Program Analyst

Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (7 current openings) Gaithersburg, Maryland Full-time Security Clearance: Not Required
Application Deadline:
2026-08-20
Posted:
2026-08-14

6 days left to apply

Salary: $102,415 – $158,322 per year (ZA-3)

Job Details

Qualifications & Requirements

Specialized Experience Requirement To qualify for this position, you must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 level (ZA-II at NIST) or higher. Specialized experience is defined as: Experience analyzing data from public or private organizations to support program evaluation and data-driven decision making within an organization. AND Experience utilizing data analysis tools or techniques to distill insights from varying data sets. 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, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook. If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration

Position Overview

NIST is seeking a Program Analyst to join the Manufacturing Extension Partnership's Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts Division. In this role, you will analyze program performance and U.S. manufacturing trends, conduct statistical and economic research, evaluate program impacts, and transform complex data into actionable insights that inform strategic decisions and strengthen U.S. manufacturing.

Duties

  • As part of NIST, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) enhances the productivity and technological performance of U.S. manufacturing. Through a robust public-private network, MEP Centers collaborate at federal, state, and local levels to help manufacturers develop new products, adopt cutting-edge technology, and strengthen domestic supply chains. We serve as the primary link between the manufacturing community and the federal research ecosystem. The Performance Evaluation and Economic Impacts Division supports the MEP Program's administration and strategy by capturing, managing, and analyzing data to evaluate Center and Program performance and support data-driven decision making. If hired as a Program Analyst, your duties will include: Analyzing and evaluating program activities, outcomes, and performance data across multiple MEP mission areas. Applying statistical, economic, and data-mining techniques to identify key program and U.S. manufacturing trends. Conducting economic impact analyses, research, and program evaluation studies to assess effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvement. Ensuring the quality, accuracy, and reliability of program data through rigorous validation and analytical practices. Developing reports, studies, and executive-level briefings that translate complex findings into actionable insights to inform strategic decision-making.