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Program Manager

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Research & Engineering
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Office of Science & Technology Foundations fosters an innovation-driven defense enterprise through research programs, stewardship of labs and research institutions, development of a superior science and engineering workforce, engagement with industry, academia, and other Government agencies, and cooperation with international partners. The Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) portfolio within the S&T Foundation enables the Department to develop the Nation's STEM talent pool.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/28/2025 to 12/02/2025
This job will close when we have received 100 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Learn more
Salary
$142,488 to - $195,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
NH 4
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Alexandria, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Noncritical-Sensitive (NCS)/Moderate Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
DOD-12830376-26-MK
Control number
851083900

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to current permanent Department of Defense Civilian Employees, Veterans Employment Opportunities Act (VEOA) eligibles, eligible Defense Cyber Excepted Service employees, eligible Priority Placement Program DoD Military Spouses Preference (MSP) applicants, eligible PPP applicants, and Eligible Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan applicants (ICTAP).

Duties

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Incumbent typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Manages overall administration of the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship program to include application, evaluation, selection, awards, outreach, development, and maintenance of the SMART Information Management System (SIMS), default cases, scholar transition into the workforce, and all other aspects of the program.
  • Collaborates with the DoW components to identify metrics to periodically evaluate the performance of the program, and to periodically assess the effectiveness of SMART policies, DoW Instruction and processes.
  • Monitors and assesses SMART budget and program execution periodically to include projections of future SMART scholar cohorts and demand from DoD components and sponsoring facilities.
  • Responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of the annual SMART Scholar Orientation to introduce new SMART scholars to the Department's Research and Engineering enterprise and its mission.
  • Responsible for managing the SMART cooperative agreement and monitoring cost, schedule, and performance, and serve as grants or contract officer's technical representative on respective awards.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • May be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
  • This position is subject to the DoD Priority Placement Program
  • Position has been designated as Noncritical Sensitive. Incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
  • This position requires incumbent to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and annually thereafter.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the NH-IV level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-III grade level in the Federal service (experience may have been gained in the private sector) that demonstrates your ability to

Specialized experience is defined as: experience managing scholarship programs, monitoring budget and program execution, and developing reports for organizational leadership.

Time in Grade:


For entry at the NH-IV level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a NH-III or higher grade in the Federal Service.

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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications and education requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Time-in-grade requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.

Education

Education cannot be substituted for experience.

Additional information

Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/

Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

In order to be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process.

SME Panel Review

Human resources will review resumes for eligibility, and then forward eligible resumes to a Subject Matter Expert (SME Panel) for determination of minimum qualifications. Eligible candidates determined to be qualified by the SME Panel will be certified for further consideration.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the applicant questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Administration and Management
  • Program/Project Management
  • Contracting/Procurement

DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

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