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Senior Strategic Advisor

Department of Defense
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Office of the Under Secretary of War for Chief Information Officer (OUSW(CIO))

Summary

This position is located in the Department of War, Office of the Secretary of War, DoW Chief Information Office (CIO), Workforce Innovation Directorate (WID). The WID oversees the creation and maintenance of cybersecurity policies and strategies consistent with DoW CIO's objectives and national policy and is also responsible for the design and implementation of the DoW Cyber Excepted Service personnel system, cyber human resources policies, and cyber human capital strategy.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/11/2026 to 03/16/2026
Salary
$169,279 to - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 15
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Alexandria, VA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
ST-12899081-26-AR
Control number
860586100

Duties

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This position is a DoD Cyber Excepted Service (CES) personnel system position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1599f. For more information on the Cyber Excepted Service Personnel System, click here

If you are a current Federal Career/Career-Conditional employee, you will be placed on an Excepted appointment.


Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following:

  • Oversees programs to shape the future of the cyber workforce by leading talent forecasting efforts, building robust pipelines through strategic partnerships (e.g., with Federal, DoW, academia, industry), and designing tailored programs to retain our most valuable experts.
  • Provides advice and guidance to resolve, implement, or manage program or policy issues involving major areas of uncertainty in approach or methodology.
  • Makes major recommendations and decisions related to policy formulation and long-range planning in connection with prospective changes in functions and programs.
  • Develops and execute strategic communication plans to build consensus and advance national cyber workforce initiatives, influencing key stakeholders from academia, industry, and government.
  • Translates complex analyses and strategic goals into a comprehensive Cyber Workforce Strategic Plan and Implementation Plan, driving the coordination, publication, and communication efforts to ensure its successful adoption across the enterprise.
  • Conducts budgetary oversight; performs long-range planning and management of substantive grant and/or cooperative agreement programs where precedents are scarce or there are large gaps in program guidelines.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/Home/Registration)
  • A three year probationary period may be required if not previously completed a trial or probationary period in the excepted or competitive service.
  • Required to participate in the direct deposit program
  • This position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing
  • This position is being recruited under 10 USC 1599f into the Cyber Excepted Service and does NOT convey eligibility to be converted to the Competitive Service.
  • Position has been designated as Special Sensitive. Incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be offered.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must meet the requirements described below.

You may qualify at the GG 15 level, if you fulfill the following qualification requirement:
One year of qualifying experience equivalent to the GG 14 (or equivalent) level performing 1) Performing strategic-level policy analysis and program oversight for complex, mission oriented programs; 2) Developing, interpreting, or implementing policies or guidance impacting organizational or enterprise-level operations; and 3) Conducting program evaluation and performance analysis, providing senior leadership advisory support, and managing or overseeing budgetary resources in support of program objectives.


Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

All qualifications requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement and clearly documented in your resume.
Your resume may not exceed two (2) pages
. For qualifications determinations, it is recommended that applicants include their months and hours worked per week for each employment listed on their resume. If a determination is not able to be made about the duration of your creditable experience for qualification requirements, you will be removed from consideration.

Read more about what should I include in my federal resume at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include

ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: Federal agencies treat active duty service member as veterans, disabled veterans, and preference eligible, when they submit, as part of their application package, a "certification" of active service in lieu of a DD-214, indicating the service member is otherwise eligible and will be discharged or released within 120 days from the date of submission.. A "certification" letter should be on letterhead of the appropriate military branch of the service and contain (1) the military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and (2) the character of service. This "certification" must include your rank, dates of active duty service, type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable), and date any terminal leave will begin. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters. Active duty members that fail to provide a valid "certification" of service with their initial application will be found "not eligible". Members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if they are on terminal leave.

Education

There is no substitution of education for the qualifying experience at the GG-15 grade level.




Additional information

Probationary Periods: New appointees in CES may be required to serve a 3 year probationary period.

Because this position is in the Cyber Excepted Service, Veterans' Preference will be applied to preference eligible candidates, as defined by Section 2108 of the Title 5 U.S.C. in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 3005, "CES Employment and Placement." If you are a veteran claiming veteran's preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package.


Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application. Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: whs.job.application.assistance@mail.mil

Reemployed Annuitants: 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 (DODI 1400.25, volume 300). http://www.esd.whs.mil/DD/DoD-Issuances/140025/

Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level. If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office.

Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.

Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on a review of your resume and supporting documents by a panel of subject matter experts. The panel will assess your experience relative to the required competencies for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • Budget Execution
  • Decision Making
  • Oral and Written Communication
  • Oral Communication
  • Program Planning, Review and Evaluation



DOD PPP candidates using Application-Based Procedures:

Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: Military Spouse Preference applicants, must be selected and placed at the highest grade level for which they have applied and been determined best qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-4) dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for Military Spouse Preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-3) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician preference.

Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technicians Receiving Disability Retirement PPP Eligible: MR and NG technicians receiving disability retirement PPP applicants must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-2) to verify your eligibility for Military Reserve and National Guard Technician Disability preference.

Retained Grade PPP Eligible: Retained Grade PPP applicants, must be selected and placed at the full performance level if determined well qualified. You must include a completed copy of the Retained Grade PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD-3145-1) to verify your eligibility for Retained Grade preference.

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