The incumbent serves as the Director of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), reporting to the SMD Associate Administrator (AA). The incumbent is responsible for implementation of all MSR program activities, beginning with mission formulation and continuing through design, development, launch, and mission operations. The incumbent also assesses and evaluates the total flight program design, development, and operational activities.
Summary
The incumbent serves as the Director of the Mars Sample Return (MSR) Program within the Science Mission Directorate (SMD), reporting to the SMD Associate Administrator (AA). The incumbent is responsible for implementation of all MSR program activities, beginning with mission formulation and continuing through design, development, launch, and mission operations. The incumbent also assesses and evaluates the total flight program design, development, and operational activities.
Supports the SMD Associate Administrator (AA) and Director, Planetary Science Division (PSD) in the presentation of MSR to NASA senior management, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Congress, and other agencies and organizations.
Coordinates the establishment of MSR program-level requirements with the SMD AA and the Director, Planetary Science Division (PSD). Develops plans to support all MSR program activities.
Manages the review, evaluation, and assessment of all MSR mission implementation activities by supporting the Centers (e.g., design, development, test, launch, and mission operations).
Provides objective oversight and insight of projects to increase the likelihood of mission success through checks and balances separate from institutional and technical authorities.
Organizes, controls, directs, and approves program and project plans; and leads formulation/implementation activities for MSR projects according to NPR 7120.5E. Oversees all portfolio level risks.
Establishes detailed budgets for MSR mission formulation, flight system mission developments, and mission operations. Coordinates funding and implements contracts for missions, boards, and studies.
Provides objective oversight and insight of projects to increase the likelihood of mission success through checks and balances that are separate from institutional and technical authorities.
Serves as the primary point of contact with Headquarter offices, government agencies, international space organizations, and center management in all programmatic matters relating to MSR activities.
A financial disclosure statement is required upon appointment into the SES.
Occasional travel may be required
First time SES appointees are subject to a one-year probationary period.
Qualifications
Technical Qualifications:
1. Demonstrated skill in strategic formulation and development of space flight programs in complex environments involving multiple international, commercial, governmental, and community collaborators and stakeholders.
2. Demonstrated experience executing end-to-end space flight mission development including design, program/project management, and oversight.
3. Demonstrated experience in executing spaceflight programs and projects within financial, schedule, and policy constraints.
To qualify, candidates must have the skill and ability to perform the duties described above as demonstrated by progressively responsible supervisory/managerial experience, normally with several years at the GS-15 level or equivalent, which demonstrates clearly the ability to manage people and resources. Candidates must also demonstrate qualifications in the managerial and technical areas noted below. See the SES Handbook and NASA's Guide to Effectively Preparing Executive Core Qualifications for more information. IMPORTANT: CANDIDATES MUST FULLY ADDRESS ALL ITEMS UNDER EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS AS WELL AS ALL ITEMS UNDER TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU COMPLETE YOUR ANSWERS OFF-LINE IN ADVANCE OF BEGINNING THE APPLICATION PROCESS, SO THAT YOU CAN INSERT THEM INTO THE ELECTRONIC FORM. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT SAVED. EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS:1. Leading Change - Involves the ability to bring about strategic change, within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment. 2. Leading People - Involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organizations vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. 3. Results Driven - Involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks. 4. Business Acumen - Involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically. 5. Building Coalitions - Involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.
Education
Basic Education Requirement: A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science. Degrees in engineering technology are not considered to be qualifying for this position.
Additional information
To receive consideration, you must submit a resume and answer NASA-specific questions. The NASA questions appear after you submit your resume and are transferred to the NASA web site. If you successfully apply, USAJOBS will show your application status as 'Received'. If your status is 'Application Status Not Available', you have not successfully applied. Do not rely on a USAJOBS email to confirm successful application. Only an email from NASA confirms a successful application.
