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. Learn more about this agency Duties As a Supervisory Program Manager (Director, University Transportation Centers Program), you will: 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 experienced professional who possesses: Strategic & Program Leadership: Extensive 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 research, technology development, and innovation deployment across academic, public, and private sectors. Outreach & Engagement: Success in leading national dissemination activities and addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders across Federal, State, local, Tribal, and industry audiences.  The candidate must possess strong competencies in Strategic Thinking, Research, Technology Management, Technical Competence, and Stakeholder Management to champion national priorities and effectively communicate complex R&D initiatives to Congress, Federal agencies, academia, and industry partners. Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration. You must meet specialized experience to qualify. Required documents must be submitted by the closing date. Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 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 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. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Must be able to qualify for and maintain a Top Secret/SCI Level Clearance. GOVERNMENT TRAVEL CARD: This position involves travel.  A government contractor-issued travel card will be issued and must be retained for official business only. SUPERVISORY PROBATIONARY PERIOD: You must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed). 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 requirements. 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 program execution, including technical, administrative, and policy-level direction to staff overseeing grants management, cooperative agreements, and university partnerships; AND Experience leading organizational-wide research coordination that focuses on university research, technology development, and innovation deployment; AND Experience leading and overseeing national outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities supporting 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: 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=e4All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement. 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, [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. Expand Hide  additional information 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. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.