Program Specialist Jobs
Program Specialist jobs are open across government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare, and education, at every level from entry-level coordinator to senior and supervisory roles, with specializations in workforce development, grant administration, and policy compliance. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Program Specialist JobsLooking for remote work? View remote program specialist jobs →Overview
Showing 5 of 1,612+ Program Specialist jobs
FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Top Workplace by the Washington Post, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.
**Position is contingent upon contract award**
Work Schedule and Location:
On-Site: This full-time on-site position will work Monday through Friday, with core hours of 7:30am to 6pm at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for office support, delivering responsive, professional customer service to staff and visitors.
- Coordinate meetings, prepare presentation materials, and track follow-up actions.
- Provide documentation support: timekeeping, data entry, database maintenance, and file management.
- Prepare, submit, and monitor procurement requests and closeout memos.
- Arrange staff travel, including hotel, rental car, and flight bookings, travel authorizations, and vouchers.
- Support special events and facility tours, including the annual TRB/FHWA meeting — tracking attendees, coordinating logistics, and staffing onsite as needed.
- Conduct routine inventory checks on government property (laptops, monitors, printers, etc.) and report findings.
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED.
- 1–2 years of relevant office administration or customer-service experience.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and Google Workspace; comfortable learning new systems for time tracking, records, and data entry.
- Good written and oral communication skills; strong organizational skills.
- Comfortable serving as a front-desk/phone point of contact.
- Must be willing to undergo a federal background investigation (SF-85P and fingerprinting) and obtain a facility ID badge.
- Prior experience supporting a federal research facility or transportation agency.
- Experience with inventory/property tracking or fleet coordination.
- Experience supporting event or conference logistics.
Why Join Our Team:
At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) Plan
- Holiday Pay
- Paid Time Off
FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.
FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024 and 2025 Top Workplace by the Washington Post, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.
**Position is contingent upon contract award**
Work Schedule and Location:
On-Site: This full-time on-site position will work Monday through Friday, with core hours of 7:30am to 6pm at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for office support, delivering responsive, professional customer service to staff and visitors.
- Coordinate meetings, prepare presentation materials, and track follow-up actions.
- Provide documentation support: timekeeping, data entry, database maintenance, and file management.
- Prepare, submit, and monitor procurement requests and closeout memos.
- Arrange staff travel, including hotel, rental car, and flight bookings, travel authorizations, and vouchers.
- Support special events and facility tours, including the annual TRB/FHWA meeting — tracking attendees, coordinating logistics, and staffing onsite as needed.
- Conduct routine inventory checks on government property (laptops, monitors, printers, etc.) and report findings.
Qualifications:
- High school diploma or GED.
- 1–2 years of relevant office administration or customer-service experience.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and Google Workspace; comfortable learning new systems for time tracking, records, and data entry.
- Good written and oral communication skills; strong organizational skills.
- Comfortable serving as a front-desk/phone point of contact.
- Must be willing to undergo a federal background investigation (SF-85P and fingerprinting) and obtain a facility ID badge.
- Prior experience supporting a federal research facility or transportation agency.
- Experience with inventory/property tracking or fleet coordination.
- Experience supporting event or conference logistics.
Why Join Our Team:
At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) Plan
- Holiday Pay
- Paid Time Off
FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.
Program Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
Top Cities Hiring Program Specialists
Explore program specialist openings in the cities hiring most right now.
See All 1,612+ Program Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Specialist JobsProgram Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission37
- L3Harris29
- State of Arkansas23
- State of Florida21
- Federal Bureau of Prisons19
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector32
- Healthcare & Medical Services26
- Education18
- Technology & Software5
- Manufacturing3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in program specialist jobs.
- Bachelor's degree in public administration, social sciences, education, or a related field
- Experience managing or coordinating a structured program from planning through evaluation
- Proficiency with database and case management systems for tracking program participants
- Strong written communication skills for reports, grant narratives, and stakeholder updates
- Familiarity with federal or state compliance requirements relevant to the program area
- Project management skills including scheduling, budgeting, and cross-team coordination
Tips for Your Program Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to each program area
Program specialist roles vary widely by sector. A resume that highlights grant reporting and compliance metrics will land differently at a federal agency than at a nonprofit. Match your bullet points to the specific program type in each posting.
Decode the federal job series numbers
Many government program specialist openings use OPM job series codes like GS-0301 or GS-1101. Search by series number on agency career portals to surface openings that generic keyword searches miss entirely.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists program specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Quantify your program outcomes on your resume
Hiring managers want to see scope and results, not just duties. Replace phrases like 'managed program activities' with specifics: the number of participants served, the budget you oversaw, or the compliance rate your team achieved.
Prepare scenario answers for program failure questions
Interviewers for program specialist roles almost always ask about a program that underperformed or needed a course correction. Prepare a concrete example that shows your diagnosis, the adjustment you made, and the measurable outcome that followed.
Negotiate for professional development in your offer
Program specialist offers at government agencies and nonprofits often have limited salary flexibility. Certification reimbursement, conference attendance, or a clear promotion timeline can add real value when the base pay is fixed.
Program Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most program specialists?
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, L3Harris, and State of Arkansas are hiring the most program specialists right now, with openings concentrated in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Demand is especially strong at federal agencies, large nonprofits, and healthcare systems with federally funded programs.
How many program specialist jobs are remote?
About 46% of program specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, with the highest remote share in grant management, policy coordination, and training and technical assistance roles. Positions that require direct participant contact or on-site program delivery are more likely to be fully in-person.
How do you become a program specialist?
Start with a bachelor's degree in a field aligned to your target program area, such as public administration, social work, public health, or education. Build hands-on experience through internships, AmeriCorps, or entry-level coordinator roles. Develop familiarity with program evaluation, grant compliance, and reporting requirements. Earning a relevant certification, such as a project management credential, strengthens applications for mid-level and government roles.
Can you get hired as a program specialist with little experience?
Yes, many entry-level program specialist roles are designed for candidates with limited professional experience, especially in the nonprofit and government sectors. Volunteer coordination, community organizing, and academic research all translate well. Focus your application on transferable skills like stakeholder communication, data tracking, and event or project coordination, and emphasize any exposure to the program's specific subject area.
What does the program specialist interview process look like?
Most program specialist interviews include a structured behavioral round using situation-based questions about program planning, problem-solving, and stakeholder management. Government positions often add a written exercise or work sample, such as drafting a program summary or responding to a compliance scenario. Final rounds frequently involve a panel from across departments, so prepare to address both operational detail and big-picture program goals.
Where can I find and apply to program specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to program specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience and program area, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and goals.
See All 1,612+ Program Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Program Specialist Jobs