Question
Full Time 40
10+

Group Manager, Ocean Ecology Lab

4/9/2026

The Group Manager will oversee staff, scientific research, and mission development within the Ocean Ecology Lab at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. They are responsible for project planning, contract administration, and building strong relationships with customers and partners.

Salary

90000 - 140000 USD

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

501-1,000 employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

No

About The Company
Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) is a leading provider of science, engineering, and technology solutions for customers who seek new frontiers. For more than 47 years, we have been by their side, aligning with their vision and goals to provide excellent research and technical support. We support pioneers in science and engineering—such as NASA and NOAA—and we’ve made significant contributions to more than 150 Earth and space science missions. SSAI’s exceptional services are built on our genuine passion for research and innovative solutions. Our expert scientists, engineers, and IT professionals share a commitment to providing solutions for the unique needs of each client. SCIENCE - We focus our passion for science on exploring important questions to improve the quality of life for all of us. ENGINEERING - SSAI engineers design and build new technology to gather accurate data that keep us informed. INFORMATION ANALYTICS - We provide advanced information technology solutions to meet the needs of our customers and their end users.
About the Role
Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) has an opening for a Group Manager (GM) in Greenbelt, MD to support programs in the Earth Science Division at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Specifically, SSAI seeks a GM to oversee staff, scientific research, communications, scientific mission development, field campaign planning, data/sample analysis, software and system development, and other exciting activities within Goddard Space Flight Center's Ocean Ecology Lab. Under the direction of the Program Manager, the GM will:
  • Plan, direct, monitor, and control all aspects of Group performance to ensure that all projects and tasks are accomplished within the prescribed schedule and cost parameters of the overall contract. 
  • Build relationships with customers and partners to capture project requirements, obtain feedback on performance, support initiatives, and present status reports of group activities.
  • Develop new support opportunities and develop initiatives to improve our support to the laboratory.
  • Oversee development of task plans for all assigned tasks, specifying goals, strategy, staffing, scheduling, and allocation of available resources.  
  • Report to the Program Manager on contract matters to ensure that all deliverables are met, and are responsible for all aspects of quality control in assigned tasks. 
  • The GMs are members of SSAI's Senior Management Team and participate actively in corporate initiatives including Business Development (marketing and proposal efforts), strategic planning, employee mentoring, community support activities, and corporate social functions.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) and a minimum of 10 years related experience and/or training, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  • Should have knowledge and understanding of a broad spectrum of disciplines involved in science, engineering, and technology support
  • Experience must include contract administration, project planning, personnel selection and management, and progress monitoring and reporting
  • Ability to forge strong customer and partner relationships to improve our customer support
  • Excellent verbal and writing communication skills are required
  • U.S. Citizenship required

Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience in project management practices, including portfolio management, strategic planning, risk assessment and mitigation, and cost management
  • Experience in the NASA contracting environment
  • Experience supporting development of proposals for NASA contracts
  • PMP certification
  • A strong understanding of Goddard Earth Science Division's business processes, missions, organizations, and projects


EEO/AA Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities

Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands to touch, handle or feel objects, tools or controls. The employee frequently is required to talk and hear and occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Key Skills
Project ManagementContract AdministrationPersonnel ManagementStrategic PlanningScientific ResearchProposal DevelopmentData AnalysisSoftware DevelopmentSystem DevelopmentCommunicationPortfolio ManagementRisk AssessmentCost ManagementBusiness DevelopmentMentoringQuality Control
Categories
Management & LeadershipScience & ResearchEngineeringGovernment & Public SectorTechnology
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