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Joint Planning Subject Matter Expert, S4S

Department of the Air Force
United States Space Force Components
United States Space Force / Headquarters / S4S

Summary

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Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/06/2026 to 04/13/2026
Salary
$103,316 - $159,716 per year

Salary is dependent upon duty location, grade, step and locality pay. Equivalent to GS 12/13 Equivalent.

Pay scale & grade
NH 3
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Vandenberg AFB, CA
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Top Secret
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
SF-FY26-6K-NH-301-3-SPLASH
Control number
864061200

Videos

Duties

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The United States Space Force (USSF) at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA is searching for a Joint Planning Subject Matter Expert to support S4S (NH-0301-03, GS-12/13 equivalent).

Description:
United States Space Forces-Space (S4S) at Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB), CA is searching for a well-qualified candidate to fill the Operations Support Specialist position for 3-star Headquarters staff. Come join our amazing team as we Protect, Defend, Deliver, and Connect together!

As an Operations Support Specialist, will serve as a Joint Planning Subject Matter Expert (JP-SME), advising the S4S/S3, Director of Operations, and charged with analyzing, evaluating, and developing recommendations in order to resolve complicated problems at the operational-level as related to terrestrial and space-based activities that operate in, from, and to space in United States Space Command's area of responsibility.


Ideal Candidate:
As a Joint Planning Subject Matter Expert (JP-SME), applies a wide-ranging space operations Subject Matter Expertise to specific problem sets, analyzing, evaluating, and developing recommendations in order to resolve complicated problems at the operational level in support of United States Space Command operations.



Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Shall have in-depth knowledge with a minimum of three (3) years of relevant work experience directly related to the broad spectrum of space operations. This may be fulfilled by various experiences in (a) Missile Warning and Tracking, (b) Satellite Communications and Satellite Control, (c) Space Domain Awareness, (d) Position, Navigation, and Timing, (e) Space Control Electromagnetic Warfare, (f) Space-Based Sensing and Targeting, (g) Spacelift and Launch Range Control, (h) Cyberspace, (i) Intelligence, (j) Human Spaceflight Safety, (k) Orbital Warfare, and (l) dedicated Command and Control/Battle Management. Combined Space Operations Center (CSpOC), Missile Warning Center (MWC), Joint Overhead Persistent Infrared Center (JOPC), Joint Navigation Warfare Center (JNWC), National Space Defense Center (NSDC), Intelligence, or sister service planning operations may also be used to meet some, but not all, the prerequisite years of experience.
2. Shall have working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel products in order to develop and present professional technical and management presentations, and documents at all levels.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen.
  • PCS and Incentives funding is available.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain Top-Secret security clearance.
  • Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
  • May be required travel away from the normal duty station on military or commercial aircraft.
  • May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
  • Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "Unscheduled Telework"
  • Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
  • This position has been designated for drug testing. Incumbent is subject to random urinalysis testing as a condition of employment.
  • Desired - not required: Inter-agency Language Round-table scale of 2 "Limited Working Proficiency" (can handle most routine situations) for French, or German, or Italian, or Japanese, or Korean, or Norwegian, or Spanish.
  • Incumbents on this position may need to be removed from their military recall status if alternatives for filling the position during an emergency are not available.

Qualifications

The 0301 series does not have an individual occupational requirement that must be met. You can view the experience level requirements here.

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

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.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies as related to the series and grade of the position being filled. Final qualifications determinations will be assessed based on OPM's General Schedule Qualifications Standards found here:

Interviews: You will be contacted by e-mail and/or telephone if your application is identified as qualifying for a position being filled. An interview may be conducted. If interviewed, you will be asked to address the same knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies used to initially qualify your application for the position.

United States Space Force Components

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) will be used to form a pool of qualified applicants who will be considered for direct hire vacancies as they become available.

To learn more about the United States Space Force Mission click here

Agency contact information

US Space Force Enterprise Talent Management
Email
HQ.USSF.TalentAcquisition@spaceforce.mil
Address
USSF - United States Space Force Components
1670 Space Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
US

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Learn more about what it's like to work at United States Space Force Components, what the agency does, and about the types of careers this agency offers.

https://spaceforce.com

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