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Director Space Warfighting Analysis Center /Space Security & Defense Program

Department of the Air Force
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.

The primary purpose of this position is to serve as the Director, SWAC and SSDP, a dual-hatted executive position responsible for the direction and oversight of the SWAC and SSDP staff, programs, activities, and efforts.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
12/13/2023 to 01/19/2024
Salary
$141,022 to - $212,100 per year
Pay scale & grade
ES 00
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
50% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Senior Executive
Promotion potential
00
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
SAFMRL2023-55
Control number
765852700

Duties

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SWAC: Responsible to the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) to deliver future capability architectures
and Force Designs for all USSF Missions and is the primary support and principal advisor to the CSO in his role as the Space Force Design Architects for the DoD as defined by law. The Director, SWAC
develops force designs that integrate USSF capabilities with those provided by other DoD agencies, the Intelligence Community (IC), allies and commercial entities to drive key DoD decisions related to
requirements, budget, acquisition, operational concepts, tactics, policy, science, and technology (S&T), organizational constructs, and partnerships. Oversees the deliberate, iterative, and continuous process of physics based, technology discovery and analysis of operational concepts and technologies to inform future space capabilities and architectures and achieve a balance between operational requirements and performance, threat informed resiliency, and cost. The Director, SWAC coordinates directly, on behalf of the CSO, with congressional committees, the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, other Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and Joint Staff organizations, the Undersecretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition, Service Staffs, USSF Staff and Field Commands, and Combatant Commands on space system force design priorities, requirements, and key acquisition system parameters and interfaces. Additionally, Director, SWAC serves as the USSF lead for Title 10 service wargames for the purpose of developing future operating concepts, technical capabilities, and force designs to identify space warfighting policy considerations, requirements, and budget recommendations.

SSDP: Serves as the primary technical advisor for space survivability and protection issues to the
PDDNI and the DEPSECDEF. Reports to the Chief of Space Operations (CSO) and the Director,
National Reconnaissance Office (DNRO) for day-to-day management and direction as it relates to the mission to lead and collaborate on space protection vulnerability, susceptibility, and mitigation
assessments of NSS services for the purpose of introducing recommendations into existing requirements, budgeting, acquisition, and operational development processes. Synchronizes USSF and the NRO efforts to provide decision makers strategic recommendations on how to best protect space systems from adversary threats. The Director, SSDP provides recommendations and expert testimony to Deputy SECDEF, Deputy DNI, OSD staff, Service Staffs, USSF Staff and Field Commands, Combatant Commands, Congress, and the National Security Council on the impact of adversary counterspace weapons on US systems and the strategies, systems, and tactics required to defeat them. Produces high-fidelity assessment and simulation of adversary systems and US vulnerabilities to recommend and assess mitigation techniques across the entire spectrum of conflict to inform budget recommendations for USSF, DoD, NRO, and DNI as well as requirements for the development of new space systems and modifications to technical approaches for existing space programs. Supports strategic messaging strategies, national policy, as well as concept of operations (CONOPS) and tactics to defeat adversary weapons and systems through the execution of classified programs to develop ground and space prototypes to demonstrate the feasibility of concepts developed through analysis, reduce programmatic risk, demonstrate viability of different phenomenologies, and understand operational employment strategies for defensive and offensive systems.

The Director, SWAC and SSDP provides executive leadership, management, oversight, and direction to assigned personnel, assuring identification, execution, collaboration, coordination, and communication of critical space force designs, technologies, and acquisition; space survivability, protection and vulnerability, operational development, employment and mitigation techniques and strategies; space prototypes, policy considerations, requirements, budget, policies, and priorities. The Director, monitors and evaluates the progress of the organization towards meeting goals; and makes or recommends adjustment in objectives, work plans, schedules, and commits and adjusts resources as appropriate. As a senior civilian executive, participates in and/or chairs high-level meetings and leads strategic level briefings to the most senior level officials at the highest levels in government. Furthers the goals of equal employment opportunity (EEO) by taking positive steps to assure the accomplishment of affirmative action objectives and by adhering to nondiscriminatory employment practices regarding race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. citizenship is required
  • Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
  • Disclosure of Political Appointments
  • Mobility is a condition of employment and appointment for SES members will be required to sign a Reassignment Rights and Obligations Agreement
  • Selected candidate must file a Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
  • Position has been designated Special-Sensitive and the selectee must have or be able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance
  • Drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use IAW Exec. Order 12564, dated 14 Sep 86. Position requires that the incumbent sign a Drug Testing letter and pass urinalysis testing prior to appointment.
  • Position requires travel under conditions specified in the DoD Joint Travel Regulations. Incumbent is expected to travel on short notice to attend high-level meetings.
  • Position may require incumbent to be available for other than normal duty hours to include weekends to support exercises and crisis planning.
  • An initial SES career appointment becomes final only after the individual successfully completes a 1-year probationary period.
  • Attendance to the Air Force's Senior Leader Orientation Course (SLOC) is generally required within 12 months of appointment, subject to course availability.
  • Position may be subject to the post-government employment restrictions of Sections 207(a) and (f) of Title 18, United States Code.
  • Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants.
  • Organizational and geographical mobility is essential in developing and managing SES/DISES leaders; therefore, mobility is a condition of employment and appointed SES and DISES members will be required to sign a mobility agreement.

Qualifications

Eligibility will be based upon a clear showing the applicant has training, education and experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry-out the duties of the position. Candidates must exemplify the corporate perspective, leadership vision, broad experience and character needed in the SES corps not only to satisfy the immediate vacancy, but future vacancies which will occur in a variety of organizations, functions and locations.

A. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A professional engineering degree from an accredited institution is required. The General Engineering (0801) series requires: A professional engineering degree from an accredited institution. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics; (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits: (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics OR a combination of education and experience as required by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Acceptable combinations of education and experience can be found at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-dataoversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/allprofessional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

B. MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (MTQs - NTE 3 Pages Total): A supplemental statement must be submitted separately addressing each TQ. TQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience and accomplishments. Applicants should focus on recent experience, education, and training, as some Recruitment Panel and Executive Resources Board members may consider experience that's over 10 years old to be outdated. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following:

MTQ1. Demonstrated experience in understanding and developing the technical aspects of space architectures and their employment. Demonstrated understanding of the employment of different analytical techniques and M&S at the physics, engineering, and mission/scenario level to derive quantitative recommendations. Experience leading and collaborating across a broad base of highly technical and geographically diverse teams.

MTQ2. Demonstrated experience communicating the relationship between complex designs and strategic objectives to senior policy makers across the DoD and Intelligence Community. Understanding of messaging strategies to engage Congress, the White House, NSC, and other pertinent stakeholders to advocate for targeted policy alterations that bolster the development of capabilities essential to deterring potential threats. Demonstrated proficiency in articulating technical impediments to key decision-makers and establishing transparent communication channels across divergent communities in the DoD and IC.

MTQ3.Demonstrated understanding of the fiscal and operational dimensions of running a diverse and geographically dispersed organization with multiple stakeholders. Proficient in navigating the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process, and adept in budget execution methodologies, encompassing the creation of execution and expenditure plans, strategic contracting approaches, and other key initiatives essential for the organization to successfully fulfill its mission.

C. MANDATORY EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs - NTE 10 Pages Total): The ECQs describe the leadership skills needed to succeed in the Senior Executive Service (SES); they also reinforce the concept of an "SES corporate culture." Submit a supplemental statement of the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs listed below) in the challenge/context/action/result (C-C-A-R) model format as provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Guide to SES Qualifications. Applicants should focus on recent experience, education, and training, as some Recruitment Panel, Executive Resources Board, and or OPM Quality Review Board reviewers may consider experience that's over 10 years old to be outdated. [OPM's guidance in the Guide to Senior Executive Service Qualifications (Appendix B)]. Refer to the OPM Guide to SES Qualifications for specific information and guidance on the ECQ requirements, the C-C-A-R model, and examples of good qualifications statements located here.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE. This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE. This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN. This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN. This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification 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.

In addition, DoD requires an Enterprise Perspective. The individual must possess a broad point of view and an awareness and understanding of individual or organizational responsibilities in relation to DoD or government-wide strategic priorities. Executives should demonstrate ability to work with internal and external partners to support national security objectives. This perspective is typically gained through a variety of diverse work experiences. A separate narrative statement is not required--this information should be embedded within the application package [Resume (not to exceed 5 pages) and Technical Qualifications (not to exceed a combined total of 2 pages].

Education

1. A professional engineering degree from an accredited institution is required.
2. An advanced degree in engineering or a related professional field is highly desired.

Additional information

1. This is an acquisition coded position.

a. Selectee must meet Practitioner level certification requirements in Engineering and Technical Management (ETM) or must be able to meet Practitioner certification within 5 years (60 months) of assignment. This requirement is waiverable by the Service Acquisition Executive (SAE).

b. Selectee must have 4 years of relevant ETM experience with evidence of demonstrated proficiency in ETM competencies.

c. Selectee must meet 80 hours of continuous learning requirements within the designated timeframe (80 hours of continuing learning (CL) every 2 years (with a goal of engaging in 40 hours annually)).

2. Key Position: The duties of this position shall not be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the parent Federal Agency or office to function effectively. This position must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CANNOT become a member of the Ready Reserve. (IAW: DoDD 1200.7, "Screening the Ready Reserve,")

3. Emergency-Essential Position: This position is emergency-essential. In the event of a crisis situation, the incumbent, or designated alternate, must continue to perform the Emergency-Essential duties until relieved by proper authority. The incumbent or the designated alternate may be required to take part in readiness exercises. This position cannot be vacated during national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the organization to function effectively. This meets the criteria of an Emergency-Essential position and requires that the incumbent, or the designated alternate, be removed from any military recall status. Employee must sign DD Form 2365 as a condition of employment.

4. Veterans' Preference: Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

5. Relocation Authorized: Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is authorized in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).

6. Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be offered.

7. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.

8. Compensation: SES members are eligible for Performance-Based Salary increases and/or bonuses. This is a SES Career Reserved position and is assigned a precedence priority code of DV-4/ Lieutenant General, Tier 3 for protocol purposes.

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Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.

How you will be evaluated

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

Applications will be evaluated against the qualifications requirements. Failure to meet any one of the Mandatory Technical or Executive Core Qualifications standards will eliminate a candidate from further consideration.

Candidates will be evaluated for this position by a screening panel composed of a diverse mix of senior executives and/or general officers selected for organizational and/or functional backgrounds relevant to this position. The panel discusses each application and reaches consensus as to the Best Qualified, Qualified or Not Qualified candidates. Only the Best Qualified candidates will be interviewed. The panel will then make a recommendation of those Best Qualified candidates who should be referred to the selecting official, in priority order. Final selection is contingent upon the Air Force Executive Resources Board, the Secretary of the Air Force and if not a prior or current member of the SES corp, OPM Quality Review Board (QRB) Certification.

REMINDER: Before uploading your required PDF documents (Resume, Technical Qualification narrative), please ensure they DO NOT EXCEED the noted page limits.

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