Workforce and Interagency Programs Specialist
National Institute of Standards and Technology · Department of Commerce
This job in plain English
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland is hiring a Workforce and Interagency Programs Specialist for its Office of Advanced Manufacturing Partnerships and Outreach Division. The job supports the Manufacturing USA network through training programs, partnerships, and coordination with other federal agencies. It is filled under direct hire authority, which NIST uses for jobs with a severe shortage of candidates, and it includes occasional travel.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
- Displaced federal employeesFederal employees who lost or are losing their job through a reduction in force (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.
This job is open to the public, but you must be a U.S. citizen, national, or someone who owes allegiance to the U.S.
What you would do
- Develop training programs and platforms for the Manufacturing USA network.
- Provide technical expertise on Manufacturing USA technology areas.
- Assess advanced manufacturing activities and emerging technologies.
- Manage partnerships that fit NIST and Manufacturing USA priorities.
- Manage the Interagency Working Team and connect federal partners to the network.
- Oversee production of the Manufacturing USA Annual Report.
Do you qualify for ZP-4?
With experience: You need 1 year (52 weeks) of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, which NIST calls ZP-III. Specialized experience means work with STEM workforce ecosystems, data and competency modeling and reporting, or building engagement opportunities for technical communities. Paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, counts.
With education: A degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science or related engineering science, such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, or electronics. You can also combine education with experience. Foreign education must be evaluated by an accredited organization.
How to apply well
What to send:
- Resume of no more than 2 pages in 11-point font or larger, uploaded as a PDF
- Answers to the vacancy questions about your technical qualifications
- Transcripts to show the education requirement (unofficial copies accepted at first)
- Foreign education evaluation with a course-by-course listing, if you used foreign education
- Documents needed for any special eligibility you claim
How you will be rated: Your application is checked to see whether you meet the qualifications, and subject-matter experts may review the first two pages of your resume. Overstating your experience can get you removed, and applicants are not rated and ranked under direct hire authority. Competencies include education and training, interpersonal skills, technical competence, and writing.
Tips for this job:
- Show the month and year and the hours worked per week for each experience entry, or it may not count.
- Put your most relevant experience in the first two pages, because only those pages are reviewed.
- You must certify that your four narrative answers are your own words and not written with a consultant or AI tool.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time, permanent position.
Conditions of employment:
- U.S. citizenship
- Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
- Suitable for Federal employment (suitability and fitness background check)
- A probationary period may be required
We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.
Job details
- Salary
- $121,785 – $187,093 per year
- Pay scale and grade
- ZP-4 · Commerce pay band
- Location
- Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Competitive
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- Occasional travel
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- General Physical Science (1301)
- Announcement
- OAM-493-27-13100188-DH
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