Program Manager

Full Job Description

Serves as the Director of Advance, reporting to the Executive Secretariat.

The incumbent exercises authoritative management over the staffing, strategic planning, and operational execution of the Secretary's travel and participation in external events.

The Director serves as the principal advisor to the Executive Secretariat on all logistical and security-integrated protocols, ensuring that the Secretary's public engagements align with Departmental policy and national security requirements.

To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, you must meet the specialized experience qualifications for the grade at which you are requesting consideration.

To qualify for the Grade 14, you must have at least one year of experience equal or equivalent to the GS-13, it must include: Experience directing multi-agency advance operations for an executive principal, overseeing the final review of trip books and leading the end-to-end resolution of on-the-ground logistical and security challenges to ensure seamless execution.

AND Expert technical advisory on Departmental ethics (Hatch Act, R&R funds, gifts) combined with authorized representative experience in vetting foreign dignitaries and high-ranking external visitors.

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: Decisiveness/Judgment Justification: The incumbent must "independently resolves emergent conflicts involving event flow, security perimeters, or diplomatic protocol" and "independently determines the proper disposition of high-stakes matters." This requires sound judgment and the ability to make authoritative, independent decisions quickly.

Political Acumen/External Awareness Justification: The role involves ensuring the Secretary's public engagements "align with Departmental policy and national security requirements," serving as a senior advisor on "Departmental ethics policies," and acting as an authorized representative in "vetting and screening high-ranking external visitors, foreign dignitaries, and industry leaders." This requires an acute awareness of political and diplomatic sensitivities.

Strategic Planning and Execution Justification: The position "Directs and oversees the comprehensive planning" of all events, exercises final approval over "strategic 'trip books,'" and "Formulates and implements 'After Action' reporting systems to evaluate the effectiveness." This demands a mastery of long-term strategic vision combined with flawless operational execution.

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=e4 All applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Major Duties:

As a Program Manger, you will: Directs and oversees the comprehensive planning of the Secretary's participation in external events, serving as the primary point of integration between the Secretary's Protective Detail, the Office of Public Affairs, and the Executive Secretariat.

Exercises final review and approval authority over the preparation and distribution of strategic "trip books," ensuring all involved staff are briefed on policy objectives and tactical execution.

Leads high-level prep calls and complex multi-agency walkthroughs, providing authoritative guidance to advance staff on the ground to ensure mission success.

The incumbent independently resolves emergent conflicts involving event flow, security perimeters, or diplomatic protocol.

Serves as a senior technical advisor on Departmental ethics policies, specifically interpreting and applying regulations pertaining to the Hatch Act, Representation and Reception (R&R) funds, and the legalities of official gift acceptance for the Secretary.

The ideal candidate for the Director of Advance is a highly accomplished and authoritative leader with a deep mastery of executive-level logistics, integrated security protocols, and diplomatic operations within a demanding national policy environment.

This individual possesses exceptional strategic planning and operational execution skills, demonstrated by a proven ability to direct and oversee the comprehensive planning of principals' external engagements, including exercising final review and approval over strategic "trip books" and managing complex, multi-agency logistical and security integrations.

The successful candidate will function with a high degree of professional independence, serving as the principal advisor on all security-integrated protocols and proactively resolving emergent, high-stakes conflicts involving event flow, security perimeters, and diplomatic protocol.

Furthermore, they will possess expert technical advisory skills on Departmental ethics policies, specifically pertaining to the Hatch Act, Representation and Reception funds, and official gift acceptance.