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Posted: March 12, 2026 (2 days ago)

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ACQUISITION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST

Air Education and Training Command

Department of the Air Force

Fresh

Location

Salary

$108,001 - $140,403

per year

Closes

GS-12 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $74,441 - $96,770

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-11. Advanced degree + significant experience.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves managing the planning, development, and execution of government contracts for Air Force systems and equipment, ensuring projects stay on time, within budget, and meet technical standards.

A good fit would be someone with experience in project management, especially in defense or acquisition fields, who enjoys coordinating teams and solving complex logistical challenges.

It's ideal for detail-oriented professionals who can communicate effectively and handle high-stakes federal programs.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience at GS-12 level or equivalent, including systems acquisition and program management
  • Comprehensive knowledge of laws, principles, policies, and practices in systems acquisition
  • Knowledge of safety, security regulations, and DoD/Air Force organizational structures
  • Skills in planning, organizing, and overseeing development, production, and support of systems or equipment
  • Ability to analyze and manage acquisition functions like engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance
  • Strong oral and written communication skills for technical accuracy
  • Meet federal time-in-grade requirements (one year at GS-12 within the last 52 weeks for GS applicants)

Full Job Description

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information.

The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as a staff acquisition program manager responsible for developing, establishing, implementing, and deploying processes used by acquisition program managers in accomplishing contractual, financial, and technical aspects of a program or project through designated phases of the acquisition cycle.

In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems.

Examples of specialized experience includes Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, policies, and practices of systems acquisition and program management to plan, organize, and manage critical segments of the development, production, and/or deployment of systems, subsystems, and equipment that are within the state-of-the-art but require significant new application of principles.

Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for gathering, analyzing, and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of acquisition programs and support activities to ensure that programs are within schedule, baselines, costs, etc.

FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible.

One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks.

NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements.

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: 1.

Knowledge of the laws, principles, policies, and practices of systems acquisition and program management. 2. Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures. 3.

Knowledge of the mission, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operation of the DoD, Air Force, and organizations that govern, interface with, and/or influence the systems acquisition process.

4. Skill in staff level planning, organizing, and overseeing critical aspects of development, production, and support of systems, subsystems, or equipment. 5.

Ability to integrate, analyze, and manage a variety of acquisition functions in support of research, development, production and support of a system, subsystem, or equipment. 6.

Ability to communicate both orally and in writing, clearly, concisely, and with technical accuracy. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

Provides technical guidance, advisory support, and assistance in system/subsystem engineering, manufacturing, quality assurance, data, configuration management, contracting, financial management, test/evaluation, and other technical integration functions as they relate to the development and implementation of systems acquisition streamlining policy.

Serves on and leads Integrated Product Teams and working groups composed of various functional disciplines engaged in developing and recommending acquisition streamlining proposals and implementation plans.

Provides continuous assessment and evaluation of overall program and individual project goals, objectives, strategies, performance to ensure a sound basis for long-range acquisition program management processes and follow-on system life cycle support planning.

Represents the organization at executive levels within the Government and to contractor/industry representatives.

Prepares, presents, defends, and interprets staff studies to the Program Director and/or other management officials.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 3/12/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 3/12/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 9P-AFPC-12908396-154356-TLM