Defense Threat Reduction Agency

PROGRAM MANAGER (RESEARCH OPERATIONS)

Defense Threat Reduction Agency$110K — $130K *
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in defense acquisition program management at a senior level (GS-13 or equivalent)
  • Demonstrated experience in managing large-scale R&D programs
  • Ability to advise senior leadership on technology development and acquisition strategies
  • Expertise in Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE)
  • Strong communication skills for integration across military and government agencies

Responsibilities

  • Serve as Program Manager responsible for complex R&D programs in Chemical and Biological Defense
  • Develop and direct multi-year program strategies including cost and performance management
  • Resolve programmatic conflicts and make decisions on R&D acquisition
  • Assess technical requirements, solve critical problems and facilitate stakeholder communication
  • Ensure financial execution aligns with budget and procurement plans
  • Provide strategic advice for science and technology acquisition planning

Benefits

  • Access to a comprehensive benefits package including health, retirement, and paid leave
  • Eligibility for telework
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Opportunities for continuous training with required learning points annually
  • Potential recruitment incentives approved by hiring manager
Full Job Description
Summary

This position may be filled using Direct Hire Authority and is in the Department of Defense (DoD) Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo): Z5CAV/Direct-Hire Authority (Certain DoD Personnel) PL 118-31, Sec 125OB (i)(2), 12/22/2023.This position is being filled under the memorandum from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) "Expansion of Direct Hire Authority for Certain Personnel of the Department of Defense," dated August 12,2024.

Duties

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As a PROGRAM MANAGER (RESEARCH OPERATIONS) at the GS-0340-14 some of your typical work assignments may include:

  • Serves as the Program Manager (PM) and technical authority within the Research Operations Division (RD-CBC), responsible for the full life-cycle direction of major, high-visibility, and exceptionally complex R&D programs in the broad area of Chemical and Biological Defense.
  • Conceives, plans, develops, and directs the execution of department-wide, multi-year program strategies, orchestrating all aspects of cost, schedule, performance, and risk.
  • Resolves critical programmatic conflicts, makes authoritative decisions on R&D acquisition and procurement, identifies and evaluates alternatives for achieving those objectives, and generates program and project acquisition plans.
  • Assesses and defines technical requirements, resolves critical problems, facilitates communication with all stakeholders, manages program interaction, and ensures accomplishment of scientific and technical program goals.
  • Maintains rigorous oversight of financial execution, ensuring that spend plans are accurately implemented and that all procurement actions align with the approved budget.
  • Provides authoritative advice and recommendations that shape the long-range acquisition approach for science and technology to ensure synchronization and alignment with the Department's strategic goals.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Occasional Travel
  • Work Schedule: Full-time
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary period
  • Overtime: Occasionally
  • Tour of Duty: Flexible
  • Recruitment Incentives: As approved by the hiring manager
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Financial Disclosure: Required
  • Telework Eligibility: This position is telework eligible
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI (Top Secret/SCI access) security access.
  • Must consent to and pass pre-employment drug testing and random drug testing thereafter.
  • Travel in the performance of temporary assignments may be required (up to 10%). Travel may be required to locations within and outside the continental United States.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid passport.
  • This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Program Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years.
  • The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.
  • Incumbent is required to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Form, OGE 450, within 30 days of entering the position, annually and upon termination of employment (DoD Directive 5500.7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, August 30, 1993).
  • The employee must be willing to comply with each Combatant Command (COCOM) travel medical requirement to include vaccinations.


Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS 14 , if you fulfill the following qualifications:

A. Have one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (GS-13) or equivalent in the federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector). Specialized Experienced is defined as:

  • Planning, managing, and executing highly complex, large-scale, and challenging defense acquisition programs. Implementing advanced acquisition strategies for major Research and Development programs
  • Advising senior leadership on multi-faceted technology development programs, providing critical recommendations that shape and influence programmatic strategies
  • Applying Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) expertise to formulate and defend multi-year budget requests before Directorate and Agency senior leadership
  • Translating technical concepts into clear programmatic and fiscal terms to integrate efforts across military services, and government agencies.


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.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Additional information

Other Notes:

ACQUISITION POSITION: This is an Acquisition Workforce position in the Program Management functional area. The incumbent will be required to become certified in the Practitioner tier within 5 years. The incumbent is required to acquire a minimum of 40 continuous learning points (CLPs) every fiscal year as a goal and 80 CLPs being mandatory within 2 years.

Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses

RE-EMPLOYED ANNUITANT: This position DOES NOT meet criteria for re-employed annuitant. The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/1400.25-V300.pdf

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see Who Needs to Register | Selective Service System : Selective Service System (sss.gov))

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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.

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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.

About Defense Threat Reduction Agency

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is an agency of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and is headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. The agency is responsible for countering weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and reducing the threat posed by WMD to the United States and its allies. DTRA provides research, development, testing, and evaluation services to the DoD and other government agencies. The agency was established in 1998 and has since played a key role in the U.S. government's efforts to prevent the proliferation of WMD.
Learn more about Defense Threat Reduction Agency
Size
2,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1998

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