Application Development Operations ManagerEdgewater Federal Solutions is seeking an Application Development Operations Manager to support a major national laboratory.The Application Development Operations Manager is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing a large, distributed team of application development professionals (70+ staff), many of whom are embedded within customer organizations. This role emphasizes organizational leadership, workforce strategy, and operational excellence rather than day-to-day technical delivery. The OM ensures effective staffing, strong employee performance, and alignment with evolving technology and client needs.
The position requires a strong technical foundation in modern development practices, DevOps, automation, and software delivery frameworks to support hiring, workforce planning, and operational oversight, while also maintaining close engagement with customer stakeholders and ensuring compliance with all required policies.ResponsibilitiesOrganizational Leadership & OperationsLead and supervise a large, distributed operational workforce to achieve performance targets and deliver high-quality servicesServe as the primary escalation point for personnel, operational issues, and customer concerns, ensuring timely and effective resolutionParticipate in regular operational meetings with the Customer Representative to review progress, performance, and strategic initiativesAttend customer meetings to provide updates, insights, and recommendations on operations and workforce performanceFoster a high-performance, accountable culture across embedded teamsWorkforce Management & LeadershipOversee the full employee lifecycle including hiring, onboarding, performance management, career development, and retentionPartner with HR on employee relations, organizational design, and compensation strategiesConduct performance evaluations, coaching, and development planning for staff at all levelsIdentify skills gaps and implement workforce development and upskilling strategiesRecruiting & Talent AcquisitionGather requirements from stakeholders for highly complex technical rolesDevelop and refine job descriptions aligned with evolving technical and mission needsLead and participate in candidate evaluation, including technical vetting and cultural fit assessmentTechnical & Functional OversightMaintain a strong foundational understanding of software development, DevOps, CI/CD pipelines, automation, and modern architecturesProvide informed input on technical workforce needs, role definitions, and organizational capabilitiesEnsure alignment with software development lifecycle (SDLC) practices, Agile/Scrum methodologies, and modern delivery frameworksSupport teams utilizing tools such as Jira, Azure DevOps, and similar platformsOperational Excellence & Process ImprovementDrive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance service delivery and employee experienceDevelop, implement, and continuously refine operational processes to maximize efficiency and minimize costMonitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunitiesEstablish metrics and reporting frameworks to track organizational health and performanceCompliance, Risk, and GovernanceEnsure compliance with customer site security, safety, and operational policies and proceduresSupport secure and compliant operations in environments requiring DOE clearance standardsIdentify and mitigate risks related to workforce, operations, and deliveryStakeholder Engagement & Relationship ManagementBuild and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders, business leaders, and customer organizationsAct as a bridge between embedded staff and centralized leadership to ensure alignment and communicationProvide workforce insights, operational updates, and strategic recommendations to leadershipStrengthen long-term partnerships across mission and business areasSuccess MeasuresStrong team performance, engagement, and retention across a distributed workforceEffective staffing and hiring for complex technical rolesPositive customer and senior leadership feedbackMeasurable improvements in operational efficiency, KPI performance, and service qualityConsistent compliance with security, safety, and operational requirementsQualificationsBachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent experience)Minimum 4+ years of directly related experience demonstrating the ability to perform operational leadership responsibilities (typically higher in practice for this scope)Ability to obtain a DOE Q Clearance (candidate may start uncleared)Must reside in the Albuquerque area due to on-site work requirementsMust be US CitizenRequired Skills:Proven experience in operations management or a similar leadership role managing technical teamsStrong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skillsExcellent communication and interpersonal abilities, with the ability to engage at all levelsAbility to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities in dynamic environmentsFoundational technical knowledge in:Software development and programming conceptsSoftware architecture and SDLCDevOps, CI/CD, and automation practicesDesired Skills:Proficiency or familiarity with programming languages such as Java, C#, Python, or JavaScriptExperience with Agile/Scrum frameworks and sprint planning tools (e.g., Jira, Azure DevOps)Experience managing large, distributed, or embedded technical teamsFamiliarity with enterprise or mission-critical systems and environmentsDemonstrated success in workforce planning, organizational design, and scaling technical teams