Industrial Manager

Army Tank-Automotive and Armament Command (TACOM)Watervliet, New Yorkusajobspublished 10/23/2026
Must-have:SeniorPrincipal

About the company

About the Position: The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army owned and operated manufacturing center located in New York. It is the oldest, continuously active arsenal in the United States having begun operations in 1813. Today it is relied upon by U.S. and foreign militaries to produce the most advanced, high-powered weaponry for cannon, howitzer, and mortar systems. The Arsenal is the only location in the DoD that has a weapons research facility collocated with a manufacturing facility.

Your tasks

  • Serves as the Director of the Industrial Operations and Production Directorate, providing leadership and oversight for all physical operations and financial management functions.
  • Oversees and supervises activities directly related to the manufacture of weapons and /or other defense or non-defense items in prototype and production modes.
  • Determines necessary resources for manufacturing process; establishes plan for execution. Maintains Watervliet Arsenal direct labor workload, near and long-term.
  • Directs the activities of several manufacturing, assembly and preservation and packaging elements to manufacture and/or modify assigned cannon/mortar barrels, major and minor items, components and/or assemblies.
  • Participates in strategic planning efforts with responsibility for managing, planning, coordinating, integrating, and implementing Arsenal initiatives.
  • Developing and sustaining multiple candidates to assume leadership duties/responsibilities as key positions are vacated, utilizing personnel planning and development, such that the impact of attrition of key positions is minimized.
  • Performs human capital planning for operations directorate, balancing workload with changes, organization of work and assignment of functions to improve workflow and services provided.
  • Actively participates and supports business transformation implementation, deployment and sustainment at Watervliet Arsenal, e.g. the Logistics Modernization Program (LMP) Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and similar efforts.
  • Determines work priorities/progress of work being accomplished, adequacy of planning and performance of personnel.
  • Attends staff meetings scheduled by the Command Group, to participate in establishing policy and procedures in resolving technical and operating problems.
  • Works in cooperation with other staff members in integrating and coordinating related phases of various activities and functions to achieve efficiency and consistency of operations.

Requirements

Who May Apply: Only applicants who meet one of the employment authority categories below are eligible to apply for this job. You will be asked to identify which category or categories you meet, and to provide documents which prove you meet the category or categories you selected. See Proof of Eligibility for an extensive list of document requirements for all employment authorities.

  • Current Department of Army Civilian Employees
  • Current Department of Defense (DOD) Civilian Employee (non-Army)
  • Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS)
  • Interchange Agreement
  • Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan
  • Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act
  • Military Spouses, under Executive Order (E.O.) 13473
  • Non-Appropriated Fund Instrumentality (NAFI)
  • Non-Department of Defense (DoD) Transfer
  • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Interchange Agreement
  • Eligible People with Disabilities, Schedule A
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD
  • Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD
  • Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD
  • MR and NG Preference Eligible
  • Tech Receiving Disability Retirement
  • Priority Placement Program, DoD
  • Retained Grade Preference Eligible
  • Reinstatement
  • Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA) of 1998

In order to qualify, you must meet the experience requirements described below. 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). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes:

  1. Managing manufacturing programs for prototype and production-mode items by establishing operational priorities and leading cross-functional teams to resolve complex production challenges;
  2. Evaluating the performance of manufacturing operations against key metrics to develop and implement corrective action plans that improve workflow and adapt to substantial changes in workload;
  3. Formulating long-range strategic plans, annual budgets, and human capital initiatives for a major division to recommend resource allocations that align personnel and funding with mission priorities;
  4. Leading business process improvement initiatives by analyzing operational data, recommending modifications to regulations or policies, and implementing improved work methods that enhance performance; and
  5. Advising senior leadership on resolving complex operational and administrative issues while guiding subordinate supervisors and representing the directorate in meetings to integrate large-scale manufacturing activities.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service GS-14.

Time in Grade Requirement: Applicants who have held a General Schedule (GS) position within the last 52 weeks must have 52 weeks of Federal service at the next lower grade or equivalent (GS-14).

Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify. For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted.