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Research Program Manager

Defense Health Agency

Fort Detrick, MDFull-time$144–187K/yrPosted today

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At a glance

Compensation
$144–187K/yr
Location
Fort Detrick, MD
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The Research Program Manager works within the Science and Technology Portfolio Division of the Defense Health Agency at Fort Detrick, Maryland. The role develops and oversees research program roadmaps, budgets, performance metrics, and operational execution; coordinates with research stakeholders and DHA components; and supports leadership decisions and policy implementation. The position requires a related medical, health sciences, or allied sciences degree and specialized experience managing medical or healthcare research programs.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Research Program ManagementResearch Proposal ReviewProject Progress ReviewFunding Requirements ReviewStakeholder CoordinationProject Plan ReviewAnalysis PreparationBriefing PreparationRecommendation PreparationStatus ReportingAttention to DetailCustomer ServiceDecision MakingFlexibilityInfluencing and NegotiatingIntegrity and HonestyInterpersonal SkillsLearningReasoningSelf-ManagementStress ToleranceTeamwork

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Graduate Degree in Related FieldOne Year Specialized Experience52 Weeks Federal Service at GS-13U.S. Citizenship

Full job description

Summary

About the Position: This position is with the Science and Technology Portfolio Division within the Defense Health Agency, located at Fort Detrick, MD. Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service. Leave accrual negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to the Federal service

Duties

  • Develop program roadmaps with milestones, oversee budgets, and ensure operational functionality of research projects.
  • Foster collaboration with internal and external partners in support of addressing priorities and ensuring effective communication across forums.
  • Develop and prioritize program roadmaps that align with Strategic Research Plans, integrating priorities such as mitigating program delays, costs overruns and other potential obstacles that arise during the research execution phase.
  • Perform cost-benefit analyses, coordinate with analysts and subject-matter experts, and support policy implementation by leadership.
  • Collect and monitor program performance metrics to achieve roadmap objectives and to identify areas for improvement and recommends adjustments based on shifting priorities and resource availability.
  • Consult with DHA directorates and Service components to synchronize military medical research efforts and investments.
  • Represent the organization at seminars, conferences, and committee meetings to advocate for research initiatives and negotiate solutions for required capabilities.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. Current Civilian Employees of the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473 Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible Priority Placement Program, DoD MR and NG Preference Eligible Tech Receiving Disability Retirement Priority Placement Program, DoD Retained Grade Preference Eligible Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998 In order to qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described below. 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. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Basic Requirement for Research Program Manager: Degree: Bachelor's or graduate (or higher level) degree with major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. This degree must be from an educational program accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time the degree was obtained. In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes managing medical or healthcare research programs; reviewing research proposals, project progress, and funding requirements; coordinating with internal and external research stakeholders to review project plans; preparing analyses, briefings, recommendations, and status reports to support program decisions and medical research priorities. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-13). You will be evaluated on the basis of your level of competency in the following areas: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reasoning Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-13).

Education

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the announcement has closed, a review of your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed on this announcement. Please follow all instructions carefully when applying, errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. 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. You may claim Military Spouse preference. You may claim Priority Placement Program (PPP) preference. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP). If you are a Federal employee in the competitive service and your agency has notified you in writing that you are a displaced employee eligible for ICTAP consideration, you may receive selection priority for this position. To receive selection priority, 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. To be considered well-qualified and receive selection priority applicants must satisfy all qualification requirements for the position and receive a score of 90 or above. Additional information about the program is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website. Other Information

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration. You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship. This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest. Direct Deposit of Pay is required. This position requires you to submit a Public Financial Disclosure Report (OGE 278) or a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE450) upon entry, and annually thereafter. Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees. Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement. If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet. Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

How this job compares

Set against the 11,145 open Program Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 9, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$144–187K/yr
  • Maryland median$130–206K/yr174 salary ranges
  • US median$120–202K/yr8,717 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $166K, is close to the Maryland median midpoint ($168K) — in the middle half of Program Manager salary ranges in Maryland.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 227 open Program Manager jobs in Maryland and 11,145 across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Maryland
Experience
This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Program Manager postings that state a minimum ask for (median 6 years, across 9,591 postings).
Education
4,436 of the 11,145 open Program Manager jobs (40%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 9, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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