Deputy Project Leader

Overview

About M.C. Dean

M.C. Dean is Building Intelligence. We design, build, operate, and maintain cyber-physical solutions for the nation's most mission-critical facilities, secure environments, complex infrastructure, and global enterprises. With over 7,000 employees, our capabilities span electrical, electronic security, telecommunications, life safety, automation and controls, audiovisual, and IT systems. Headquarters in Tysons, Virginia, M.C. Dean delivers resilient, secure, and innovative power and technology solutions through engineering expertise and smart systems integration.

Why Join Us?

Our people are passionate about engineering innovation that improves lives and drives impactful change. Guided by our core values-agility, expertise, and trust-we foster a collaborative and forward-thinking work environment. At M.C. Dean, we are committed to building the next generation of technical leaders in electrical, engineering, and cybersecurity industries.

The Deputy Project Leader serves as the primary point of accountability for program performance, providing strategic oversight while actively supporting Project Managers and cross‑functional teams to resolve risks, manage dependencies, and drive continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

In this role, you will provide full lifecycle program management support from proposal development and requirements definition to closeout on multiple projects in accordance with MC Dean's highest standards. You will partner with and coordinate the needs of stakeholders, while proactively identifying opportunities to ensure safety and quality, identify and resolve challenges, and ensure timely, cost efficient, and quality project deliverables. Essential responsibilities and activities include but are not limited to:

Program Leadership & Governance:

• Provide end‑to‑end leadership for assigned programs, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, operational priorities, and client expectations.
• Establish and maintain program governance structures, including reporting cadence, escalation paths, and decision frameworks.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for program‑level risks, issues, and change requests.

Planning, Execution & Control

• Develop and maintain integrated program plans, schedules, and resource strategies across multiple projects.
• Ensure consistency in project execution methods, documentation standards, and performance tracking.
• Monitor program performance against cost, schedule, scope, quality, and safety metrics; implement corrective actions as needed.

Financial & Contract Management

• Own program‑level financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cost controls, and margin objectives.
• Review and approve project budgets, forecasts, and change orders.
• Ensure compliance with contract requirements, scope definitions, and client deliverables.

Risk, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure program execution complies with all applicable safety, health, environmental, and quality requirements.
• Actively promote a strong safety culture across all projects within the program.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program‑level risks, including operational, technical, contractual, and staffing risks.

Stakeholder & Client Management

• Act as the primary senior interface with clients, partners, and internal stakeholders for assigned programs.
• Communicate program status, risks, and milestones clearly and proactively.
• Build trusted relationships that support repeat business and long‑term partnerships.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and support Project Managers and key program staff.
• Ensure appropriate staffing, onboarding, and development of program teams.
• Foster collaboration across operations, engineering, safety, procurement, and finance.

Continuous Improvement

• Drive lessons learned and best practices across projects and programs.
• Support standardization of tools, processes, and reporting across the organization.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality, and client satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 5+ Years of experience with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field

Experience:

• Progressive experience in project and/or program management within a technical, construction, infrastructure, or operations‑focused environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple concurrent projects with significant budgets and complexity.
• Strong knowledge of cost control, scheduling, risk management, and contract administration.
• Proven leadership experience managing and mentoring project teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Program Management Professional (PgMP), Project Management Professional (PMP), or similar certification.
• Experience working in regulated or safety‑critical environments.
• Experience supporting federal, municipal, or large enterprise clients.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong execution discipline
• Financial and business acumen
• Risk identification and mitigation
• Clear, confident communication at all organizational levels
• Decision‑making under pressure
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills
• Commitment to safety, quality, and ethical conduct

Physical & Work Environment (if applicable)

• Ability to visit active job sites and project locations as required.
• Occasional travel may be required based on program needs.

We offer an excellent benefits package including:

• A competitive salary
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement
• 401k Retirement Plan
• Military Reserve pay offset
• Paid maternity leave

Abilities:

• Exposure to computer screens for an extended period of time.
• Sitting for extended periods of time. Reach by extending hands or arms in any direction.
• Have finger dexterity in order to manipulate objects with fingers rather than whole hands or arms, for example, using a keyboard.
• Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Identify and understand the speech of another person.