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 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 NRO Counterintelligence Division is seeking a dynamic officer to serve in a CI Referent position at NRO Headquarters in Chantilly, Virginia, requiring a depth of experience in counterintelligence and offering an opportunity to serve in a role of significant influence providing critical support to the NRO enterprise. The selected officer will serve as a CI Referent to NRO Directorates and Offices (D&Os), supporting force protection initiatives, defense critical infrastructure, research and development acquisition, and efforts to counter espionage, international terrorism, and insider threats. The Referent will engage with Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and Law Enforcement entities in support of NRO mission operations, acquisition programs, and critical infrastructure protection. Working closely with other CI Referents and NRO Security personnel, the Referent will collaborate with a broad base of U.S. Government and industry representatives at all management levels, performing a full range of CI support functions including threat assessments, activity support, and CI vetting that may inform organizational decisions involving personnel actions or policy recommendations, while effectively integrating CI techniques for protecting technologies and operations into key acquisition and program processes, working groups, and program milestone meetings. This position, aligned to the Office of Security and Counterintelligence (OS&CI), Counterintelligence Division (CID), CI Referent Program (CRP), plays a critical role in detecting, defeating, and deterring foreign intelligence threats to the NRO and providing CI support to over 57,000 NRO-accessed government and contractor personnel worldwide, requiring exceptional judgment and discretion in handling highly sensitive data and managing sensitive CI activities.
Counterintelligence Responsibilities:
The CI Referent will improve Counterintelligence (CI) support to the acquisition process, review National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) equities across the enterprise, and recommend appropriate CI countermeasures for NRO-related processes and information systems. The CI Referent will integrate CI requirements for NRO Directorates and Offices, program security managers, and the Counterintelligence Division (CID) while supporting NRO experts developing innovative processes for Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) organizations.
Managing the implementation of counterintelligence projects and services to thwart clandestine activities by foreign intelligence entities targeting critical technologies and processes, the CI Referent will provide CI oversight to government and contractor personnel, conduct CI Awareness Briefings and Debriefings to enhance threat recognition, and collect CI information through liaison and other collection activities. This information will be utilized in multi-disciplinary threat assessments supporting antiterrorism and force protection plans for critical technologies, facilities, programs, and Defense Critical Infrastructure (DCI).
Coordination with CID on technical support and investigative analysis requests will be a key responsibility, with the CI Referent providing input on foreign intelligence or terrorist targeting of organizational resources. The CI Referent will generate Intelligence Information Reports (IIRs) documenting CI relevant information and coordinate complex CI concerns, including criminal violations such as espionage and terrorism, with CID and appropriate investigative or law enforcement agencies on matters with national or international implications.
Through independent planning, organizing, and coordinating with CID, the CI Referent will address difficult, complex inquiries of alleged or suspected foreign intelligence or terrorist activity directed against organizational resources and matters of highest national priority. CI Insider Threat identification and mitigation support will be provided by researching and analyzing suspected foreign intelligence service or terrorist organization interest in NRO personnel, facilities, or programs.
Integrating counterintelligence considerations into personnel security, physical security, and information security operations, the CI Referent will ensure comprehensive CI support to security programs. The CI Referent will execute functions described in CI policy plans, procedures, and directives, and deliver impactful CI Awareness Briefings-both verbally and in writing-while participating in awareness campaigns to enhance the NRO workforce's overall security posture.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Non-Supervisory, GG-14, occupational series 1801C . More information on the occupational series can be viewed on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website (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.
This is a full-time position that is open from July 30, 2026 to August 13, 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on August 13, 2026.
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 DoWI 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 qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.
What You Will Be Doing
The CI Referent will serve as the primary CI partner to NRO Directorates and Offices (D&Os), providing comprehensive counterintelligence support across the enterprise. This includes maintaining close partnerships with Program Security Officers (PSOs), executing proactive threat mitigation activities, coordinating complex CI inquiries with the Counterintelligence Division (CID), conducting field outreach to cleared industry locations, and delivering specialized CI support to critical programs. The CI Referent will maintain a strategic battle rhythm prioritizing support based on operational requirements, program criticality, and emerging threats while ensuring synchronized CI operations through continuous coordination with CID Field Offices and Mission Ground Station Referents.
