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How to hire a federal programs manager

Federal programs manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring federal programs managers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a federal programs manager is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new federal programs manager to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a federal programs manager, step by step

To hire a federal programs manager, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a federal programs manager:

Here's a step-by-step federal programs manager hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a federal programs manager job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new federal programs manager
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the federal programs manager you need to hire. Certain federal programs manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A federal programs manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, federal programs managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of federal programs managers and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Federal Programs ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Federal Programs Manager$17-59
    Project AdministratorA project administrator is a professional who assists the project manager in the preparation, reporting, and analysis of projects. Project administrators are given tasks with administrative responsibilities such as managing the budget for supply orders, coordinating meetings with contractors, and doing site visits... Show more$15-39
    Project DirectorA project director is a professional responsible for supervising workers from various departments given specific tasks to complete a given project. They create a budget to complete a job while monitoring the amount of money spent to ensure that overspending is avoided... Show more$33-77
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Program Management
    • Federal Government
    • Customer Satisfaction
    • DOD
    • OSHA
    • PMO
    • Business Development
    • Federal Programs
    • SharePoint
    • US Army
    • Federal Agencies
    • Proposal Development
    • GSA
    • RFP
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Specialize in video collaboration technologies - multi-class Audio/Video bridging, manage video services and cloud video solutions.
    • Develop statements of work and formulate RFQ and RFP responses.
    • Create processes for RFP opportunity / identification and bid response, capture design, and billing.
    • Support diverse projects for international sales, science and technology, logistics, emergency management response, and mobile networks/applications.
    • Evangelize virtualization security awareness and compliance issues around transforming physical servers to virtual servers.
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your federal programs manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A federal programs manager salary can vary based on several factors:
    • Location. For example, federal programs managers' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in district of columbia.
    • Seniority. Entry-level federal programs managers earn 71% less than senior-level federal programs managers.
    • Certifications. A federal programs manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a federal programs manager's salary.

    Average federal programs manager salary

    $67,453yearly

    $32.43 hourly rate

    Entry-level federal programs manager salary
    $36,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 15, 2025
  4. Writing a federal programs manager job description

    A good federal programs manager job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a federal programs manager job description:

    Federal programs manager job description example

    Who We Are

    DISYS Solutions Inc. (DSI) is a Cisco Gold Partner generating over $180 million in revenue annually. DSI is an expanding company providing IT solutions and services since 1991 with headquarters in the thriving Dulles Technology corridor (Ashburn, Virginia).

    Our culture is built on credibility, capability, customer service, and commitment to our talented workforce and customers. We look forward to accelerating your career development and growth through our comprehensive professional training programs, competitive compensation package, robust benefits, and a fun and rewarding workplace!

    Benefits We Provide

    DSI sponsored benefits include 401(k) with a 3% company match, medical insurance (including Tele Doc), dental insurance, life insurance, short-term & long-term disability insurance, paid time off (PTO – 3 weeks), and 9.5 company paid holidays. We are committed to employee satisfaction through our benefits program and a friendly, team-based culture.

    Your Responsibilities

    • Act as primary point of contact between DSI and Federal Government program offices for assigned Federal Contracts.
    • Responsible for the day-to-day management and support of assigned Federal Contracts.
    • Assists with proposal planning and development for Federal Programs, Catalogs and Contracts.
    • Reviews contract documents for analysis of incoming large strategic bid requests and new program opportunities. Prepares briefs for senior management as appropriate.
    • Responsible for reviewing all prepared contractual reporting date requirements and submitting for assigned contracts. Works with other departments to ensure reporting is accurate and complete.
    • Works with internal departments to ensure that company is in compliance with contractual and legal requirements and government regulations.
    • Works as main point of contact for awarded RFACs for business development and sales efforts under NASA SEWP V.
    • Supports inside Federal sales team on RFQ/RFPs released under Federal Programs as necessary.
    • Assists will large strategic bids/proposals as necessary.
    • Works with internal teams to plan and achieve company level certifications as required (ISO/CMMC/CMMI/etc).

    Attends all meetings for assigned contacts as named Program Manager.

    • Attends field sales engagements as necessary (trade shows, sales meetings, etc.)
    • Attends meetings for new business development, contracts, and establishing new federal business supply partners and subcontractors as necessary.
    • Works as the corporate Subject Matter Expert on the Federal Programs and Federal contracts.
    • Assists management to monitor, coach and correct DSI internal and external Federal sales teams’ actions to ensure compliance with contract T&C's and further develop team skills.
    • Assists Bids/Contacts team with negotiations of terms and conditions for numerous types of agreements and contracts as it relates to Federal team programs (e.g., Non-Disclosure Agreements, Teaming Agreements, Reseller Agreements, Professional Service Agreements, etc.).

    Works with marketing department to increase overall company visibility and contract sales.

    • Works with Partner Alliance Manager to implement new strategic partners and programs to help achieve revenue goals within Federal Programs.
    • Works as main point of contact for assigned accounts.
    • Assist with business development/contract management as assigned/directed for the Tech Serv United JV.
    • Attends trainings and industry events to remain knowledgeable on currents contract opportunity, market trends, upcoming events, and contractor requirements.
    • Assists with maintenance and management of the DSI Facility Security program.
    • Conducts security briefings as needed.
    • Assists with annual self-assessments.
    • Supports Federal Sales teams on bids/quotes requiring Facility and personnel security clearances.
    • Performs related activities as required*

    *Related duties as required are duties that may not be specifically listed in the class specification or position description, but that are within the general occupational series and responsibility level typically associated with the employee’s class of work.

    DSI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We welcome and encourage diversity in the workplace regardless of race, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

    Powered by JazzHR

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  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find federal programs managers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your federal programs manager job on Zippia to find and recruit federal programs manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Your first interview with federal programs manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

    Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new federal programs manager

    Once you've selected the best federal programs manager candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

    To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a federal programs manager?

Recruiting federal programs managers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

Federal programs managers earn a median yearly salary is $67,453 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find federal programs managers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $17 and $59.

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