Any applicant tentatively selected for this position may be required to undergo a pre-employment background investigation. This announcement is for a career appointment to a position in the NASA Senior Executive Service (SES). Persons entering the SES for the first time are subject to a one-year probationary period. A financial disclosure statement is required upon appointment into the SES. This statement will be used to avoid conflicting situations in employment through advice and counseling. Your USAJOBS account asks you to assign a name to each of your resumes. When you apply to a NASA position, we will show you the text of the resume you have submitted, but we do not maintain the name you have assigned to that resume. If you wish to keep track of that information, we recommend you make note of it at the time you apply.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Applicants will be evaluated by an Executive Resources Panel based on the managerial and technical qualification requirements stated in this announcement. Eligible candidates will be placed in qualified and highly-qualified categories. Interviews, and qualification and suitability inquiries may be requested. The highly-qualified will be referred to the appropriate official who will recommend selection.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
NASA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. In order to apply for this position, you need to submit your resume and answer the screening questions and supplemental information. You must also respond to both the Executive Core Qualifications (Managerial Qualifications) and the Technical Qualifications. No additional documentation is accepted at the time of application. In this way we allow you to focus on preparing a resume that best describes your background and abilities. For assistance in preparing your resume, consult the Applicant Guide. Nothing further is required unless we make you an employment offer. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, we may ask you to provide academic transcripts or proof of Federal employment status. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may use that as a basis for withdrawing our employment offer.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
In order to be considered, you must submit a resume completed on the USAJOBS site. When completing your USAJOBS resume, please remember that NASA limits resumes to the equivalent of approximately 32,000 characters (including spaces). You will not be allowed to complete the application process if your resume is too long.
If you are a current career member of the SES, or have reinstatement eligibility based on prior service under a career SES appointment, you do not need to address the Executive Core Qualifications. We also recommend that you take some time to carefully prepare these documents, especially your Executive Core Qualifications. Helpful information can be found here.
Once you submit your resume to NASA, you will be asked to provide additional information, including narrative statements about your managerial and technical qualifications. Responses to the Executive Core Qualifications questions may not exceed 32,200 characters. Responses to technical qualifications are also limited to 32,200 characters. Because your answers will not be saved until you complete the entire application, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN A SEPARATE TEXT DOCUMENT AND INSERT THEM INTO THE ON-LINE FORM. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT SAVED. Do NOT include your answers in the body of your USAJOBS resume, since they will be asked separately.
If you are unable to apply electronically, how to send hard copy resumes and additional requirements are provided at: Hard Copy Resume Requirements.
If you are a first time applicant, we recommend you review NASA's Applicant Guide to ensure you are providing a complete resume. Failure to submit the supplemental data and a resume that contains all of the required information may result in loss of consideration for positions in which you are interested. All applications must be received no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
NASA's Resume Operations Center
4200 Rideout Road, Mailstop HS50
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
US
Next steps
Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the individual identified in the Contact section.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
NASA's application process has been specifically developed to ensure that we only ask you for the information we absolutely need to evaluate your qualifications and eligibility. In order to apply for this position, you need to submit your resume and answer the screening questions and supplemental information. You must also respond to both the Executive Core Qualifications (Managerial Qualifications) and the Technical Qualifications. No additional documentation is accepted at the time of application. In this way we allow you to focus on preparing a resume that best describes your background and abilities. For assistance in preparing your resume, consult the Applicant Guide. Nothing further is required unless we make you an employment offer. At that point, we may ask you to submit documentation to support statements made in your resume. For example, we may ask you to provide academic transcripts or proof of Federal employment status. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may use that as a basis for withdrawing our employment offer.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
In order to be considered, you must submit a resume completed on the USAJOBS site. When completing your USAJOBS resume, please remember that NASA limits resumes to the equivalent of approximately 32,000 characters (including spaces). You will not be allowed to complete the application process if your resume is too long.
If you are a current career member of the SES, or have reinstatement eligibility based on prior service under a career SES appointment, you do not need to address the Executive Core Qualifications. We also recommend that you take some time to carefully prepare these documents, especially your Executive Core Qualifications. Helpful information can be found here.
Once you submit your resume to NASA, you will be asked to provide additional information, including narrative statements about your managerial and technical qualifications. Responses to the Executive Core Qualifications questions may not exceed 32,200 characters. Responses to technical qualifications are also limited to 32,200 characters. Because your answers will not be saved until you complete the entire application, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS IN A SEPARATE TEXT DOCUMENT AND INSERT THEM INTO THE ON-LINE FORM. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS ARE NOT SAVED. Do NOT include your answers in the body of your USAJOBS resume, since they will be asked separately.
If you are unable to apply electronically, how to send hard copy resumes and additional requirements are provided at: Hard Copy Resume Requirements.
If you are a first time applicant, we recommend you review NASA's Applicant Guide to ensure you are providing a complete resume. Failure to submit the supplemental data and a resume that contains all of the required information may result in loss of consideration for positions in which you are interested. All applications must be received no later than midnight Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.
NASA's Resume Operations Center
4200 Rideout Road, Mailstop HS50
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
US
Next steps
Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the individual identified in the Contact section.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
