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Program Manager (Deputy Site Manager)

Department of Energy

Plainsboro, NJJobSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

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At a glance

Compensation
No compensation found
Location
Plainsboro, NJ
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Job overview

The Program Manager (Deputy Site Manager) serves as the Site Manager’s alter ego, overseeing activities under the Management and Operating contract for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The role exercises line management authority over site operations and directs contract oversight, workforce supervision, and stakeholder engagement. The position is part of the Office of Science’s Princeton Site Office at the Department of Energy.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Program ManagementBudget DevelopmentResource AllocationContract OversightContractor Performance EvaluationRegulatory ComplianceStaff SupervisionPerformance Management

Qualifications

1 Year Specialized ExperienceGS-14 Equivalent Experience

Full job description

Summary This position is part of the Office of Science - Princeton Site Office, Department of Energy. As a Program Manager (Deputy Site Manager), you will be responsible for overseeing all activities of the Management and Operating contract for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Responsibilities As a Program Manager (Deputy Site Manager), you will: Operations & Program Management: Serve as alter ego to the Site Manager by exercising line management authority over site operations, strategic and operational planning, projects, budget development, infrastructure, environment, safety and health, security, and the implementation of Department of Energy (DOE) policies and directives. Contract Administration & Oversight: Direct and oversee the multi-million-dollar Management and Operating (M&O) contract for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), including negotiating terms, establishing performance expectations, and evaluating contractor performance and deliverables. Personnel Supervision & Leadership: Manage and direct the Princeton Site Office (PSO) workforce, performing full supervisory functions such as setting priorities, evaluating performance, approving hiring and disciplinary actions, and identifying staff development needs. Stakeholder Engagement & Representation: Represent the Site Office and serve as an authoritative spokesperson in liaisons and negotiations with high-level officials across DOE Headquarters, Princeton University leadership, other federal and state agencies, Congress, industry partners, and the public. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: A qualified candidate's online application and resume must demonstrate at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-14 in the Federal service. Specialized experience for this position is defined as meeting ALL of the following: Managing multi-disciplinary operational, technical, or science programs, including establishing priorities, developing budgets, and allocating resources; and Overseeing multi-million-dollar projects or contracts by evaluating contractor performance, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements; and Supervising, leading, or directing professional and technical staff, including setting performance standards, assigning work, and evaluating employee performance. Education cannot be substituted for specialized experience at the GS-14 grade level. Limit your resume to no more than two (2) pages. If more than two pages are submitted, only the first two pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility and qualifications. Your full resume will be made available to the hiring manager if you are referred. "Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. 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. Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration. CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must (1) meet all of the requirements as described in this section; and 2) be rated "well-qualified", which is defined as having a score of 85 or better. You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Education There are no specific education requirements or substitution of education for experience for this position. Additional Information Shared Certificates: The Department of Energy shares lists of applicants among its internal Departmental Elements and organizations. You may be referred for consideration to other DOE Hiring Managers throughout the Department for more than one position based on this application. By applying to this announcement, you understand your application materials may be shared with multiple Hiring Mangers throughout DOE. If additional positions are filled from this announcement conditions of employment may differ. You will be notified if you are referred for additional positions. New employees to the Department of Energy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit the links at the bottom of this page or visit the FedsHireVets website. If you believe that you are eligible for the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), please visit the OPM ICTAP/CTAP website for more information. In order to be considered under the ICTAP program, your application must score within the pre-established "well qualified" category as stated in the Qualifications section. More than one selection may be made from this vacancy announcement. Some positions may require completion of a probationary period of up to 1 (one) year. Many positions require successful completion of a background investigation. Your performance appraisal and incentive awards will be given due consideration in the selection process based on their relation to the duties of the position and the consistency with which they may be considered in evaluating you against other candidates. Hiring incentives may be authorized in accordance with agency policy and if funding is available. Equal employment opportunity policy. Employees or applicants may request Reasonable Accommodation (RA) for assistance, when applying or competing for a job or performing a job due to their medical condition or to exercise their religious beliefs. If you need reasonable accommodation in the application or selection process, please contact the Staffing Specialist listed on this vacancy announcement. Reasonable Accommodation Policy: https://www.energy.gov/hc/articles/reasonable-accommodation-and-personal-assistance-service-procedures Veterans Information: https://www.energy.gov/careers/veterans-military-spouses Selective Service Registration: http://www.sss.gov/ The Fair Chance Act prohibits specific inquiries concerning an applicant's criminal or credit background unless the hiring agency has made a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. An applicant may submit a complaint to the agency within 30 calendar days of the date of alleged noncompliance by completing the Fair Chance Act Intake Form and emailing it to the Administrative Investigations Program at [email protected]. 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 this job compares

Set against the 11,602 open Program Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 31, 2026.

Pay
  • This postingNot listed
  • New Jersey median$124–200K/yr233 salary ranges
  • US median$45–58/hr401 hourly ranges
Openings
Olive Jobs lists 258 open Program Manager jobs in New Jersey and 11,602 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in New Jersey
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 9,771 postings).
Education
4,874 of the 11,602 open Program Manager jobs (42%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 31, 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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