National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

NRO COMM Program Office, Division Programs Chief

January 8, 2025 - Springfield, 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 nro.gov.

Basic Eligibility for a position with 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 Communication's Directorate (COMM), Service Integration Office (SIO) seeks a highly motivated professional with experience in managing programs and projects to oversee the development, refinement and sustainment of programs that support the core functions of a Division. The programs overseen are critical to enabling the Division to command and control COMM operations across the NRO enterprise on behalf of the Director of COMM.
If selected for the position, as the Division Programs Chief, you will oversee and manage Division-level programs that govern the core functions of the Division. On behalf of the program Division (Office/Group) Chief, you will be expected to set strategic priorities, provide guidance, and establish structure to the programs to assure smooth implementation of its associated processes and procedures. You will also be expected to be trained and certified IAW the program requirements you oversee (e.g. COMM MD Training & Certification) to assure mastery of concepts and standards of the programs that you are expected to lead. Additionally, you will be expected to successfully collaborate across the Division, SIO, COMM groups and offices to continually improve and evolve the programs to better meet and support NRO missions. To assure sustainment of the programs long-term, you will be expected to consistently advise the program Division (Office/Group) Chief of long-term impacts and risks when considering implications of decisions at the Division level or above. Overall, as the continuity for the Division, you must assure implementation of a strategy to realize the programs’ success that will enable sustainment of the Division’s core functions long-term.  
This is a full time position. 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 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
  • Leading and managing Division-level programs and processes (e.g. Training, Standards and Evaluation) responsible for implementing and supporting COMM’s oversight of IT products, services, and capabilities servicing larger USG missions
  • Developing, managing, and executing Division-level programs and processes, in collaboration with SIO divisions, COMM groups and offices and NRO partners, to meet COMM and SIO requirements supporting diverse missions
  • Maintain positive and productive relationships with COMM’s key partners in positional area; COMM and other Directorate & Office leaderships
  • Directing, coordinating, and overseeing work through subordinate managers and supervisors; advising staff on policies, procedures, and directives; encouraging development of employees; selecting candidates for vacant positions; developing performance standards; explaining performance expectations; assessing performance; correcting performance or conduct problems; recommending awards; and approving time, attendance, and leave.
  • Supporting and engaging in various Cadre workforce management activities in the NRO enterprise as a senior member of the NRO Cadre workforce.
What You Need

Required:
  • Demonstrated experience in management and leadership of a team in program and project management or similar roles
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate blended teams of Government (civilian and military), FFRDC, and contract personnel, including the ability to positively affect the morale of an organization
  • Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills in order to manage programmatic issues
  • Highly developed oral and written communication skills necessary to work with a wide variety of personnel, including the executive level
  • Demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate/partner with internal and external stakeholders
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and understand which NRO or NRO-monitored mission partner capabilities are supported by specific COMM and/or IC ITE services across the entire mission thread, where documented
  • Demonstrated aptitude to learn knowledge of agency mission, objectives, terminology, and management practices to recognize probable areas of interaction and overlap between proposed applications and existing systems
  • Demonstrated ability to apply advanced IT principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices to guide programs to support both current and future operational requirements
Highly Desired:
  • Mastery of, and skill in applying, advanced IT principles, concepts, methods, standards, and practices sufficient to manage program activities such as develop strategies, interpret policies, establish processes and procedures, manage costs and drive timelines to achieve objectives
  • Possess conceptual familiarity with project and incident management activities relating to the following areas:
  • Windows Desktop Environments (Exchange, Lync, Active Directory, etc.)
  • Computer Networking (e.g. Routing, Switching, WANs, LANs)
  • Telephony, Video Teleconference, and Instant Messaging Collaboration Applications and Equipment (e.g. Cisco, Jabber, Avaya)
  • Hosting Platforms (e.g. VMWare)
  • IT Hosting Environments (e.g. virtual compute, storage, provisioning platforms, databases, data centers)
  • Cryptographic Equipment
  • Commercial cloud services (e.g. AWS)
  • Hold an educational degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or Information Technology from an accredited university
  • Hold accredited IT certifications in compliance with DoD Manual 8140 requirements; or the ability to achieve within (12) months of selection
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.

Other Information
  • You may be required to obtain a CISM or CISSP certification within 6 months of being appointed to the position IAW Cyber Workforce Requirements outlined in DoDI 8500.01.
  • Financial Management Certification: May be required to obtain the appropriate Financial Management certification level for the position within two years of assignment.
  • 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 are deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.
Location

Springfield, VA

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/

2024 STEM Salary ranges:

GG-14: $144,354 - $187,662

**This position is a full performance 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 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 DCIPS employees 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.

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