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 NRO.gov.
Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO
You must be a U.S. Citizen
You must be 18 years of age or older
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
We are seeking an exceptional Acquisition Program Manager to serve as the Dynamic Core Acquisition (DCA) Division Chief for the Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate's Tracking and Transport Systems Program Office (SIGINT/T2SPO). This supervisory position is a remarkable opportunity to spearhead national security initiatives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. T2SPO is responsible for acquiring the new architecture's first Major Systems Acquisitions (MSA) in the Dynamic Core layer, its common command and control system, and associated communication systems. T2SPO's systems support critical national security missions.
As the DCA Division Chief, you will lead a diverse team of approximately 40 personnel including military, civilian, SETA, and FFRDC staff in support of the new architecture's Dynamic Core layer, which includes an Experimental Research Demonstration (ERD) and multiple MSA. This role operates within compressed timelines for designing, developing, and operationalizing spacecraft systems critical to the success of the new architecture.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for senior level (GGS-15), Acquisition Project Manager occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/classifying-general-schedule-positions/occupationalhandbook.pdf) .
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.
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 per 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 may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.
What You Will Be Doing
Exercise supervisory personnel management responsibilities
Direct, coordinate, and oversee work through subordinate team leads
Serve as a System Program Office (SPO) technical representative internal and external to the NRO
Oversee teams across multiple disciplines including aerospace, software, and systems engineering
Navigate compressed development timelines from design through launch
Ensure technical excellence across spacecraft and ground systems
Drive innovation while maintaining quality and performance standards
Leads a highly technical government and industry team responsible for delivery and operations of multiple, simultaneous satellite acquisition programs.
Represents the SPO at high-level conferences and meetings with representatives from the Department of War (DoW), other Intelligence Community (IC) partners, military services and agencies, and private industry.
Equip team with resources necessary to effectively evaluate contractor performance, cost, and schedule of major contracts to develop, deliver, and sustain overhead reconnaissance systems, including spacecraft hardware, ground and communication components, and mission software applications.
Establish organizational structures, procedures, and mission objectives, for staff to eliminate work barriers to mission accomplishment.
Work collaboratively and constructively with external partners, stakeholders, and overseers on a wide-range of program issues, risks, challenges, and opportunities.
Manage and assesses progress in assigned projects/programs, including cost, schedule, and performance supporting baseline requirements, by applying program management methods and procedures.
Develop, execute, and monitors risk management strategies to address areas of concern or potential gaps.
Provide mentoring to junior personnel in government-contractor technical oversight roles and fosters their professional growth.
Perform other duties as assigned.
What You Need
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Computer Science, or comparable discipline from an accredited university
Minimum ten (10) years of experience in related technical field
Minimum four (4) years of government acquisition experience or equivalent
Demonstrated extensive expertise in satellite acquisition and program management
Proven leadership experience in fast-paced technical development environments
Strong track record managing complex engineering projects with tight deadlines
Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate across organizational boundaries
Experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and driving program management excellence
Demonstrated experience leading SIGINT system development, integration, and testing
Demonstrated interpersonal, collaborative, teambuilding, and leadership skills with proven ability to communicate effectively at all levels
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making in a variety of complex, high pressure situations and in the face of competing priorities
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop employees to formulate and achieve goals that achieve intelligence impacts
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
Demonstrated experience in maintaining constructive technical partnerships with related technical groups and stakeholder organizations
Demonstrated experience in advanced multidisciplinary engineering or related engineering/technical disciplines, concepts, principles, practices, standards, methods, techniques, materials, and equipment sufficient to apply experimental theories, principles, and concepts to project development and execution
Knowledge of DoW and IC organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes
Appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 4 years after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system.
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 48 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website (https://www.dau.edu/functional-areas) .
DAWIA Functional Area/Tier Required:
GG14-15: Program Management/Advanced
Employee is expected to meet Continuing Education requirements to maintain DAWIA certification. If appointed as a Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR), employee must attend the NRO Acquisition COTR training .
Desired:
Comprehensive knowledge of overhead collection systems and capabilities and how these systems and capabilities are used by IC and DoW
Demonstrated knowledge of launch systems integration and developing launch systems and launch system interfaces to meet the needs of complex spacecraft deployments
Understanding of end-to-end NRO system engineering practices
Experience with overhead SIGINT system operations and Operations & Maintenance activities
Demonstrated knowledge of NRO SIGINT mission ground stations' design and operations
Advanced academic degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or other related technical degree or equivalent work experience
Other Information
Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.
Location
Chantilly, VA 20151
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/
2026 salary range for the Washington, DC area: GGS-15: $167,446-$197,200
**This position is a senior 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 GGS - 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 DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management's discretion.
Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees (https://dcips.defense.gov/) 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, pregnancy, 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants (https://www.eeoc.gov/federal/fed_employees/index.cfm)
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. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil.
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.
Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974 (https://www.justice.gov/opcl/privacy-act-1974)
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