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

• 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

Federal Employee Vaccination Requirement

To ensure compliance with nationwide COVID-19 vaccine protocols, please visit NRO Apply Now to review the latest guidance.

Where You Will Work

Are you a negotiator? Do you enjoy managing or overseeing complex legal agreements or contracts? Are you a finance, accounting, business or economics professional looking for an exciting challenge? Does managing and overseeing multi-million dollar acquisition and procurement contracts for reconnaissance satellite systems to ensure the safety and security of the United States interest you? Does a career with an “out of this world” mission sound intriguing?

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Senior Level Acquisition Program Management Officers, occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

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 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.

What You Will Be Doing

• Lead activities with functional specialists, including contracting, engineering, manufacturing program control, configuration/data management, test, and logistics and operations support.
• Manage cost, schedule, and performance of complex contracts to develop, deliver, and sustain overhead reconnaissance systems, including spacecraft hardware, ground and communication components, and mission software applications.
• Provide authoritative recommendations, briefings, and other formal and informal feedback and status to management on all aspects.
• Provide input in source selection and assessing contractor performance during all acquisition phases, including operations.
• Collaborate with senior contract officers on complex contract awards and ensures program objectives are achieved within stringent cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements.
• Oversee identification and implementation of risk management strategies for large-scale program to address areas of concerns or potential gaps.
• Direct, coordinate, and oversee work through subordinate supervisors (when applicable).
• Apply systems engineering principles, techniques, services, and practices at the appropriate level of the architecture to ensure a disciplined approach to meeting intelligence needs with NRO systems.

What You Need

• A Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree in a related occupation (Management, Engineering, Science, etc.) is qualifying for this level and is highly desirable, or you may qualify based on experience. Applicant must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position.
• Membership in the Defense Acquisition Corps (DAC) is required for this position.*NOTE: Specific requirements for DAC membership eligibility are as follows:
  • Baccalaureate degree from an accredited education institution and ONE of the following:
  • 24 semester credit hours from among the following disciplines: accounting, business, finance, law, contracts, purchasing, economics, industrial management, marketing, quantitative methods, and organization and management.
  • 24 semester credit hours in the person’s career fields and 12 semester credit hours in the disciplines listed above. Credit hours within the person’s career field may also satisfy the requirement for part or all of the 12 credit hours in the disciplines listed above. The same hours may be used to meet both requirements.
  • 24 semester credit hours in the person’s career filed and training equivalent (American Council on Education recommended credits) to 12 semester credit hours in the disciplines listed above.

• Employee must meet, or be capable of meeting, the Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the position. The incumbent in this position will be required to obtain and maintain a DAWIA Level III certification in primary specialty within 24 months of assignment to position. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.

• 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 in NI 40-1-1. If appointed as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), employee must attend the NRO Acquisition COTR training in NI 40-1-1.

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: 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 are deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Various NRO locations.

Salary

2022 salary range for the Washington, DC area:

GG-14: $126,233 – $164,102

GG-15: $148,484 – $176,300

**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. 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.

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.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974

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