National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Chief, Mission Operations Branch-Aurora, CO

Aurora, CO - 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 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
As the Mission Operations Branch (MOB) Chief, provide leadership for the Branch and for the Operations Control Center (OCC). Serve as one of the Senior Cadre representatives in the unit. Engage regularly with Division and Site leadership and participate in battle rhythm events. As needed, identify requirements for additional personnel to fill Branch positions. Ensure high quality initial, recurring and, supplemental training materials are available. Ensure timely completion of aforementioned training. Develop and publish guidance consistent with the OCC responsibilities and in alignment with NRO and ADF-C guidance. Advocate for the OCC teams operational requirements. Advise the Division Chief on all matters involving personnel, system, and site state of health; including the protection of the site baseline.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Supervisor, Chief, Mission Operations Branch, GGS-14, occupational series 0132. More information on the occupational series can be viewed on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

This is a full-time position that is open from 2026-11-03 to 2026-11-13. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 2026-11-13.

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 DoW 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
Serve as Mission Operations Branch Chief / Operations Control Center (OCC) Supervisory Lead, providing leadership over the Branch/Flight and within the unit, scheduling 24/7/365 operations position shifts, planning and ensuring training and evaluation for certified positions, and advising senior management on all matters involving personnel, system, and site state of health.
  • Exercise supervisory personnel management responsibilities. Direct, coordinate, and oversee the work of subordinates. Advise staff regarding policies, procedures, NRO directives and instructions, DoD, IC, and other guidelines.
  • Explain performance expectations to employees directly supervised and provide regular feedback in accordance with applicable performance guidance. Recommend awards for non-supervisory personnel and changes for positions to higher-level management. Initiate action to correct performance or conduct problems of employees directly supervised.
  • Review developmental needs of employees and encourage individual career development. Manage work schedules to ensure adequate coverage of assigned unit through peak workloads and traditional holiday vacation times. Adhere to the tenants of NRO Directive (ND) 80-3, Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, Accommodation, and Diversity Management.
  • Certify as Mission Director (MD). Serve minimum number of shifts per month to maintain currency and resolve shift schedule gaps resulting from unexpected emergencies either by filling in or finding alternate certified personnel. Maintain up-to-date certified personnel roster. Serve as Site Representative while on Mission Director duty; provide Site and Enterprise influence as technical subject matter expert. Maintain liaison with counterpart specialists in the Tri-Agency, in the IC, and in space component intelligence entities.
    • The Denver Mission Director (DMD) position is manned 24/7/365, and is responsible for providing government oversight of critical Mission Ground Station functions. The DMD is the NRO senior representative acting for the Aerospace Data Facility Colorado Commander after duty hours and provides a government interface to and other mission ground stations and the National Reconnaissance Office Operations Center. The DMD is the touchpoint for Mission Operations Directorate leadership and the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office during daily operations briefings. Provides direction of site emergency management and crisis response to ensure safety of people is always the priority. The DMD provides government leadership in situations such as medical emergencies, personnel issues (confrontations, intoxicated on duty), and facilities issues including plumbing/electrical problems, fire alarms, HAZMAT & total evacuation of the operations floor. DMDs must have excellent oral and written communication skills in order to craft timely messages that are complete, concise, clear, accurate, have proper tone and format, and are appropriately tailored to the audience and intended purpose. They must also have strong analytic and critical thinking skills and an ability to adapt to competing/changing priorities.
  • In coordination with Mission Support Branch (MSB), manage and provide input to quarterly training and initial qualification for Denver Mission Directors and other operations certified positions by conducting positional evaluations following completion of Joint Qualification Standardization (JQS) tasks for trainees.

What You Will Need
  • Require a proven track record of leading diverse teams, organizational level leadership, and decision making
  • Require comprehensive and practical knowledge of space operations
  • Require expert understanding and prior practical experience in how space operations contribute to intelligence community processes and worldwide US military operations
  • Require excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to distill technical and/or complex information into concise decision-enabling format
  • Require ability to pass security clearances and complete necessary qualification training for the Denver Mission Director 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.

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.


Rotational Assignment
This position requires a three-year rotational assignment agreement with possible extensions of two-years. Approved extensions will be in one-year increments based on mission requirements. Prior to the conclusion of the rotational assignment, the position's occupant will be required to relocate to NRO Headquarters, Chantilly, VA or another acceptable assignment within the NRO.

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.
  • 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
Aurora, CO
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 and meet degree requirements. 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 DCIPS STEM Compensation.
2026 STEM Salary Ranges:
  • GG-14: $148,275 - $197,200
2026 Salary Range for the Denver, CO  Area:
  • GG-14: $140,239 - $182,316

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 advertised grade level(s) 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 DoW 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 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.
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 [email protected].

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.
 
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