PROGRAM MANAGER (HUMAN CAPITAL) Job in Pentagon, Arlington, VA

Vacancy No. ST-12766184-25-AMY Department Office of the Secretary of Defense
Salary $142,488.00 to $195,200.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/24/2025 Close Date 7/28/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Pentagon, Arlington, VA


Summary

This position is located in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)). The USD(R&E) serves as the Chief Technology Officer and is responsible for research, development, and prototyping activities within the Department of Defense (DoD).

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to Hiring Organization Employees Only: OUSD R&E, Business Operations, Human Resources & Management Office employees only and PPP MSP eligibles.

Duties

Typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Serving as the primary Action Officer for Acquisition Demonstration (AcqDemo) initiatives and civilian human resource management (CHRM) processes.
  • Leading the development and continuous enhancement of AcqDemo implementation and operational guidance and providing authoritative guidance and policy interpretation for senior management across Research & Engineering (R&E).
  • Establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships with the AcqDemo Program Office and participating organizations; advising on communication strategies regarding AcqDemo policies and changes and offering expert advice on complex processes.
  • Serving as a technical advisor and analyzing relevant legislation and administrative rulings, addressing sensitive pay issues, and providing HR advisory services.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis testing for illegal drugs prior to appointment and are subjected to random drug testing.
  • This position has a designation security level of Special Sensitive. The incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • The incumbent must adhere to DoD Standards of Conduct
  • This position may require occasional travel (up to 25%) away from your normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • This is a Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act position.
  • Selectee must execute, as a condition of appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal service in the position for at least three years.
  • This is an encumbered position.

Qualifications

Time in Grade:
For entry at the NH-IV (GS-14/15) level, status applicants must have served 52 weeks as a NH-III (GS-13) or higher grade in the Federal Service.

Specialized Experience:
For the NH-IV (GS-14/15), you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to the NH-III (GS-13) grade level in the Federal service, or comparable in difficulty and responsibility to the NH-III (GS-13) if outside the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as creating or managing internal AcqDemo documentation; designing or coordinating training programs regarding AcqDemo policies; and providing direction in various HR domains such as recruitment, performance management, classification, or payroll processing.

In addition to meeting the specialized experience requirements, qualified applicants must also possess the quality of experience as it relates to how closely or to what extent an applicant's background, recency of experience, education, and training are relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the announced position. Candidates must clearly demonstrate the possession of competencies necessary to successfully perform the work of the position at the appropriate level to be qualified for the position. Applicants must describe how their experience meets the competencies within the body of the resume. No separate statements addressing competencies are required.

Competencies: Human Capital Management, Oral Communication, Organizational Performance Analysis, and Technical Competence

Qualification and time-in-grade requirements must be met at the closing date of this announcement.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at the NH-IV (GS-14/15) grade level.

Additional information

  • A one year probationary or trial period may be required.
  • Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination
  • Individuals tentatively selected for drug testing designated positions will be required to submit to urinalysis testing for illegal drugs prior to appointment or placement.
  • We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.
  • Moving costs will not be paid.
  • Recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives are not authorized.
  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 makes certain reimbursements/payments taxable. For information on these changes and the Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA), for which some appointees are eligible, click here.
  • Critical Acquisition Position: This position requires a Business - Financial Management - Practitioner acquisition certification. The incumbent has 60 months to achieve this certification. The selectee must execute, as a condition of appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal service in the position for at least three years. In signing such agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment. The incumbent has 60 months to achieve this certification. Once obtained, you must maintain and improve proficiency.
  • For more information on veterans' preference click here.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (to verify your registration status click here).
  • You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will not be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility
  • All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact Washington Headquarters Services for assistance.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the applicant questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. 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. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating.

The Assessment Questionnaire takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and collects information on your education, training and experience related to the following critical competencies:

  • Human Capital Management
  • Oral Communication
  • Organizational Performance Analysis
  • Technical Competence


You can preview the Questionnaire here:https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12766184

Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.

Required Documents

FOR THIS JOB ANNOUNCEMENT THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED AS THEY APPLY STATED BELOW AND MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT. NOT ALL DOCUMENTS WILL APPLY TO EVERYONE.

  1. SF-50 - (if applicable) Notification of Personnel Action for current or former federal employees- All applicants must provide your most recent SF50 or the SF50 reflecting Career/Career-Conditional tenure and the highest grade held on a permanent basis.
  2. Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held. It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees. Effective 5/25/2022, WHS HRD will use the resume in conjunction with the provided SF-50 to confirm Current Federal Employee eligibility. We will complete confirmation of Current Federal Employee eligibility at the job offer phase if needed. It is still required that you submit at least one SF-50 with your application and confirm you are a current federal employee via your employment dates on your resume for current federal employee eligibility determinations. (WHS serviced employees SF-50s can be verified via eOPF).
  3. Veterans Preference Documentation (if applicable): Candidates claiming Veterans Preference must submit a DD-214 (Member Copy 4), or, if you are CURRENTLY serving on active duty, a statement of service from your unit which states the date you entered on active duty, the date you are separating, and the campaign medals you have received. For those supplying the statement of service, preference will be verified by a DD-214 (Member Copy 4) upon separation from the military. Veterans with a service-connected disability must also submit a VA letter dated 1991 or later. DoD Components with CES positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of the Title 5 U.S.C. in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement."
Your complete Application Package (containing the above required documents) must be received no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on 07/28/2025.

WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11:59 PM (EST) on 07/28/2025, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded is received, legible and accurate.

HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

  1. Your Resume
  • Your resume MUST include the following information for each job listed: Job title; duties (be as detailed as possible); month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008); and full- time or part-time status (include hours worked per week). Read more about what should I include in my federal resume here.
  • DO NOT include the following information: Classified or government sensitive information; Social Security Number; Photos of yourself; Personal information, such as age, sex, religious affiliation, etc.; or encrypted and digitally signed documents. Read more about what should I leave out of my resume here.
  1. A complete Assessment Questionnaire
  2. Other required supporting documents: (SEE BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON REQUIRED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS)
Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
  1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
  2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
  3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.
To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login) all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

You are encouraged to apply online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Do not email or send hard copy resumes/applications to the Contact Information or Agency Information listed in this vacancy announcement. All resumes/applications received at the addresses listed in the Contact Information or Agency Information will be destroyed and will not be considered for this vacancy announcement.

It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that all information in their resume and documents are legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers/documents submitted by an applicant.

Washington Headquarters Services provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please view the "Alternate Application" method listed in the "Other Information" section of this announcement. Your requests for reasonable accommodation will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Please visit the following link for more information http://http://www.esd.whs.mil/Directives/issuances/admin_inst/.

Agency contact information

Washington HQ Services
Address
Office of the USD for Research and Engineering
Human Resources Directorate
4800 Mark Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22350
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.

Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: https://www.usajobs.gov/Applicant/Application/ListApplications?.

Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.