Program Manager I

Pay

$160,000 to $163,104

About the role

The Program Manager for the Office of Antiterrorism Assistance (ATA) is located in the Special Programs Division/Special Program for Embassy Augmentation and Response (SPD/SPEAR). The incumbent plans and facilitates a comprehensive program of antiterrorism seminars, training courses, and consultations for senior foreign law‑enforcement officials in an assigned country or region. The position reports to a SPEAR Regional Section Chief and may oversee Resident and Deputy Resident Program Managers and/or the Mentor.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the development, design, and implementation of comprehensive, country‑specific and/or regional antiterrorism assistance programs.
• Coordinate with various ATA divisions and other offices to identify program requirements.
• Identify needed training activities and equipment.
• Conceptualize desired program outcomes in light of overall country and regional policy goals.
• May oversee an ATA team assigned in a Partner Nation (PN) to ensure assistance is delivered efficiently and meets the needs of the PN, ATA, Department of State, and applicable statutes.
• Manage personnel, budgets, and resources, including auditing countries that maintain ATA‑sponsored training camps.
• Provide overall oversight for in‑country staff human‑resource and administrative issues.
• Review work for quality, quantity, timeliness, and adherence to laws, ATA policies, and procedures.
• Evaluate in‑country staff performance, provide feedback, identify performance issues, and take remedial actions when necessary.
• Recognize and recommend rewards for good performance.
• Regularly audit country expenses, cash accounts, and ATA expenses.
• Assist in identifying and developing new antiterrorism requirements, training trends, and recurring training needs.
• Play a direct role in security contingency planning, working closely with the U.S. Embassy Regional Security Office, other Embassy agencies, and DoS bureaus to identify potential security threats to ATA personnel while in‑country.
• Serve, as designated by the Section Chief, as alternate Program Manager for another country/region.
• Prioritize categories of budget expenditures, allocate funds during and at the end of the fiscal year, and provide justification for fund retention when necessary.
• Coordinate activities of other ATA U.S. Government contractors to ensure ATA and DoS goals are accomplished.
• Identify staffing requirements and work with TMD management and ATA contract providers to fill those requirements; prepare position descriptions and justification for new positions.
• Prepare written and oral briefings, assessments, and status reports for Congress, ATA leadership, the Department of State, U.S. Embassy personnel, and other U.S. Government agencies.
• Document all sensitive or important issues according to ATA/SPD/SPEAR and DoS policies and procedures.
• Maintain open communication with the Regional Security Office and other Embassy entities affected by the programs, using sound discretion.
• Monitor political, social, cultural, or economic issues in the U.S. and abroad that could affect the in‑country program.
• Review and draft cables, correspondence, and reports; review inspection, investigative, and administrative files; ensure timely and correct completion and submission of required forms and reports.
• Cooperate with representatives from other ATA and DoS components, as well as federal, state, local, international, and non‑governmental agencies.
• Initiate and maintain relevant contacts, resolve problems or conflicts, and keep the Section Chief informed.
• Foster ATA/SPD/SPEAR goals through interaction with other agencies in policy, strategy, budgeting, planning, coordination, operations, or intelligence.
• Interact and consult with PN officials, preferably in the primary language of the PN, and discuss strategic matters affecting the in‑country program.
• Communicate ATA/SPD/SPEAR, DoS, and Embassy guidance and policies in a manner that positively promotes ATA programs.
• Safeguard all sensitive and classified materials and equipment in accordance with federal, DoS, and ATA/SPD/SPEAR laws and policies.
• Prepare the annual program budget and ensure U.S. Government funds are expended judiciously and in compliance with regulations and policies.
• Secure financing for program components within budgetary limits, considering the overall ATA mission.
• Review and recommend approval of expenses; ensure accounts contain sufficient funds; identify expenses requiring justification and provide it.
• Regularly audit all assigned U.S. Government expenses and ATA/SPD/SPEAR‑issued equipment as required by law or policy.
• Work with ATA personnel to secure venues and instructional providers based on existing contracts or initiate new contracting vehicles in accordance with DoS and federal guidelines.
• Evaluate training and consultative projects after completion to determine if desired outcomes were achieved and assess content quality and student satisfaction.
• Maintain extensive senior‑level contacts in federal, state, and local law‑enforcement circles.
• Perform administrative duties including branch budget monitoring, ad‑hoc presentations, coordination of escort or interpretation issues during program delivery, and resolution of student‑related issues.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain/maintain a SECRET clearance.
• Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree preferred but not mandatory).
• Experience as a Regional Security Officer or other senior law‑enforcement‑related assignment with strong relationships with senior foreign officials (preferred).
• Excellent interpersonal and cross‑cultural skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel to developing countries and hazardous environments.
• Familiarity with the Department of State’s SMART system (preferred but not mandatory).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and project management tools.
• Experience in law‑enforcement training (preferred but not mandatory).