Supervisory Program Manager (Deputy Associate Administrator) - EXCEPTED SERVICE

About the role

The Deputy Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation work closely with the Associate Administrator to address the full range of delegated executive responsibilities for program, budget, administrative and personnel activities.

Provides executive leadership to a national public transportation research and demonstration program, manages financial and technical resources, and directs program implementation through numerous industry stakeholders and research partners.

What you will do

• Serve as a principal advisor and consultant to the Associate Administrator, and as appropriate the Administrator and Deputy Administrator on all activities related to FTA to improve public transportation research programs and projects.
• Prepare resource allocation plans and implement research strategies for designated programs; conduct analysis of established practices and procedures; review and evaluate the effectiveness of designated research programs and initiatives in relation to the agency's mission, functions, and programs.
• Provide guidance on transit a grant programs; review, analyze, and make recommendations on national issues relevant to grant programs.
• Advise the Associate Administrator on the strategic planning, allocation, and oversight of FTA research funds, including the annual spend plan, research portfolio management, including reports and data and development of a comprehensive research strategy for FTA and the transit industry.
• Provide direction pertaining to the human and physical resources of TRI; including workforce planning, employee performance, recruitment, promotions, awards, administrative actions, and allocation of equipment, facilities, and other resources.
• The ideal candidate will have proven experience independently supporting or playing a key role in program analysis projects at the office or division level, with a focus on evaluating operational workflows and utilizing data to generate actionable programmatic reports.
• The candidate must have hands-on experience evaluating, drafting, and documenting standard operating procedures (SOPs) or localized business processes to support daily programmatic or operational needs.
• Direct experience coordinating, gathering, and documenting business and operational requirements aimed at supporting, improving, or implementing localized non-IT or business-side programmatic processes is an asset.

Requirements

• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• TRIAL PERIOD: This is an Excepted Service position.
• This job will be filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive service.
• Applicants selected for an excepted service position may be subject to a two-year trial period.
• GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.
• A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only.
• FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The Ethics in Government Act of 1978 requires the applicant selected for this position to submit a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter.
• SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 the 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 2 year trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

How you will be evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: Please be clear and specific when describing your experience, as HR evaluates applications strictly on the facts provided and will not make assumptions. To receive full credit, your narrative responses must be written in paragraph format and explicitly match your resume.

Begin each response by listing the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full- or part-time status, average weekly hours, and federal series/grade (if applicable). Within the body of the paragraph, clearly describe your specific duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes.

HR will cross-check these details against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every claim and timeframe, the experience will not be considered for credit, which may result in an ineligible determination.

For this announcement, all applicants will be reviewed to determine if they meet the basic qualifications for this position, specifically the educational and specialized experience requirements. Applicants will not be rated or ranked. All applications that are verified to meet the basic qualifications will be referred to the selecting official.

You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Documents you must provide

• In accordance with the OPM memorandum titled Merit Hiring Plan, dated May 29, 2025, resumes with a maximum of two (2) pages in length will be accepted as part of your application.
• These should be legible and in a readable font size.
• A determination of your eligibility and/or qualifications will be based only on those two (2) pages.
• Your resume MUST contain specific information that can be used to make a qualification determination, including employment beginning and ending dates for each position, whether employment is Full-time or Part-time (e.g., Program Analyst, GS-343-11 | January 2009–Present | 40 Hours/Week) and position titles.
• If the position is/was in the Federal government, you will need to provide the position series and grade level.
• The resume should show relevant experience and education, as well as support the required specialized experience.
• PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS / INCENTIVE AWARDS: If applicable, you may submit recent performance appraisals and incentive award documentation dated within the last 18 months.
• To receive due consideration during the evaluation process, your performance appraisal must show the official rating of record and be signed by a supervisor.
• If an appraisal is unavailable, you must submit a statement explaining why (do not submit a performance plan).
• Qualifying incentive documentation includes superior performance, special act or achievement awards, and quality step increases.
• All submitted documentation will be forwarded to the selecting official to support your application.
• VETERANS: If you are eligible for veterans' preference in hiring, you are encouraged to include that information in your application along with supporting documentation, e.g., SF15, DD214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, or other supporting documentation.
• IMPORTANT: Submit all required resume details and documents by the closing date.
• Verify that all files have successfully transferred before submitting.
• Late or incomplete applications will be disqualified.

What to expect next

Within two weeks of the closing date, a Human Resources Specialist will evaluate your application. You may check your application status by logging into USAJobs.com. (Select "My USAJOBS" and click "Applications").

Ratings will be determined based on the documents and information received by the closing date. If you are selected for an interview, the hiring agency will contact you directly. Once the position is filled, we will notify all applicants of their final status.

Additional information

The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Transportation and its Operating Administrations from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment.

In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to the Department of Transportation by email at, ***.

To learn more, please visit our page at: The Fair Chance to Compete Act | US Department of Transportation This announcement may be used to fill additional positions if similar vacancies occur within 90 days of the issue date of the referral certificate.