Ascension LLC is seeking a high-performing IT Cost Estimation Project Manager to serve as Key Personnel supporting a federal cost estimation services contract. This role is critical to ensuring the successful planning, execution, and delivery of cost estimation activities aligned with GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide best practices and federal acquisition requirements.

The ideal candidate is a strategic leader and disciplined program manager who excels at coordinating cross-functional teams, guiding technical cost analysts, and ensuring that all deliverables meet rigorous federal standards. This individual will not perform detailed cost modeling but will oversee the full lifecycle of cost estimation efforts, ensuring quality, compliance, and stakeholder alignment.

This role is essential to achieving the Government’s objective of delivering credible, defensible, and audit-ready cost estimates that support acquisition and program decision-making.

Position Summary

The IT Cost Estimation Project Manager provides end-to-end project leadership across planning, execution, review cycles, and final delivery of cost estimation services. The role ensures alignment with Government priorities, manages stakeholder communications, and enforces adherence to federal cost estimating standards and internal quality controls.

The ideal candidate is:

• A detail-oriented and structured planner with strong federal consulting experience
• Self-driven and adaptable, able to operate effectively in evolving or ambiguous environments
• Skilled at anticipating risks, aligning stakeholders, and driving execution
• Capable of managing multiple priorities while maintaining quality and schedule discipline

This role supports the Government by ensuring that cost estimation efforts are well-managed, properly documented, and defensible, leveraging structured methodologies, collaboration tools, and established project governance practices.

Day-to-Day / Core Responsibilities

• Lead project planning, kickoff, and execution activities across the cost estimation lifecycle
• Coordinate with Government stakeholders, SMEs, and technical teams to define scope, timelines, and deliverables
• Ensure compliance with GAO cost estimating standards and federal acquisition guidance
• Oversee development and review of cost estimation artifacts, models, and supporting documentation
• Manage project schedules, milestones, and deliverable timelines
• Facilitate status meetings, working sessions, and stakeholder briefings
• Track risks, issues, and dependencies, and implement mitigation strategies
• Review deliverables for quality, completeness, and consistency prior to submission
• Support independent validation, audit readiness, and review cycles
• Prepare and deliver executive briefings, reports, and status updates
• Coordinate cross-functional inputs including cost analysts, SMEs, and data teams
• Maintain project documentation, including plans, trackers, and decision logs
• Ensure alignment between technical outputs and program-level objectives and requirements