Program managers see the big picture. And a federal government program manager can have some truly massive pictures to watch over. Think of it in terms of managing the construction of an aircraft carrier. The latest one, the USS Ford, cost more than $13 billion.
Government program managers coordinate and oversee initiatives, implement new processes, and improve the satisfaction of their organization’s or agency’s customers.
The programs they direct usually include interconnected projects. Their responsibilities for federal programs include setting goals, budgeting, planning programs, measuring ROI, and coordinating the efforts of the teams involved in each program.
Their overarching goal is to work toward the long-term performance of the organization or the agency so that it can best serve its clients.
A program manager guides a project manager, or managers, and their teams. They bring their solid negotiating skills and their critical thinking to their interactions with people from all levels of the organization. They also serve as coaches of their project and program teams.
They need to be adept at planning, scheduling, organization, reporting, strategy, proposal writing, and budgeting.
Those who hold the job title of program manager in the federal government are the backbone of government programs. They take the reins of multi-state projects that cost millions or billions of dollars. Program managers work to improve education, to strengthen business and manufacturing, and to support the nation's defense.
All the large cabinet-level agencies, as well as many other federal agencies, employ program managers. And here’s an interesting statistic: the federal government employs more than 14,000 program managers. Most work in the U.S., but many work overseas.
In this article, we will look at the role of government program managers, some of the challenges that they face, and their expected rates of compensation.
What is a government program manager?
What a program manager in the government does varies considerably from agency to agency.
Let's look at a few examples to see how the duties range from complete supervision to developing specific programmatic goals.
At the National Security Agency. A program manager might deliver foreign intelligence and solid cybersecurity outcomes for the nation, manage the funding for workforce training and oversee development of classified technologies.
At the Missile Defense Agency. A program manager might be expected to apply system acquisition policies, practices, and procedures to assess technical and economic feasibility for projects. These assessments would include cost, schedule, and performance.
At the Federal Aviation Administration. A program manager works as the group manager, assigning work, setting priorities, coaching, evaluating performance, and training.
Why is program management important in government?
It’s been shown that the use of program managers can reduce government agencies’ costs by as much as 30 percent. That’s one reason why government program managers are in such big demand.
Program managers meet regularly with project leaders and possibly with the members of project teams, as well as with other program managers and stakeholders. Theirs is a central role – one that carefully communicates the objectives, the deliverables, and the deadlines. Both their ability to communicate across the spectrum of employees and the way in which they represent the agency are critical to the success of their programs. For this reason, they must be carefully chosen and trained.
Of course, there are challenges to being a program manager in the government, not the least of which is understanding the terminology. The acronyms and the systems in place can be confusing for a newbie. Program managers who are struggling with their teams may find that it is difficult to connect the projects to the organization’s strategy. Training – and communication – are the key elements to success.
How do you become a program manager in the federal government?
While federal program management is a growing field, it’s important to know your strengths when you are considering a career. Program managers report that their strengths include setting objectives and developing the strategies to reach them and coordinating work phases by creating timelines and by meeting deadlines.
They bring to the position the ability to communicate with stakeholders and to oversee the work of large teams tackling a variety of projects. They have done enough market research to know where they would like to work, so they can approach the right agency. They have earned a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Business Administration or in a similar field, and they have organizational or federal experience as senior project managers.
How much do government program managers earn?
Program managers are paid well, and the occupation is growing in both numbers and prestige. The average rate of pay for program managers was $153,309 in 2020, according to federalpay.org. Their data also shows that their pay had risen by 37 percent this millennium. Pay rates vary, depending on the agency at which the program manager is working.
Of all the jobs in the federal government in 2020, program manager was ranked the 34th most popular position. As of that year, the Internal Revenue Service employed the largest number of program managers. Their average salary was over $140,000. A program manager at the National Security Agency might make $75,000 to $115,000 a year. Again, compensation takes many factors into consideration – and it varies from agency to agency.
Help with program management
Each government agency has many specific projects and tasks to complete. It can help to have a navigator to provide solid information and strengthen your perspective.
Sometimes a program manager decides to achieve a goal by bringing in a consultant with the right expertise. Sometimes an agency leader will decide that a consultant can best fill the role of program manager.
Because of its years working as a consultant with government agencies, SDV International can fill the void. The company has worked with many parts of the federal government, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, State Department, Justice Department, Veterans Affairs, GSA, Defense Health Agency and Railroad Retirement Board. Their consultants have experience in a wide range of specialties that they can use to help with program management.