Deputy Program Manager

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Deputy Program Manager to join our team.

This is a Remote Role, but you will be required to attend onsite sessions with the client in Washington, DC.  (This will be 2 days/week (Thursday and Friday) once per month). Travel to the client location will be at your own expense.

Position Description:

Ardent has an exciting opportunity to play a key role in partnering with the Executive Office of the President’s White House Leadership Development Program (WHLDP) Director in taking vision and strategy to execution: Recruitment and outreach, interview and selection, onboarding and integration, and design and implementation of the leadership development ecosystem.

The WHLDP (www.performance.gov/whldp) is a cohort-based fellowship program. Fellows contribute, in innovative ways, to cross-agency priority goals - including goals related to the President’s Management Agenda. This is an exciting program designed to develop the nation’s next generation of career senior executives to improve lives everywhere.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Work strategically, and in collaboration, with the WHLDP Director to enhance program logistical processes, and implement and adapt for the following WHLDP (WHITE HOUSE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM) functions: 
• Develop a comprehensive "run of show" document for the Orientation event, incorporating input from the WHLDP Director, outlining all learning event elements and corresponding logistical action items related to the event.
• Be readily available during the events, especially during the Orientation, to respond promptly to any logistical requirements or issues that may arise.
• Monitor and respond to inquiries to the WHLDP email account.
• Update MAX pages, or other agency sharing web platforms, with meetings and other key information.
• Maintain the WHLDP roster of fellows and placement leads, and administer and moderate WHLDP listserv messages, and manage WHLDP listserv membership.
• Maintain an internal calendar of meetings and ensure appropriate coverage.
• Assist with identifying and recruiting contributors to develop content for the WHLDP Newsletter.
• Assist with project management and support for ad hoc WHLDP tasks.
• Coordinate input and feedback on WHLDP leadership development programming.
• Work with the WHLDP’s website and communication teams to draft content, and ensure WHLDP-developed content is posted and updated as required and overall website maintenance.
• Coordinate awareness campaigns to promote upcoming events and engage participants effectively; Engage Fellows and Alumni to promote WHLDP activities and outcomes via social media.
• Provide project management assistance during the application process, ensuring a smooth and efficient application submission and review process.
• Assist with the onboarding process for selected participants, providing necessary information and support for a seamless integration into the program.
• Collect and analyze feedback from participants to identify areas of improvement and enhance future iterations of the WHLDP.

• Work strategically and in collaboration with the WHLDP Director to provide logistical and operational support for monthly in-person sessions (including overseeing the setting up the day before the session) and weekly virtual or hybrid sessions.
  • Reserving rooms at GSA and/or coordinating for the use of other federal facilities for onsite and hybrid sessions.
  • Working with GSA building staff to ensure instructions on room set up are implemented accurately for onsite and hybrid sessions.
  • Testing the hybrid set-up a day before the session to ensure issues can be trouble-shooted in a timely manner - before the sessions start typically on Friday mornings.
  • Managing an online platform for virtual and/or hybrid meetings.
  • Coordinating hybrid meeting support services (some in-person and some remote attendees).
  • Distributing calendar invites and meeting notifications for planned and ad hoc meetings as needed.
  • Preparing, organizing, and distributing meeting materials (i.e. agendas, leadership development materials, etc).
  • Taking meeting notes, developing and distributing highlights and/or action items to participants.
  • Updating MAX repository pages and posting presentations or other meeting materials.
  • Tracking action items and cataloging next steps.
  • Maintaining and updating the WHLDP Standard Operating Procedures documents.
• Logistical support includes, but is not limited to:

Requirements:

• Minimum of 9 years’ experience with aspects of leadership development program and project management to include partnering to integrate vision and operations, planning, execution, communications management, logistics, stakeholder management/client relationship management.
• Bachelor's Degree.
• Strong organizational skills: Capacity to engage strategically on an overall plan and follow-through with detailed plans, with clear agreements (who will do what by when), track progress on the plan. Anticipate and communicate in advance potential obstacles and offer ideas for different courses of action to meet milestones.
• Interpersonal Skills: Building strong relationships, understanding individual needs, and fostering a sense of trust. Forming and leading effective teams, resolving conflicts, and ensuring collaborative efforts.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and plan for the long term, while being able to execute on short-term objectives.
• Ethical Decision Making: Acting with integrity and ensuring all actions taken are in the best interests of participants and key stakeholders.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Being aware of and respecting diverse cultural backgrounds, beliefs, and practices. Ensuring inclusivity in all program aspects.
• Candidates should have a track record of being self-motivated and self-starting; having the ability to work independently, collaboratively,  and knowing when to escalate.
• Exceptional facilitation and client management skills.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be U.S. Citizens willing to undergo the government issued background investigation process.

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.