ACN/EXBS – EXBS Program Manager, Personal Services Contractor (PSC)
Company: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation
Location: Washington, D.C, 20520
Industries: Government
Job Type: Full Time
Years of Experience: 5+ Years
Education Level: Bachelor’s (required) / Master’s Degree (preferred)
Career Level: Mid-Level (non-manager)
Salary: $121,785 - $158,322 (GS-13, Step 1 to Step 10)
Number of Positions: Multiple
Security Clearance Level: Secret (TS/SCI may be required based on specific portfolio needs)
Duty Location: Washington, D.C.
Travel Required: Yes (up to 10%)
Remote: No
Telework Eligible: No
Overview:
The position is located in the Bureau of Arms Control and Nonproliferation (ACN), Office of Export Controls and Border Security (EXBS), U.S. Department of State, Washington D.C. ACN/EXBS advances U.S. national security and economic opportunity by strengthening recipient country capabilities for export controls, customs enforcement, points of entry (land, sea, air), and border security operations to identify, disrupt, and prosecute proliferation activities involving WMDs, their components, delivery systems, sensitive and emerging technologies, and advanced conventional weapons. In line with the National Security Strategy and the Administration’s America First policy, EXBS aims to protect American economic interests, prevent adversaries’ acquisition of sensitive goods and technologies, and disrupt proliferation operations across borders.
This is a Personal Services Contractor (PSC) position, located in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Department of State. The individual will support EXBS program implementation by serving as a Program Manager responsible for developing, facilitating, and monitoring the planning, funding, and delivery of EXBS security assistance.
Job Description:
THIS IS A NON-PERMANENT POSITION. YOU DO NOT ACQUIRE COMPETITIVE OR EXCEPTED SERVICE STATUS FROM THIS POSITION.
The individual will focus on one or more of the following programming areas:
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES
- Track regional and global proliferation trends by malign state actors and violent extremist organizations, assess proliferation risks and counterproliferation capacity gaps, and establish priorities for bilateral and regional security assistance programming.
- Lead strategic planning processes and coordinate within the Department and interagency to develop, plan, and implement cross-cutting ACN/EXBS projects that advance U.S. national security strategy by addressing emerging proliferation threats and countering evolving techniques to evade nonproliferation controls and sanctions.
- Perform country and program analysis to identify high-risk countries for proliferation-sensitive transfers and develop strategies for programming in or newly engaging with high-priority countries.
- Represent ACN/EXBS in policy and program coordination mechanisms to ensure assistance conforms with and supports U.S. nonproliferation initiatives and country- or region-specific strategies.
- Lead collaborative processes to draft solicitations for proposals and select proposals consistent with strategic plans.
- Work collaboratively with ACN/EXBS colleagues, Advisors, Locally Employed Staff, and program implementers to meet program planning, award, implementation, documentation, reporting, and compliance requirements.
- Ensure timely and effective management of ACN/EXBS program funds, including compliance with all legal, financial, and reporting requirements.
- Work closely with ACN/EXBS's Program Support Team to fund activities, ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
- Support the Department's foreign assistance budget planning and reporting processes to obtain adequate funding for priority activities and engage with Congressional staff to articulate programming and funding requests.
- Raise awareness with internal and external stakeholders of how ACN/EXBS can support key security priorities.
- Represent ACN/EXBS equities on inter- and intra-agency policy and task forces and develop and maintain collaborative relationships with counterparts at other international-development agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations to share programmatic information and coordinate assistance efforts.
- Compile and maintain program narratives and data for dissemination to relevant stakeholders.
- Provide oral presentations for senior U.S. government officials and foreign partner interlocutors.
- Prepare memos, cables, briefing and background materials, talking points, press releases, reports to Congress, and other documents related to functional and regionally cross-cutting issues, with interagency coordination as needed.
- Measure program performance and contribute to office-wide improvement initiatives in areas such as monitoring and evaluation and financial management.
- Travel overseas or domestically, as needed.
Other Duties:
- Complete special projects and perform other related duties as may be assigned by ACN/EXBS.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants applying for the GS-13 grade level.
Applicants must meet one of the following requirements:
At the GS-13 equivalent level, applicant must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 level in the Federal service which provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the duties of the position. The individual performs these tasks under general supervision by Senior Advisor, Program Management Team and other senior-level staff, demonstrating thorough knowledge of ACN/EXBS Office mission with latitude for the exercise of independent judgment.
ADDITIONAL DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Ability to act as key representative and liaison between agency leadership, political officials, and external stakeholders to advance mission and strategic initiatives.
- Ability to brief senior leadership and agency officials on sensitive issues, providing strategic advice and actionable recommendations.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in a collaborative environment.
- Ability to draft high-level correspondence, briefing papers, and presentations for senior level and agency leadership, public and private audiences.
- Excellent time management and organizational skills, collaborative work style, and strong interpersonal and team skills.
- Ability to plan, organize, coordinate, implement, and evaluate program activities and policies. In addition, the ability to communicate, and address project risks.
- Ability to work independently with minimal need for close supervision.
- Active Secret security clearance. TS/SCI may be required based on specific portfolio needs.
- Familiarity with U.S. nonproliferation and foreign policy objectives.
- Familiarity with Department of State and/or U.S. government processes.
EDUCATION: See the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement for education requirements.
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the education requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For a list of accredited organizations recognized as specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials, visit: www.naces.org/members.php.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
U.S. Citizenship is required. Individual must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance. Top Secret/SCI may be required based on specific portfolio needs. Individual must be able and willing to travel, potentially to remote or hazardous locations.
BENEFITS:
Annual and Sick Leave
The Contractor will accrue and request annual and sick leave (paid time off) in accordance with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations. For full-time employees, annual leave accrual rates start at 4 hours every biweekly pay period, while sick leave accrual is 4 hours every pay period. Those entering on duty with prior military service and/or federal service can credit their years of service for higher annual leave accrual rates.
The employee will also be paid for federal holidays that fall within their regularly scheduled tour of duty.
Health & Life Insurance Reimbursement
If eligible: The individual selected will be provided a contribution (reimbursement) of 72 percent against the Contractor’s health insurance premium costs toward either an individual or family policy, subject to an annual cap on the maximum contribution, provided that such costs may not exceed the maximum U.S. Government contribution for direct-hire personnel as announced annually by OPM. The Contractor will also be provided a contribution (reimbursement) of 50 percent against the actual costs of an individual annual life insurance policy not to exceed $500.00 per year.
The Contracting Officer will confirm the individual’s contribution is compliant with the contract requirements prior to submitting for reimbursement. Proof of health and life insurance coverage, including a receipt showing the individual’s payment for coverage, shall be submitted to the Contracting Officer before any contribution is paid.
401K Plan
A non-matching, privately administered 401(k) plan is available through the Department.
Relocation Assistance Available: None
How to Apply:
Please apply through BetterTeam.com and submit the following as a single attachment:
1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. A list of at least three professional references
4. Writing sample
Failure to submit a complete package may disqualify the applicant from consideration.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
All required documents listed, that are applicable to you, must be submitted through BetterTeam.com by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.
1. Resume limited to two pages showing relevant work/volunteer experience, education and training. Include the start and end dates (from month/year to month/year) and the number of hours per week worked/volunteered. Your resume serves as the basis for qualification determinations and must support your answers to the completed online assessment questions. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further.
2. Transcripts: See the Qualification and Education sections of this announcement for more information. If selected, an official/sealed college transcript(s) will be required to verify education prior to employment.
HOW APPLICANTS WILL BE EVALUATED
Applicants will be evaluated for this job based on how well the applicants meets the qualifications above.
Applicants must meet all the required qualification requirements described by the closing date of this announcement. Applicants will be evaluated against the requirements outlined in this announcement. References will only be contacted with applicant’s permission following an interview.
Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume limited to two (2) pages will be conducted and evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications for this position. Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) will conduct a review of applicant resumes to determine if qualifications for this position based on the required specialized experience are well described and demonstrated. Resumes longer than two pages will be deemed ineligible and will not be considered further. SMEs will not review additional information beyond your resume (e.g., links embedded in your resume will not be opened).
In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. ACN/EXBS does not make assumptions regarding your experience. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials may result in your removal from consideration.
State/ACN/EXBS expects to screen and interview candidates within seven (7) days after the close of this announcement. ONLY APPLICANTS SELECTED FOR INTERVIEWS WILL BE CONTACTED. Offers of employment will be dependent on ability to obtain security clearance through the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security bureau.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. There may be unanticipated vacancies that occur during the period of this job posting or soon after its close. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to other similar positions in this ACN/EXBS for up to 240 days and may require a Secret security clearance or higher.
For reasonable accommodation at the U.S. Department of State, please contact the Office of Accessibility and Accommodations at OAA@state.gov.
Note: This is a Personal Services Contract. This is NOT a federal direct-hire position.
Vacancy announcement will close after 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.