IT Program Manager

Summary

Duties

• Serves as the senior technical executive responsible for directing and managing enterprise technology modernization initiatives supporting Department-wide business transformation.
• Provides executive leadership in evaluating AI, automation, cloud computing, cybersecurity, enterprise platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Leads enterprise architecture governance activities involving technical experts, business leaders, customer agencies, contractors, and modernization partners.
• Develops enterprise integration strategies supporting HR, payroll, financial management, analytics, identity management, cloud services, and shared services.
• Coordinates modernization with OCIO, NFC leadership, cybersecurity organizations, customer agencies, and Federal partners.
• Establishes criteria for evaluating technical maturity, mission value, interoperability, scalability, cybersecurity, privacy, accessibility, data requirements, workforce implications, cost, risk, and total cost of ownership.
• Serves as a senior technology liaison between USDA OCFO and the broader federal and commercial technology ecosystem.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Direct Deposit - Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period unless previous federal service is creditable. During this time your employment will be evaluated, and we may consider: your performance and conduct, the needs and interests of the agency, whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government, and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, 10/21/2026, including specialized experience, as defined below.

Applicants must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the nine competencies listed below:

Attention to Detail - Is thorough when performing work and conscientious about attending to detail.
Customer Service - Works with clients and customers (that is, any individuals who use or receive the services or products that your work unit produces, including the general public, individuals who work in the agency, other agencies, or organizations outside the Government) to assess their needs, provide information or assistance, resolve their problems, or satisfy their expectations; knows about available products and services; is committed to providing quality products and services.
Oral Communication - Expresses information (for example, ideas or facts) to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information (for example, technical, sensitive, controversial); makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
Problem Solving - Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and to make recommendations.
Decision Making - Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change.
Information Management - Identifies a need for and knows where or how to gather information; organizes and maintains information or information management systems.
Interpersonal Skills - Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations.
Teamwork - Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit; works with others to achieve goals.
Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.

In addition to meeting the competencies listed above, applicants must also meet the following minimum qualification requirements

GS-15
Specialized Experience:Specialized experience is experience directly related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience must be described for each grade level advertised. Qualifying experience for GS-15 includes one year of specialized experience comparable to GS-14 which is directly related to the work of this position, and which has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. For this position, specialized experience is experience leading enterprise technology modernization efforts, including enterprise architecture and coordination of cloud, cybersecurity, application, integration, and infrastructure requirements; conducting technical reviews, resolving cross-system issues, coordinating with security, privacy, identity, and data teams, and advising leadership on emerging technologies and modernization risks; and integrating technical requirements across workstreams to support system readiness, deployment decisions, and long-term modernization planning.

Quality Ranking Factor (QRF)
This position has a Quality Ranking Factor (QRF). Quality Ranking Factors are knowledge, skills and abilities/competencies that could be expected to significantly enhance performance in this position. Certifications in one or more of the following: The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), Certified Enterprise Architect, Federal Enterprise Architecture experience, Amazon Web Services (AWS)/Azure/Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Cloud Architect, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), Information Technology Infrastructure Library 4 (ITIL 4), Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Certified ScrumMaster, Product Owner certification, DevSecOps certification, AI governance or responsible AI credential or equivalent are strongly desired to support work accomplished in this position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.