National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Hiring for Deputy Director, FCA Program Office at Chantilly, VA Full Time

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

The Deputy Director, Future Communications Architecture (FCA) Program Office (FPO), within the Communications Systems Directorate (COMM), Space Systems Group (SSG), is a vital manager responsible for supporting the Director, FPO in planning and execution of the FPO’s mission to develop and deliver common, core communications products, services, capabilities and standards to achieve the NRO’s future space communications architecture. The FPO Deputy Director will oversee three Branch-level teams (i.e., Future Architectures Branch, Technology Maturation and Studies Branch, and Prototyping Branch), supervising and managing multi-agency, military, and contractor staff to plan and execute numerous FCA studies, technology maturation projects, and operational prototype programs. Responsibilities also include overseeing development of future architectures, modeling and analyses, support to NRO, COMM, and SSG corporate processes, development of FPO inputs to the annual TPG and IBPS, active engagement with stakeholders and mission partners across the NRO and IC, and management of FPO financial resources.

The Communications Systems Directorate (COMM) is the largest directorate in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) employing more than 4,000 + personnel worldwide. Our teams are responsible for the installation, maintenance, performance, and security of the NRO’s network architecture and information technology (IT) infrastructure. COMM creates and supports products, service, and capabilities that are essential to every NRO mission, business, and enterprise function. Warfighters, Intelligence Community (IC) partners, and key senior decision-makers need overhead intelligence to accomplish their missions. COMM directly enables the collection, transmission, and process of this valuable intelligence.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior/expert-level General Engineers, (GG 14), occupational series 0801. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is open from March 29th, 2024 to April 12th, 2024. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59pm EST on April 12th, 2024.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position does not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

• Provides technical and administrative direction and leadership to subordinates in a supervisory capacity.
• Manages financial and personnel resources and day-to-day branch activities by prioritizing workloads and maintaining suspense tasking accountability for government and contractor staff. Responsible for planning and directing work performed by multi-agency and military staff performing a variety of functions with varying specialties and frequently changing requirements and assignments.
• Makes decisions and executes and/or directs actions exploring, reconciling, and resolving major uncertainties, unique situations, obscure problems, or conflicting objectives typically resulting from the abstract nature of the concepts or the existence of serious conflicts among requirements, technological developments, standards, program direction, and administrative requirements.
• Oversees cost, schedule and performance of major contracts to develop and deliver space communications payloads by applying program management methods and procedures.
• Determines and/or executes actions for a wide range of assignments involving combinations of complex features
• Serves as an authoritative expert and consultant on a broad program, a highly specialized field, or for assignments which affects national or international interests
• Serves as a technical authority and/or Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR)
• Reviews and evaluates studies, projects, proposals, or reports
• Develops new methods and criteria
• Proposes new policies and practices
• Provides expertise and advice on program planning and policy-making functions covering a broad range of engineering, architecture, or scientific programs
• Plans, develops, advises on, and implements crucial projects and/or segments of NRO programs, projects, or activities
• Performs other duties as assigned

What You Need

• Expertise in advanced multidisciplinary engineering or related engineering/technical discipline, concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment sufficient to apply experimental theories, principles, and concepts to project development, execution, and advisory services. Demonstrated interpersonal, organizational, and management skills to conceptualize and effectively lead complex analytic projects with limited supervision; ability to work collegially to find a consensus solution when views differ among agencies, and ability to effectively work independently and within a team or collaborative environment.
• Employee must meet, or be capable of meeting, the Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the position. The incumbent in this position will be required to obtain and maintain a Federal Acquisition Certification in Contracting (FAC-C) or Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) in Contracting Certification Level III.  Employees Grades 14 designated in Critical Acquisition Positions, must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the DAWIA within the designated grace period (Practitioner-5 years) after accepting the position.
• Bachelor’s degree in Professional Engineering. To be acceptable, the curriculum must be in a school of engineering where the curriculum is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership in a diverse team environment
• Demonstrated ability to handle short and shifting deadlines, changing priorities, complex situations, and multiple tasks. Ability to interact effectively and provide clear guidance to contractor and government personnel on technical/programmatic issues
• Knowledge of and ability to apply analytic, diagnostic, and qualitative techniques sufficient to produce authoritative analytical products (such as test plans and final reports), and the ability to employ new methodological approaches to analyze information.
• Demonstrated strong performance, leadership skills, and judgment necessary to successfully manage a Branch and technical team to deliver complex space and ground systems.
• Demonstrated experience leading a breadth of technical and management functions, to include program management, risk management, systems engineering, budgeting, policy formulation/execution, and human capital management.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and management skills to conceptualize and effectively lead teams and complex projects.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing a mix of military, civilian, and contractor personnel.
• Demonstrated experience leading space hardware technical development and integration activities through various phases of the acquisition lifecycle.
• Demonstrated space communications systems development and acquisition experience.
• Extensive program management and COTR experience on space hardware technical development and integration programs.
• Experience in space communication systems engineering to include design, integration, verification, system test, and readiness processes.
• Advanced academic degree in technical or scientific field such as engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, operations research, engineering management, or computer science.
• PM/COTR certification (or ability to acquire during first year in the position).

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume

Location

Chantilly, VA

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale.

For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/

2023 STEM Salary ranges:

GG-14: $144,354 – $191,900

• This position is a senior/expert level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, Federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG 14-15 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

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