Program Director (CEO/COO), Grants, Contracts & Procurement [Remote]

About the Role American AI & Automation (AAIA) is seeking a Program Director (CEO/COO-level) to own and lead delivery of Grants Management, Contracts Administration, and Public Procurement software programs for government agencies and regulated public-sector environments. This role functions as the executive owner of programs under management. You are fully accountable for delivery outcomes, government relationships, compliance posture, vendor performance, financial health, and audit risk. These systems govern how public funds are solicited, awarded, obligated, tracked, and reported. Failure results in audit findings, funding clawbacks, legal exposure, and public scrutiny. This role requires an operator who has carried that responsibility before. You will not manage engineering directly. You will own execution, governance, and accountability, partnering closely with the Technical Director and delivery teams. Executive Program Ownership • Own end-to-end delivery of grants, contracts, and procurement software programs. • Serve as AAIA’s accountable executive to contracting officers, procurement officials, finance leadership, and oversight bodies. • Control scope, schedule, budget, risk, and change management. • Make decisive calls when delivery, compliance, or audit risk emerges. • Ensure programs meet all contractual, regulatory, and performance obligations. Government & Stakeholder Leadership • Act as AAIA’s senior representative to grants offices, procurement departments, finance agencies, and oversight entities. • Lead executive briefings, steering committees, and formal program reviews. • Translate statutes, procurement rules, and agency objectives into executable program plans. • Manage expectations across agencies, vendors, and internal leadership. • Build long-term trust with public-sector stakeholders. Compliance, Risk & Audit Governance • Ensure programs operate in full alignment with procurement law, grants regulations, and financial controls. • Own audit readiness, documentation discipline, and formal reporting. • Anticipate regulatory, operational, and reputational risk. • Oversee issue resolution related to audits, findings, protests, or public records requests. • Maintain readiness for inspections, investigations, or legislative inquiry. Vendor & Delivery Oversight • Direct and hold systems integrators and subcontractors accountable for performance. • Partner closely with the Technical Director to ensure technical execution supports compliance and delivery commitments. • Resolve vendor disputes and performance issues decisively. • Align legal, compliance, finance, and operations teams around program needs. • Establish repeatable governance and delivery processes across programs. Financial & Operational Control • Own program-level financial performance and margin. • Oversee contract modifications, change orders, and scope adjustments. • Ensure staffing and delivery models scale responsibly. • Support capture strategy, proposal reviews, and transition planning. • Institutionalize lessons learned to improve future execution. Required Experience • 12+ years of experience leading government or regulated financial / administrative programs. • Proven ownership of large, multi-year grants, contracts, or procurement systems. • Deep familiarity with public-sector procurement, compliance, and audit environments. • Experience managing vendors or systems integrators on complex contracts. • Strong executive presence with procurement officials, finance leaders, and oversight bodies. • Demonstrated ability to lead under audit and regulatory pressure. Strong Plus • Experience with federal, state, or local grants and procurement programs. • Prior accountability for programs under audit, protest, or oversight review. • Experience stabilizing or recovering complex financial or procurement initiatives. • Background in operations, program leadership, or executive delivery roles. Compensation & Structure • Equity participation aligned with division and program performance. • Performance-based compensation tied to delivery outcomes and contract growth. • Option to transition into salary + equity + performance model as scale increases. Why AAIA • True executive ownership with real authority. • Opportunity to lead systems that control public funding and accountability. • Clear accountability model paired with strong technical leadership. • Ability to shape how grants and procurement systems are delivered nationwide. If you have owned grants, contracts, or procurement programs where audit failure was not an option and accountability rested squarely on you, this role is designed for that level of responsibility. Applicants should submit examples of programs owned, contracts managed, and outcomes delivered. Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract Pay: $100.00 - $700.00 per hour Benefits: • Flexible schedule Work Location: Remote Apply tot his job Apply To this Job