Supervisory Program Manager (Director, University Transportation Centers Program) (Open to both U.S. Citizens and Federal Employees)

Office of the Secretary of Transportation • Washington, DC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The position provides senior leadership for the Department’s University Transportation Centers Program and related university research and grant activities. The incumbent serves as Director of the University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program providing executive leadership, strategic direction, and authoritative oversight for USDOT’s national portfolio of university-based transportation research, innovation, technology transfer, education, and workforce development programs.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S.Citizen and eligible for consideration.
• Must meet specialized experience to qualify.
• Required documents must be submitted by the closing date.
• Submit application and resume online by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.
• Must complete a one-year supervisory probationary period (unless already completed).
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for the Selective Service.
• A background security investigation is required for all selected individuals.
• Federal applicants must have served 52 weeks at the next lower grade in the competitive or excepted service in the executive branch to satisfy time-in-grade restrictions contained in 5 CFR 300, Subpart F.
• Experience providing strategic oversight of transportation program execution, including technical, administrative, and policy-level direction to staff overseeing grants management, cooperative agreements, and university partnerships.
• Experience leading organizational-wide transportation research coordination that focuses on university transportation research, technology development, and innovation deployment.
• Experience leading and overseeing national transportation outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities supporting transportation research objectives.

Nice To Haves

• The ideal candidate is a visionary leader providing executive oversight for a national portfolio of transportation research, innovation, and workforce development programs.
• Highly experienced professional who possesses strong competencies in Transportation Strategic Thinking, Research, Technology Management, Technical Competence, and Stakeholder Management to champion national transportation priorities and effectively communicate complex Transportation R&D initiatives to Congress, Federal agencies, academia, and industry partners.
• Extensive transportation experience providing policy-level direction and oversight to staff managing complex research partnerships, grants, and cooperative agreements.
• Strong financial acumen to manage large-scale grant administration, navigate Federal R&D funding mechanisms, and resolve complex budgetary and policy challenges.
• Proven ability to lead cross-organizational transportation research, technology development, and innovation deployment across academic, public, and private sectors.
• Success in leading national transportation dissemination activities and addressing the needs of diverse stakeholders across Federal, State, local, Tribal, and industry audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provides national leadership for the UTC Program, ensuring that university‑led research aligns with Departmental priorities, modal needs, Transportation Research Board recommendations, and emerging national transportation challenges.
• Guides the development of an integrated and coordinated research strategy in collaboration with other modal partners.
• Serves as the senior focal point for university research across USDOT.
• Provides strategic oversight of program execution, including technical, administrative, and policy-level direction to staff managing grants and cooperative agreements and university partnerships.
• Maintains expert awareness of Federal R&D funding mechanisms to inform program structure and ensure alignment with best practices.
• Oversees staff evaluations of strategic plans, research proposals, and concept papers, ensuring program direction reflects state‑of‑the‑art technologies, private–public sector needs, and multimodal challenges.
• Provides policy guidance on the initiation, continuation, and redirection of research activities.
• Leads and oversees national outreach, engagement, and dissemination activities supporting UTC objectives.
• Directs the development of seminars, workshops, technical briefings, and interagency activities that broaden understanding and application of UTC research.
• Ensures awareness of stakeholder needs across Federal, State, local, Tribal, academic, and industry audiences.
• Represents the Department as its senior official in promoting technology transfer and innovative outreach approaches to maximize the visibility and impact of UTC research outcomes.
• Provides senior-level oversight of university-based R&D, ensuring UTC research portfolios and other Department-supported university programs address national transportation needs and statutory mandates.
• Coordinates with university centers of excellence and other research programs to integrate results, minimize duplication, and enhance Department-wide research outcomes.
• Serves as spokesperson for university research accomplishments and national innovation impacts.
• Responds to high-profile inquiries from Congress, Federal agencies, academia, industry, and stakeholders on university research issues.
• Directs staff in producing analyses, correspondence, and briefings, ensuring accuracy and appropriate Departmental coordination.
• Participates in high-level planning and policy forums, providing expert insight on legislative changes, funding structures, advanced research and technologies, and national R&D priorities.

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.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed