Summary

NIST is seeking an Operations and Financial Manager to lead administrative and financial operations for JILA, a unique partnership between NIST and the University of Colorado. This role provides strategic leadership in budget, personnel, procurement, and policy, ensuring compliance across both institutions. Responsibilities include financial management, organizational planning, and administrative oversight.

Duties

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NIST's Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) sets the definitive U.S. standards for nearly every kind of measurement employed in commerce and research, sometimes across more than 20 orders of magnitude. This pivotal position is embedded within PML's Quantum Physics Division - the NIST component of JILA, a world-renowned joint research institute with the University of Colorado Boulder.

As the Operations and Financial Manager, you will:

• Lead administrative and financial operations for the NIST portion of JILA, ensuring effective management of budget, personnel, procurement, travel, space, and safety programs.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on NIST and University of Colorado administrative and financial policies, interpreting and reconciling complex regulatory requirements across both institutions.
• Advise NIST and JILA leadership on strategic planning, financial management, organizational policies, and operational improvements to support mission success.
• Resolve complex organizational and resource management challenges by exercising independent judgment in dual-institution operations and cross-functional program administration.
• Supervise 1 to 2 administrative staff at NIST and provide leadership to support an effective, collaborative, and high-performing administrative organization.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. citizenship
• Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
• Suitable for Federal employment
• Must meet time-in-grade/band requirements, as applicable
• Completion of Confidential Financial Disclosure, Form OGE-450
• Bargaining Unit Position: No

Qualifications

Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-13 (ZA-III at NIST) level.Specialized experience is defined as ALL of the following:

• Experience managing complex administrative and business operations within a federal or academic scientific organization. AND
• Experience interpreting, reconciling, and applying complex, ambiguous, or conflicting regulations across distinct organizational structures to ensure program compliance. AND
• Experience executing independent oversight of multifaceted financial operations, including budget execution, property management, and conducting specialized fiscal analyses to evaluate division health and influence executive decision-making.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site:

Section 14: Reconsideration of Qualification Determinations | NIST

Education

Qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only. Education cannot be used to qualify for this position.

Additional information

This position is covered under NIST's Alternative Personnel Management System (APMS), a pay-for-performance system with excellent HR flexibilities to help NIST recruit and retain top talent. Learn more about the APMS here!

• We may share your application package with other selecting officials. Additional selections may be made through this vacancy.
• Click all links in this vacancy announcement to view additional information or instructions.
• You MUST select at least ONE ELIGIBILITY to be considered for this position.
• All documents submitted for this announcement must be legible to make qualification or eligibility determinations.

• A probationary period may be required.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.