Lead Program Support Specialist

FedWriters, Inc.; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Long-term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Plan

Holiday Pay

Paid Time Off

Job summary

FedWriters, Inc. seeks a Lead Program Support Specialist/Program Manager to maintain daily operations at TFHRC in McLean, VA.

You will supervise a small onsite team, manage senior leader calendars, coordinate high-profile meetings, and oversee event logistics for major stakeholder engagements to ensure uninterrupted administrative support for the center. This role requires strong admin experience, excellent written communication, and the ability to learn federal systems quickly.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 4+ years of experience performing office administration duties independently, without day-to-day direction.
• Ability to type accurately at 35+ words per minute.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace; ability to quickly learn federal systems.
• Strong written communication skills, including proofreading and executive-level document preparation.
• Must be willing to undergo a federal background investigation (SF-85P and fingerprinting) and obtain a facility ID badge.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate work assignments, schedules, and priorities for the onsite program support team, and monitor timekeeping and leave requests.
• Mentor and develop team members, resolving day-to-day performance or workflow issues as they arise.
• Manage senior staff calendars, coordinate high-profile meetings and briefings, and prepare leadership materials for special events and facility tours.
• Proofread and quality-check outgoing correspondence, reports, and briefing papers before they go to leadership for signature.
• Track inventory and government property, coordinate procurement requests, and manage travel arrangements for staff.
• Plan and support logistics for special events and conferences, including the annual TRB/FHWA meeting — from attendee tracking to shuttle scheduling to onsite support.
• Submit monthly progress reports and serve as the day-to-day point of contact with government leadership on staffing and workload matters.

Skills

Office administration

Time management

Executive support

Proofreading

Communication

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Federal systems

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

Join our team as a Lead Program Support Specialist/Program Manager and support the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) by keeping day-to-day operations, staffing, and special events running smoothly. You will coordinate a small onsite support team, manage schedules and correspondence for senior leadership, and oversee event logistics for major stakeholder engagements, ensuring uninterrupted, high-quality administrative support for a nationally recognized research center.

FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Top Workplace by the Washington Post, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.

**Position is contingent upon contract award**

Work Schedule and Location:

On-Site: This full-time on-site position will work Monday through Friday, with core hours of 7:30am to 6pm at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate work assignments, schedules, and priorities for the onsite program support team, and monitor timekeeping and leave requests.
• Mentor and develop team members, resolving day-to-day performance or workflow issues as they arise.
• Manage senior staff calendars, coordinate high-profile meetings and briefings, and prepare leadership materials for special events and facility tours.
• Proofread and quality-check outgoing correspondence, reports, and briefing papers before they go to leadership for signature.
• Track inventory and government property, coordinate procurement requests, and manage travel arrangements for staff.
• Plan and support logistics for special events and conferences, including the annual TRB/FHWA meeting — from attendee tracking to shuttle scheduling to onsite support.
• Submit monthly progress reports and serve as the day-to-day point of contact with government leadership on staffing and workload matters.

Qualifications

Required:

• High school diploma or GED.
• 4+ years of experience performing office administration duties independently, without day-to-day direction.
• Ability to type accurately at 35+ words per minute.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace; ability to quickly learn federal systems such as travel, records, and procurement platforms.
• Strong written communication skills, including proofreading and executive-level document preparation.
• Must be willing to undergo a federal background investigation (SF-85P and fingerprinting) and obtain a facility ID badge.

Desired:

• Prior experience supporting a federal research facility or transportation agency.
• Prior team-lead or supervisory experience in an administrative environment.
• Experience with federal travel, records, or procurement systems.
• Valid state driver's license.

Why Join Our Team

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Pay Range

Negotiable