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

The Communications Systems Directorate (COMM) is the largest directorate in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) employing more than 4,000+ personnel worldwide, and currently has the second largest budget. Our teams are responsible for the installation, maintenance, performance, and security of the NRO’s network architecture and information technology (IT) infrastructure. The COMM workforce supports every NRO mission, business, and enterprise function. COMM creates products, service, and capabilities that are essential to every NRO mission, business, and enterprise function. Warfighters, Intelligence Community (IC) partners, and key senior decision-makers need overhead intelligence to accomplish their missions. COMM directly enables the collection, transmission, and process of this valuable intelligence.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Full Performance Level (GG-13), COMM Mission Manager, occupational series 2210. 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 April 5, 2023 to April 19, 2023. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on April 19, 2023.

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

• Participates in project teams in advanced information systems technology efforts. Participates in a variety of work groups. Collaborates on the evaluation, development and recommendations of modification/approval on standards. Prepares studies and other papers and briefs a wide range of audiences including top management. Engages in study projects to recommend standards solutions to complex architecture and systems engineering requirements.
• Provides direct support to the development of integrated agency-wide transition strategies, plans, and actions plans to ensure that key DoD and agency standards are implemented in support of agreed upon DoD information architectures.
• Works within project teams to identify opportunities to improve enterprise-level systems to support business processes and utilize emerging technologies. Employs secure configuration management processes. Formulates and conducts study projects to recommend solutions to architecture and systems engineering requirements. Documents and updates as necessary all definition and architecture activities.
• Provides management officials and operating personnel technical advice on current technology and policy and its impact on current and long-range programs. Participates in conferences and committees on matters pertaining to computer requirements, application, and techniques. Keeps abreast of new technology and emerging government and industry best practices and determines extent of possible application and usage.
• Researches and studies reports and technical journals to determine and keep abreast of state-of-the-art information systems technology and trends which influence revision or development of new communication and automation techniques. Recommends methods of enhancing efficiency of information systems through modification and application of evolving technology. Supports the implementation of Department of Defense and NRO-level guidance for major information systems programs.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What You Need

• Comprehensive knowledge of technical and functional operation of IT systems to effect changes to existing systems by applying state-of-the-art technology.
• Knowledge of agency mission, objectives, terminology, and management practices to recognize probable areas of interaction and overlap between proposed applications and existing systems.
• Working knowledge of national and international laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as they relate to cybersecurity.
• Demonstrated skill in analyzing, formulating, and recommending policies, procedures, and processes. Highly developed oral and written communication skills necessary to work with a wide variety of personnel, including the executive level. Skill applying knowledge to highly complex projects and adopting innovative methods and approaches to generate solutions to highly technical software process problems.
• Comprehensive knowledge of operating systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to apply local area and wide area networking principles and concepts including bandwidth management.
• Skill in applying most of the following: interrelationships of multiple IT specialties; the agency's IT architecture; new IT developments and applications; emerging technologies and their applications to business processes; IT security concepts, standards, and methods; project management principles, methods, and practices, including developing plans and schedules, estimating resource requirements, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring activities, and evaluating and reporting on accomplishments; and oral and written communication techniques.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related function (software engineer, information technology, cybersecurity, systems and network engineers, etc.)
• Extensive knowledge and background on NRO, IC and DoD policy and management.
• Extensive knowledge of Intelligence Community laws, principles, and practices.

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

• Security Clearance Requirement: Position is designated, Critical-Sensitive. The incumbent must be able to obtain and retain a TOP SECRET security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmental Information (TS/SCI) and NRO access to perform the duties and responsibilities of this position.
• Polygraph: Employee is subject to initial and periodic Counterintelligence Polygraphs.
• Drug Testing: This is a drug testing designated position. As such, the employee is subject to initial and random drugtesting for drug use.
• DAWIA: This is a Defense Acquisition Work Improvement Act (DAWIA) position: Employees Grades 13 designated in Non-Critical Acquisition Positions, must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the DAWIA within the designated grace period (Advanced-4 years) after accepting the position. Employee shall maintain a minimum of 80 Continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system.

DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University (DAU) website at the following link: http://icatalog.dau.mil/onlinecatalog/CareerLvl.aspx

• Overtime Statement: The employee 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: Incumbent is required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Chantilly, VA

Salary

2023 salary range for the Washington, DC area:

GG-13: $112,015– $145,617

**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-13 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.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974

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