Supervisory Program Manager (Director, University Transportation Centers Program) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Summary

The position provides senior leadership for the Department's University Transportation Centers Program and related university research and grant activities. The incumbent serves as Director of the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and authoritative oversight for USDOT's national portfolio of university-based transportation research, innovation, technology transfer, education, and workforce development programs.

Duties

The Supervisory Program Manager (University Transportation Centers Program): Provides national leadership for the UTC Program, ensuring that university‐led research aligns with Departmental priorities, modal needs, Transportation Research Board recommendations, and emerging national transportation challenges. Guides the development of an integrated and coordinated research strategy in collaboration with other modal partners. Serves as the senior focal point for university research across USDOT. Provides strategic oversight of program execution, including technical, administrative, and policy-level direction to staff managing grants and cooperative agreements and university partnerships. Maintains expert awareness of Federal R&D funding mechanisms to inform program structure and ensure alignment with best practices. Oversees staff evaluations of strategic plans, research proposals, and concept papers, ensuring program direction reflects state‐of‐the‐art technologies, private–public sector needs, and multimodal challenges. Provides policy guidance on the initiation, continuation, and redirection of research activities. Leads and oversees national outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities supporting UTC objectives. Directs the development of seminars, workshops, technical briefings, and interagency activities that broaden understanding and application of UTC research. Ensures awareness of stakeholder needs across Federal, State, local, Tribal, academic, and industry audiences. Represents the Department as its senior official in promoting technology transfer and innovative outreach approaches to maximize the visibility and impact of UTC research outcomes. Provides senior-level oversight of university-based R&D, ensuring UTC research portfolios and other Department-supported university programs address national transportation needs and statutory mandates. Coordinates with university centers of excellence and other research programs to integrate results, minimize duplication, and enhance Department-wide research outcomes. Serves as spokesperson for university research accomplishments and national innovation impacts. Responds to high-profile inquiries from Congress, Federal agencies, academia, industry, and stakeholders on university research issues. Directs staff in producing analyses, correspondence, and briefings, ensuring accuracy and appropriate Departmental coordination. Participates in high-level planning and policy forums, providing expert insight on legislative changes, funding structures, advanced research and technologies, and national R&D priorities. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader providing executive oversight for a national portfolio of transportation research, innovation, and workforce development programs. We are seeking a highly experience professional who possess strong competencies in Transportation Strategic Thinking, Research, Technology Management, Technical Competence, and Stakeholder Management to champion national transportation priorities and effectively communicate complex Transportation R&D initiatives to Congress, Federal agencies, academia, and industry partners. We are seeking a highly experienced professional who possesses: Strategic & Program Leadership: Extensive transportation experience providing policy-level direction and oversight to staff managing complex research partnerships, grants, and cooperative agreements. Financial & Grants Management: Strong financial acumen to manage large-scale grant administration, navigate Federal R&D funding mechanisms, and resolve complex budgetary and policy challenges. Research Coordination: Proven ability to lead cross-organizational transportation research, technology development, and innovation deployment across academic, public, and private sectors. Outreach & Engagement: Success in leading national transportation dissemination activities and addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders across Federal, State, local, Tribal, and industry audiences. Requirements

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you may 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 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 probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. SELECTIVE SERVICE: Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel. A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. PCS/RELOCATION/RECRUITMENT: Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Relocation, and Recruitment Incentive authorization varies by position/selection and a service agreement may be required. SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of the security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). TIME-IN-GRADE: Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F. DEU REQUIREMENTS: Applicants selected under delegated examining procedures may be required to successfully complete a one-year probationary period (unless already completed). Qualifications

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications. To qualify for the Grade 15, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equal or equivalent to the GS-14, it must include: Experience providing strategic oversight of transportation program execution, including technical, administrative, and policy-level direction to staff overseeing grants management, cooperative agreements, and university partnerships; AND Experience leading organizational-wide transportation research coordination that focuses on university transportation research, technology development, and innovation deployment; AND Experience leading and overseeing national transportation outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities supporting transportation research objectives. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: For all types of consideration, 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. Strategic Thinking - Formulates effective strategies consistent with the business and competitive strategy of the organization in a global economy. Examines policy issues and strategic planning with a long-term perspective. Determines objectives and sets priorities; anticipates potential threats or opportunities. Research - Knowledge of the scientific principles, methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry; including study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the reporting of results. Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues. Technology Management - Keeps up to date on technological developments. Makes effective use of technology to achieve results. Ensures access to and security of technology systems. Stakeholder Management - Knowledge of the concepts, practices, and techniques used to identify, engage, influence, and monitor relationships with individuals and groups connected to a work effort; including those actively involved, those who exert influence over the process and its results, and those who have a vested interest in the outcome (positive or negative). For all types of consideration, 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. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. To receive full credit during evaluation, your assessment responses must explicitly point back to your resume, as HR cannot make assumptions about your experience. You must write your narrative answers in full paragraph format, beginning each response with the exact position title, organization, employment dates (MM/YYYY–MM/YYYY), full-time/part-time, average hours worked per week, and federal series/grade (if applicable) as listed on your resume. Within the paragraph, clearly describe your specific individual duties, actions taken, tools used, and measurable outcomes to prove your level of expertise. HR will cross-check your narrative against your resume; if your resume does not fully support every detail and timeframe claimed in your written response, the claimed experience will be disallowed, which may result in an ineligible determination. All applicants: Your application will be reviewed in two phases determine how you move forward in the hiring process. Phase I: Your resume will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience. ONLY two (2) pages of your resume will be reviewed. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letter, links embedded in your resume) will not be reviewed. Applicants passing “Phase I” will move on to the “Phase II” of the assessment process where your application will be reviewed and rated based on the KSAs/Competencies listed in the vacancy announcement by a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You may preview questions for this vacancy. Other 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, [email protected]. 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.