Advanced Systems Program Manager - Senior Level

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

Within the NRO Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) Systems Acquisition Directorate, the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Systems Program Office (LSPO) defines, acquires, deploys, monitors, and assesses the performance of the LEO SIGINT satellites which provide a worldwide capability to assist in geolocation operations against adversaries. LEO SIGINT collection enables the Intelligence Community to plan, monitor, and execute tracking and locating operations in the pursuit of national strategic interests.

The Low Earth Orbit Systems Program Office in the Signals Intelligence Systems Acquisition Directorate is looking for a top-performing government civilian to bring a proactive, aggressive, and energetic approach to directing a challenging space and ground acquisition program. This individual will serve as the Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR), responsible for managing the cost, schedule, performance, and risk associated with command and control, mission management, design, development, delivery, operations, and sustainment.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Senior level (GG-14/15), Acquisition Program Managers, occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

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 August 15, 2024 to September 2, 2024. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on September 2, 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 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
 

• Serves as COTR for development and fielding of a multi-billion dollar, space acquisition program. Reports to the LSPO Chief, Special SIGINT Division.
• Manages cost, schedule and performance aspects of the Program on behalf of the program manager (Director, LSPO).
• Engages with the entire NRO Enterprise to ensure all policies and requirements of the Enterprise are met to enable the delivery of a completed end-to-end collection segment into operations.
• Directs the award fee process and makes recommendations to the fee determining official (Director, LSPO).
• Practices proactive program management and engineering governance to include risk and opportunity management, interface and configuration management, design and readiness milestones, requirements management and cost and schedule management.
• Supports coordination activities with mission partners across the IC and NRO to identify 3rd party software architecture needs and application development strategy for users to leverage the space system in operations.
• Drives the development, assembly, integration, and delivery of the Space and Ground collection segment to support testing, launch, and operations.
• Provides authoritative recommendations to senior management and develop briefings, and other formal and informal feedback on all aspects of program development, including launch and post-launch activities.
• Represents LSPO senior leadership in discussions with NRO, DoD, and IC stakeholders concerning space segment design, capabilities, interfaces, and dependencies.

What You Need
 

• Demonstrated exceptional ability to work collaboratively and transparently with team members, partner organizations, and supervisors to effectively execute acquisition programs and achieve mission goals.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience working with the US Intelligence Community, to include civilian and DoD organizations.
• Familiarity with operational SIGINT collection systems and SIGINT mission requirements.
• Demonstrated expertise building, inspiring and leading high performing program office acquisition teams of government, FFRDC and SETA personnel. Role model leader in terms of initiative, creativity and resilience.
• Extensive experience partnering, working, collaborating and solving problems with development contractors.
• Expert knowledge of the IC and/or DoD budgeting processes, to include direct experience with the planning, programming, budgeting and execution phases.
• Working knowledge/familiarity with earned value management system concepts and use.
• Highly effective communicator (speaking, writing and listening); ability to convey complex technical and programmatic issues concisely to senior management.
• Exceptional organizational and planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to move efficiently and quickly between big picture, strategic matters and detailed technical matters. Strong attention to detail skills; focused on the need for and importance of accuracy.
• Strong information gathering, coordination and monitoring skills.
• Exceptional problem analysis and problem solving skills.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain strong working relationships with other government stakeholders and with industry partners.
• 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 team player attitude, perspective and mentality.
• Exceptional time management skills.

Highly Desired:
 

• Multiple prior technical and/or program management assignments with a variety of duty experiences from various levels of responsibility.
• Graduate degree (STEM MS/PhD is Highly Desired).
• Previous experience as a program manager (PM) or Deputy PM of a major system acquisition program.
• Extensive experience with earned value management system (EVMS); highly skilled at using contractor EVMS data to effectively identify trends and manage the Program.
• Deep understanding and demonstrated expertise in the SIGINT mission area; comprehensive knowledge of operational SIGINT collection systems and current SIGINT mission requirements.
• Comprehensive knowledge of NRO missions, programs, and corporate management processes.
• Proven leadership record as a division chief (or higher) within a satellite acquiring program office.
• Extensive leadership and technical experience with the pre-acquisition phase of an IC and/or DoD space acquisition programs.
• Space operations experience in the areas of mission planning, satellite command & control, mission director, data processing & reporting, on-orbit anomaly resolution and/or exercising satellite control authority responsibilities (SIGINT systems Highly Desired).
• Experience working with International Partners.
• Demonstrated understanding and application of end-to-end NRO system engineering practices.
• Experience with launch vehicle organizations.
• Prior COTR experience in space system acquisition (space vehicle- or ground system-related).
• Proven ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, guide, develop and manage government personnel from multiple parent elements, to include technical and non-technical personnel at junior, middle and senior levels.
• Private sector profit/loss, mission/system architect or capture management experience with companies in the IC/Defense industry.
• Licenses and Certifications.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) License or Engineer-in-Training (EIT) designation
  • Program Management Institute - Program Management Professional (PMP)
  • International Council on Systems Engineering – Expert Systems Engineering Professional (ESEP)
  • International Information System Security Certification Consortium - Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
• Concentrations in one or both of the following are Highly Desired:
  • Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP-ISSAP)
  • Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (CISSP-ISSEP)

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
 

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: Position requires temporary duty (TDY) business travel to contractor and military sites CONUS and OCONUS approximately 25% of the time. Travel in military or commercial aircraft may be required in performance of temporary duty assignments. The incumbent must obtain and maintain a valid passport.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• DAWIA: This is a Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) position: Employees Grades 15 designated in Critical Acquisition Positions, must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the DAWIA within the designated grace period (Advanced-4 years) after accepting the position.
  • As a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP), unless specifically waived by the appropriate Component Official (i.e., the Director of Acquisition Career Management for the Component, the Service Acquisition Executive, or the Service Secretary) or if the employee is "grandfathered" under 10 U.S.C. 1736 (c) (1), the following are statutorily mandated requirements (Reference 10 U.S.C. 1733 and 1737).  
    • Employee must have 4 years of acquisition experience.
    • Employee must execute, as a condition of employment, a written tenure agreement to maintain in Federal Service in this position for at least three years. In signing such an agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
• Mobility: Mobility is a condition of employment.

Location

Chantilly, VA, 20151

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

Salary

This position may meet 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 range:

GG-14 $144,354 – $187,662. 

GG-15 $163,017 – $191,900. 

2024 salary range for the Washington D.C. area:

GG-14 $139,395 – $181,216. 

GG-15 $163,964 – $191,900. 

**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 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 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 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.
 

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

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.

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