Administrative Program Specialist , II & III

Position: Administrative Program Specialist I, II & III
Job Title: Administrative Program Specialist I, II & III
Location: Silver Spring, MD / Remote
Clearance Required: Public Trust Eligible
Salary Range: Level I – $55K – $65K
Level II - $70K – $90K
Level III - $90K - $120K
Final date to receive applications: July 31, 2026

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Overview
NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) provides the research foundation for understanding the complex systems that sustain our planet, Working in partnership with other organizational units of NOAA, OAR provides better forecasts, earlier warnings for natural disasters, and a greater understanding of the Earth, OAR provides unbiased science to better manage the environment, nationally and globally, OAR advances climate, weather and water, ecosystem, and mission service program goals.

Within OAR, the Climate Program Office (CPO) manages competitive research programs in which NOAA funds high-priority climate science, decision-support research, outreach, education, and capacity-building activities designed to advance our understanding of Earth's climate system, and to foster the application of this knowledge in risk management and resilience efforts.

IBSS is seeking highly motivated applicants to provide Scientific and Program Operations Services (POS) to CPO. These positions will execute programmatic tasks, conduct research, identify gaps in knowledge bases, and clearly communicate current and future environmental hazards and risks, as well as opportunities for applying knowledge to enhance resilience. Work will include the development of, and contributions to, knowledge bases at community, state, regional, national, and international levels, covering the following CPO divisions and programs:

• CPO Director's Office
• Earth System Science and Modeling (ESSM) Division
• Atmospheric Chemistry, Carbon Cycle and Climate (AC4)
• Modeling, Analysis, Predictions and Projections (MAPP)
• Climate Observations and Monitoring (COM)
• National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) Division
• Adaptation Sciences (AdSci)
• Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA)

Role Summary:

This Position is contingent upon contract award

Professionals in this consolidated role provide the essential administrative, logistical, analytical, and programmatic backbone for the CPO Director's Office and its scientific divisions. Depending on their specific level, they range from junior specialists handling day-to-day office logistics to senior analysts overseeing complex grant portfolios, advanced knowledge management databases, and high-level project coordination.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, and execute logistics for meetings, official travel (using NOAA's travel management system), webinars, workshops, and large-scale initiatives like the NIHHIS Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaigns
• Provide comprehensive grant administration, which includes tracking funded research projects, maintaining accurate records, and meticulously managing the disbursement of honoraria for review panels and speakers
• Execute expert organizational and problem-solving tasks, managing general information requests and leading cross-office coordination workflows to buffer federal leadership
• Design, develop, and maintain advanced knowledge management tracking functions and databases to report on project accomplishments, impacts, and evolving partner priorities
• Serve as a primary programmatic interface with the CPO communications team, managing website content, drafting newsletters, and developing programmatic materials and impact stories
• Deliver direct customer service to funded investigators, ensuring compliance with reporting requirements and coordinating monthly network calls

Required Experience: For Level I: More than 2 years and up to 5 years of experience
For Level II: More than 5 years and up to 10 years of relevant experience
For Level III: More than 10 years and up to 15 years in fields such as Program Management, Management and Program Analysis, Budget Analysis,…