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Senior Technical Leader, Launch Director, Launch Services Program

National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John F. Kennedy Space Center
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Senior Technical Leader, Launch Director, Launch Services Program (LSP), is responsible to the Manager, LSP, at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for the general management and direction of Commercial Launch Service launches and related activities.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 02/07/2023
Closed date: 02/22/2023
Location
Work site options
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$141,022 - $202,085 per year
Pay scale & grade
SL 00
Promotion potential
None
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
KSC-23-SL-11825291
Control number
704464800

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration for this position is open to current NASA civil service employees on career, career conditional, or NASA term appointments with conversion eligibility. A person is considered to be in the civil service only if occupying a civil service position at the time of application.

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Duties

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The Senior Technical Leader, Launch Director, Launch Services Program:

  • Acts on behalf of Program Management as a decision-maker in Agency Flight Planning Boards, executive program management reviews with Department of Defense, and Chief Executive Officer reviews with the Launch Services Contractor.
  • Provides leadership to the spacecraft and Launch Vehicle teams to plan, safely process and launch commercial launch vehicles at different launch sites, meeting all processing, manifest, and mission requirements.
  • Serves as the highest NASA authority for NASA missions launching on commercial launch vehicles, communicating the entire NASA team's final go/no go launch instruction to the contractor.
  • Ensures the readiness of the vehicle and spacecraft for launch by chairing or participating in multiple reviews, including the Flight and Launch Readiness Reviews for NASA and for the United States Space Force (USSF) Range.
  • Provides the Program and Agency interface to the USSF 45th and 30th Delta Wings for launch scheduling requirements for NASA and to the Current Launch Scheduling Review Board chaired by USSF.
  • Serves as the primary interface with NASA Headquarters officials in the Science, Exploration, and Space Operations Mission directorates in discussions of schedule constraints and manifesting options for robotic missions.
  • Provides programmatic guidance to the launch service contractors in areas such as the NASA launch readiness process, manifest policies, and strategic partnerships.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report' (OGE-278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
  • Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
  • Successful completion of random drug screening may be required.
  • Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Qualifications

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

Candidates must be a recognized subject matter expert with at least 1 year of directly related experience equivalent to the GS-15 level in launch vehicle manifesting policies and processes and in commercial launch vehicle processing and launch activities, including providing launch requirements/instructions for launch countdown and providing on console final go/no-go decision for launch. Must have demonstrated ability to analyze, manage and direct activities through the launch campaign life cycle of commercial launch vehicles; lead a multi-disciplined team of launch vehicle, spacecraft, and launch range experts; and chair reviews culminating in certification of flight readiness for launch.

Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement, or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you MUST address each Senior Level (SL) Evaluation Criteria separately not to exceed a total of ten (10) pages. If you fail to do so, your application will be rated ineligible. Please cite experience directly related to the specialized experience requirements (outlined above) when addressing the SL evaluation criteria #2 (Technical Excellence and Contributions) and SL evaluation criteria #5 (Corporate Cooperation and Technical Leadership Skills). For the full definition of the SL Evaluation Criteria and Process please click here. Please include your full name on all documents submitted.

SL EVALUATION CRITERIA:

1. Education Level and Training

2. Technical Excellence and Contributions
a. Experience/Accomplishments
b. Technical and Strategic Problem Solving
c. Information Transfer

3. Awards and Recognition

4. Outside Professional Activities

5. Corporate Cooperation and Technical Leadership Skills

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, and college/university.

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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Additional information

Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement. You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants that meet minimum eligibility requirements outlined in the Qualifications and Education (if applicable) sections of the vacancy announcement will be referred to a panel of subject matter experts for further evaluation. The panel reviews the resumes and responses to the SL evaluation criteria as related to the specialized experience for this position. The panel evaluates the candidates' experience against each SL criterion. Candidates may receive an interview for further evaluation and/or be asked to provide a list of references. The panel will make a recommendation to the appropriate approving authority.

John F. Kennedy Space Center

At NASA, we are united by a common purpose: to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown for the benefit of humankind. Our diverse set of engineering, scientific, aeronautics and space exploration missions are leaving an enduring impact on humanity. As our missions grow more complex, we will rely on leaders with vision, creativity, and programmatic and technical expertise to lead us into the new era of exploration. In addition to programmatic knowledge, NASA's strong leadership cadre also plays a vital role in empowering our diverse workforce to achieve our shared goals. At NASA, the key to our success is our people. Join us and contribute to work that matters, while helping us create and sustain an environment that fosters excellence, teamwork, inclusiveness, safety and integrity. Align your talents with your passion, and find out why NASA is consistently named a best place to work in the federal government. Join us as we explore the extraordinary, every day.

Agency contact information

NASA Executive Staffing
Email
Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov
Address
Kennedy Space Center
Space Commerce Way
Titusville, FL 32899
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at John F. Kennedy Space Center, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://www.nasa.gov/careers

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