Summary This position is located in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Observations (OBS), Surface and Upper Air Division (SUAD), Program Management Branch with 1 vacancy in Silver Spring, MD. This position is also announced under vacancy number NWS-26-12905778-ST, which is open to Status Candidates. You must apply to both announcements if you want to be considered for both. Responsibilities As a Program Management Specialist, you will perform the following duties: Manage the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) Program including any upgrades, downgrades, additions or deletions necessary to maintain system observation. Identify and handle risks appropriately that could jeopardize program success. Monitor the system performance across the network. Ensure an effective system maintenance process, including its Quality Assurance, is maintained. Lead acquisition of appropriate data for weather observations and oversee data quality techniques and standards are met. Supervise timeliness and accuracy of national program documentation (technical manuals, National Weather Service (NWS) directives, Memoranda of Agreement/Memoranda of Understanding (MOA/MOU), etc.). Provide leadership to the cost, schedule and performance of the program and its projects. Direct the development of Policies, Plans, and Program related to improving the National ASOS Program through research and overseeing the procurement of new technologies, engineering solutions and innovative approaches to enhance system maintenance and overall system availability. Oversee program and project schedules, budget, and assesses risks in deployment of new technology. Use best practices to manage and lead organizational change, based on vision of desired end results, identification and mitigation of potential risks, team building and considering views and needs of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other government partners. Serve as a Program Manager and systems engineering expert authority on Surface observation matters, with responsibility for managing full life cycle of a program or programs for observing systems that are deployed across the NWS to collect weather, water and climate observational data. Provide technical expertise in the selection and application of appropriate problem-solving methods and techniques. Provide advice on work methods, practices and procedures and assist the team or individual members in identifying the parameters of a viable solution. Provide leadership to program and project staff at the Headquarters and at the field offices. Articulate and communicate to the team the assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, program issues under review, and deadlines and time frames for completion. Provide task order oversight, engage with and help guide contractor activities in alignment with ASOS programmatic goals. Requirements Conditions of Employment Key Requirements: Applicants must be U.S. Citizens. Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by background investigation. More requirements are listed under Qualifications and Additional Information. Must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable (www.sss.gov) Qualification requirements must be met by closing date of the announcement. Additional Considerations: One year probationary period may be required. Payment of relocation expenses (PCS) is not authorized. This position requires a Moderate Risk Security Clearance. Background investigation will be required. Continued employment is subject to applicant's successful completion of security investigation and favorable adjudication. Failure to successfully meet these requirements will be grounds for termination. *Note: A one year probationary period will be required unless you are a current Department of Commerce (including NOAA) employee and are in the same line of work and with no more than a 30 day break in service. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, for those required to serve a 1-year probationary period, 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; Needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of then 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. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: The incumbent is required to have or obtain within one- year and maintain Federal Acquisition Certification for Program and Project Managers (FAC-P/PM) Level III. Throughout the recruitment and hiring process we will be communicating with you via email; therefore, it is imperative that the email address you provide when applying for this vacancy remains active. Should your email address change, please notify the point of contact identified in the vacancy announcement as soon as possible so that we can update our system. Qualifications Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/ EDUCATION: There is no positive education requirement for this position. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position. This experience need not have been in the federal government. 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. To qualify at the GS-14 level: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must also possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following: Developing or overseeing the implementation of strategic plans, budget, and schedules for a program; Evaluating technological programs or software to identify potential risks or vulnerabilities; and Providing recommendations or solutions for the improvement of program functions. Education Substitution of education for specialized experience is not applicable to this vacancy. Additional Information This announcement, originally closing 3/23/26, is now closing on 3/26/26. ICTAP and CTAP Candidates: Eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications by attaining at least a rating of 85 out of 100. Information about ICTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at: Employee Guide to Career Transition. ICTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: Copy of your RIF separation notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; notice of disability annuity termination; certification from your former agency that it cannot place you after your recovery from a compensable injury; or certification from the National Guard Bureau or Military Department that you are eligible for disability retirement; Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" documenting your RIF separation, noting your positions, grade level, and duty location, and/or Agency certification of inability to place you through RPL, etc; Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. CTAP applicants MUST submit the following documents: Copy of your specific RIF notice; notice of proposed removal for failure to relocate; a Certificate of Expected Separation (CES); or certification that you are in a surplus organization or occupation (this could be a position abolishment letter, a notice eligibility for discontinued service retirement, or similar notice). Copy of your SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action", noting current position, grade level, and duty location; Copy of your latest performance appraisal including your rating; and Any documentation from your agency that shows your current promotion potential. NOAA participates in e-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. The Federal Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.
