: https://www.akiva.com/ai-network

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

AKIVA is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical disability, marital status, military and Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that diversity among our teammates is critical to our success as a company, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people within a qualified candidate pool.

AKIVA is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).