Acquisition Program Manager

Afwerx; Dayton, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 147,000; Full time

Job summary

The Air Force Research Laboratory's Technology Transition Office in Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, is seeking an Acquisition Program Manager to lead WARTECH and Vanguard programs. You will direct systems engineering, transition planning, and tech demos to deliver next-generation capabilities to the Warfighter.

The role includes program leadership, schedule and cost management, contracting strategy development, and risk management to enable rapid technology transition in a dynamic, high-visibility

Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship required for all applicants.
• Security Clearance: must obtain/maintain TS/SCI clearance.
• Drug testing may be required as a condition of employment.
• Specialized Experience: at least 1 year equivalent to DO-02 (GS-12/13).
• Experience guiding complex technology programs, systems engineering, and transition planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide programmatic leadership and execution management for advanced R&D programs within AFRL pipelines.
• Direct WARTECH and Vanguard program activities including cost estimates, schedules, contracting strategies, and risk management.
• Develop and communicate program plans, milestones, and transition timelines.
• Interface with leadership and stakeholders to align program execution with AF/DoD priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Execution

Adaptability

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's/Master's degree

Job description

Acquisition Program Manager

Dayton, OH AFRL's Technology Transition Office (TTO) is hiring an Acquisition Program Manager to lead high-visibility WARTECH & Vanguard programs. Drive systems engineering, transition planning, & tech demos to deliver next-gen capabilities to the Warfighter. DO-02: $75,484 - $118,528, DO-03: $104,180 - $147,224

The AFRL Technology Transition Office (TTO), Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Division seeks to fill a DO-02 (GS-12/13 or equiv)/DO-03 (GS-14 or equiv) position of Acquisition Program Manager located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

Provides programmatic leadership and execution management for assigned advanced research and development programs within AFRL’s premier integrated technology development and transition pipelines:

• WARTECH Pipeline: Directs the systems engineering and transition-planning processes required to take early-stage concepts and build them into executable, transformational, and transition-ready acquisition programs.
• Vanguard Pipeline: Leads high-visibility DAF Vanguards and Vanguard Prospects through system-level experimentation, advanced technology demonstration, and accelerated transition to operational programs.
• Provides advice and counsel to subject-matter experts from across AFRL.
• Assesses technical and operational challenges and identifies comprehensive acquisition approaches for rapid program stand up, execution, and capability transition.
• Sets a vision for success and establishes programmatic cadence to track, evaluate, and manage the program.
• Utilizes novel and creative acquisition approaches to meet pressing warfighter needs; applies best-known acquisition, contracting and finance approaches for rapid capability development within an agile program execution framework.
• Works with program team to produce cost estimates and POM inputs supporting programmatic needs; advocates for funding and executes dollars in accordance with the DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR).
• Leads multidisciplinary teams in the planning, creation, and execution of program schedules; identifies key milestones, delivery dates and technology transition timelines; utilizes schedule to track and communicate programmatic progress.
• Leads program teams in the creation and execution of contracts supporting programmatic objectives.
• Establishes processes to identify, manage, and adequately communicate programmatic risks to leadership.
• Regularly interface with leadership and staff to establish strategies and plans and achieve objectives set forth in ATD strategy within the prescribed timeline.
• Integrates the efforts of government staff and contractor teams both internally and externally.
• Provides technical and programmatic guidance to team members regarding program issues and promotes team building internal and external to the program.
• Builds team cohesion with internal members and external stakeholders; garners support for execution and smooth transition from future transition partners and the user community.
• Builds team cohesion and collaboration across the executing organizations (Government and Industry).

Establishes various management tools and processes to:

• Track obligations/expenditures.
• Update schedules and track progress to milestones.
• Receive and evaluate contract deliverables.
• Respond to AFRL and Pentagon taskers.
• Manage dependencies and risk.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. Citizenship: Required for all applicants.
• Security Clearance: Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret / Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance.
• Drug Testing: Incumbent may be subject to random drug testing as a condition of employment.
• Specialized Experience: Must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the DO-02 (GS-12/13 or equiv) grade level in Federal service.
• Specialized experience is defined as: Experience managing complex technology programs, guiding advanced programs through systems engineering and transition-planning processes (such as WARTECH), or leading high-visibility technology demonstrations (such as Vanguards). This includes directing program teams in the creation of cost estimates, financial execution plans, contracting strategies, program schedules, and risk management frameworks.

Desired Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field obtained from an accredited academic institution.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead teams in rapidly standing up and executing high-visibility programs in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
• Technical Translation: Proven ability to translate complex technical requirements from subject-matter experts (SMEs) into executable Department of the Air Force (DAF) program strategies.
• Communication: Highly effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Teamwork: Self-motivated, team-oriented individual with a proven record of collaborative performance and mission success.
• Execution: Demonstrated accountability, strong attention to detail, and consistent follow-through on complex tasks.
• Adaptability: Exceptional flexibility and the ability to multitask, prioritize, and drive toward clarity and solutions within ambiguous, fast-moving environments.
• Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups, customers, and industry partners.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

No

Series

1101

Additional Information

• Telework & Residency: Position is eligible for situational telework; however, the incumbent must reside within the local commuting area of the assigned duty station (Wright-Patterson AFB, OH).

Resume requirement: Resume may not exceed two pages, and font size should be no smaller than 10pts. Resume with relevant start/end dates in MM/DD/YY format, per experience. Additional information on how to complete the two-page resume is located at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit.

Transcripts/Latest SF-50 requirement: redact all Personally Identifiable Information (PII) (social security number, date of birth, etc.).