Program Manager Class
Proposed classification would affect pay plans, series, titles and grades of IT program managers.
Program management is classified as an official career field for federal information technology positions in a new draft proposal issued by the Office of Personnel Management. The draft standard defines IT program management as "work that involves managing one or more large information technology program(s) to provide products and/or services." The proposal says an IT program manager "coordinates, communicates and integrates IT projects and program activities. They ensure that the work effort achieves the outcome as specified within the IT business strategies. Work encompasses the decision-making and negotiation responsibilities involved in executing the program efforts." Classification and job grading standards are used to determine the pay plan, series, title and grade for most federal workers. The program manager title joins the titles of IT project manager and IT specialist in the IT Management 2210 series. In December, federal CIO Vivek Kundra unveiled a 25-point implementation plan for reforming federal IT, which called on OPM to take steps to significantly enhance the supply of IT program managers, including creating a career path to attract and reward top performers. The draft standard is available for public comment until April 14. Questions and comments may be e-mailed to fedclass@opm.gov. Wired Workplace is a daily look at issues facing the federal information technology workforce. It is written by former Government Executive reporter Brittany Ballenstedt and published on Nextgov.com. Click here to read the latest entries.