Serve as primary CI partner to Chief PSOs by attending PSO/Program meetings, security team meetings, and D&O front office sessions; maintain current knowledge of all D&O offices and program portfolios to provide tailored CI support; establish day-to-day battle rhythm based on customer requirements, office structures, and program responsibilities.
Execute comprehensive CI functional services by delivering timely CI awareness briefings; conduct lead development for CI activities; collect specific CI information through liaison and collection activities for use in multi-disciplinary threat assessments supporting antiterrorism and force protection plans.
Generate Intelligence Information Reports (IIRs) and CI activity reports ensuring timely production and dissemination; research and analyze suspected foreign intelligence service or terrorist organization interest in organizational personnel, facilities, or programs; submit CI threat reports to counter identified threats.
Coordinate with CID on technical support and investigative analysis requests; provide input on foreign intelligence or terrorist targeting of organizational resources; independently plan, organize, and coordinate with CID on difficult, complex inquiries of alleged or suspected foreign intelligence or terrorist activity; coordinate complex CI concerns, including criminal violations such as espionage and terrorism, with CID and appropriate investigative or law enforcement agencies on matters with national or international implications.
Conduct site visits to cleared industry locations to engage Company Program Security Officers (CPSOs) and assess CI requirements; maintain continuous coordination with Field Office CI Referents and ADF CI Referents to ensure synchronized CI operations and information sharing. Deliver specialized CI support to Operations Security (OPSEC), Research and Development Acquisition (RDA), Defense Critical Infrastructure (DCI), and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) programs by facilitating threat assessments and providing tailored CI training.
What You Will Need
Required Qualifications:
Documented experience in a CI discipline gained through prior tours of increasing complexity and responsibility; well-honed interviewing and elicitation skills.
Demonstrated ability to prepare detailed and accurate narrative reports based on information gathered through a variety of means, such as investigative inquiries, personal interviews, site assessments, and information gathered through law enforcement and/or Intelligence Community representatives.
Documented experience analyzing and evaluating information gathered to support investigative inquiries to assess priorities, leads, and direction.
Documented knowledge of Department of War (DoW) and Intelligence Community (IC) security policies, directives, and procedures.
Strong working knowledge of Department of War (DoW) and IC counterintelligence policies, directives, and regulations.
Documented strong leadership skills; well-honed representational and briefing skills; and ability to interact with all levels of management.
Documented ability to establish and maintain effective liaison with law enforcement and Intelligence Community (IC) representatives.
Documented strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to convey relevant information in a concise, logical, and objective manner to diverse audiences.
Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities and focus attention on high priority tasks in order to meet suspense dates.
Desired Qualifications:
Prior CI or Security tour at NRO.
Prior experience working CI activities in support of operational programs, acquisition activities, or field operations.
Experience and understanding of DoW digital media collection, concepts of first to respond, secure, preserve, and/or collect digital evidence at crime scenes.
Experience working with DoW entities, especially Special Access Programs (SAPs).
Experience working with contractors.
Experience reviewing existing policies and programs on a continuing basis for improvement and compliance; ability to identify policies, practices, procedures, and directives that are ineffective, inefficient, and/or impractical and propose/draft policy and procedural changes.
Required Training:
Previously graduated from or have the ability to complete CI Agent Courses in the fields of analysis; operations; collections; inquiries; and investigations through Joint Counterintelligence Training Academy (JCITA); Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Military Services; or equivalent. The panel would also consider a combination of CI experience and training in a U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) / DoW CI entity as acceptable.
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.
Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, "Merit Hiring Plan," dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see "Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume" and visit the Resume Help Center (https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include) .
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.
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 24 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/training/career-development/logistics/blog/DAWIA-Certification-Requirements) .
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
Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).
Salary
2026 salary range for the Washington, DC area:
GG-14 $143,913 - $187,093.
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 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 DoWI 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
DoW 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 DoW 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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