Job Listing
Program Operations Specialist
National Institute of Standards and Technology · Posted today
HybridGaithersburg, MD$71K – $158KApply by Jun 3, 2026Miscellaneous Administration And ProgramENTJESFJESTJISTJMarketingOperations
Apply for this job →About the Role
Help drive NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership by providing strategic administrative counsel and program coordination to senior leadership as a Program Operations Specialist. You will manage complex budgets, interpret federal regulations, and craft influential communications for diverse stakeholders. This role offers the chance to enhance organizational efficiency through expert project management and policy development in a collaborative environment.
What You'll Do
- →As part of NIST, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) enhances the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing.
- →Through a robust public-private network, MEP Centers collaborate at federal, state, and local levels to help manufacturers develop new products, adopt cutting-edge technology, and strengthen domestic supply chains.
- →We serve as the primary link between the manufacturing community and the federal research ecosystem.
- →If hired as Program Operations Specialist for MEP, you will: At the ZA-II Level: Serve as a key administrative advisor to the MEP Senior Leadership team, tracking work assignments, ensuring regulatory compliance, and assisting in decision-making.
- →Coordinate the implementation of administrative procedures in collaboration with the MEP Advisory Board, managing timelines to ensure adherence to federal policies.
- →Research, draft, and deliver briefings and presentations for stakeholders on programmatic and administrative matters.
- →Review and reconcile cooperative agreement budgets for accuracy and provide guidance on federal regulations regarding travel, time and attendance, and procurement.
- →At the ZA-III Level: Serve as the Senior Administrative Specialist, providing expert analytical oversight and authoritative recommendations on mission-critical assignments and priorities.
- →Lead cross-functional working groups to independently create and modernize policies, managing complex project lifecycles from conception to completion.
- →Independently author high-level controlled correspondence, briefing packages, and strategic reports for senior management and external stakeholders.
- →Independently manage and troubleshoot complex budgets and database integrity, providing critical analysis to ensure divisional solvency.
Requirements
- ✓This position allows applicants to qualify with education at the ZA-II level.
- ✓Transcripts must be submitted to validate that the education requirement has been met.
- ✓Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package.
- ✓However, an official copy will be required before a final offer of employment.
- ✓At the ZA-III level, qualifications are based upon meeting specialized experience only.
- ✓Education cannot be used to qualify for this position at the ZA-III level.
- ✓Use of foreign education for qualifications.
- ✓An accredited organization must evaluate education completed outside of the U.S. to ensure that it is comparable to education received in accredited institutions in the U.S.
- ✓Click here to view a listing of accredited organizations from the Department of Education's website.
- ✓A copy of the foreign education evaluation (containing the results with course-by-course listing) is required with your application.
Personality Fit
Job ID: 9ef5169a-ab77-4ceb-943e-d3ec974c6603
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