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The United States Space Force (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC) at Kirtland Air Force Base is searching for a Branch Chief, Engineering Management (NH-1101-04, GS 14/15 equivalent).

Description:
The Program Manager will exercise supervisory responsibilities, dedicating at least 25% of their time to managing personnel. This includes planning work assignments, setting priorities, and preparing schedules for task completion. The incumbent will evaluate employee performance, provide guidance, and resolve complaints while identifying training needs to improve overall work quality.

In overseeing the program office, the Program Manager will plan, organize, and coordinate activities, managing a multi-disciplinary team of military, civilian, and contractor personnel. This role involves ensuring that collective efforts align with organizational goals and establishing or revising policies and procedures to enhance mission effectiveness and regulatory compliance.

Periodic assessments of program goals and objectives will be conducted to enhance management capabilities. The Program Manager will also implement acquisition reform initiatives aimed at reducing total ownership costs and meeting customer requirements.

Additionally, the Program Manager will represent the program office at higher organizational levels and with contractor organizations, establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Delivering presentations on program status, accomplishments, and requirements to senior military officers and civilians will be a key responsibility.

Collaboration with contracting officers on negotiations and contract terms will also be crucial, as the Program Manager will review programming documents for their implications on assigned programs.

The ideal candidate will play a vital role in supporting the United States Space Force (USSF) and the Department of Defense (DoD) by focusing on the sustainability and enhancement of global space weapon systems. The primary responsibility of the Program Manager is to serve as the focal point for logistics, maintenance, supply, and engineering processes, ensuring the operational readiness of military users and Space Force wings.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of the 56policies, practices, regulations, and laws concerning the acquisition management process and initiatives.
2. Knowledge of safety and security regulations, practices, and procedures.
3. Knowledge of the missions, roles, functions, organizational structures, and operation of the DoD, Space Force, and organizations that govern, interface with, and/or influence the acquisition process.
4. Skill to plan, organize, and direct the functions and staff in critical aspects of development and production, support of systems, subsystems, or equipment and to coordinate various aspects of systems acquisition such as engineering, contracting, financial management, configuration, test, and manufacturing.
5. Ability to supervise, mentor, motivate, appraise, and work with subordinate supervisors and non-supervisory employees.
6. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, clearly, concisely, with technical accuracy and to use computers and a variety of software programs and databases, gather and analyze a variety of program information, make sound judgments concerning program progress, and effectively communicate recommendations orally and in writing to higher organizational management and contractors.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility.
• May be required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• The employee must meet the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) requirements applicable to the duties of the position.
• This is a Critical Acquisition Position (CAP).
• Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
• Employee is required to attend annual ethics and procurement integrity training
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 20 days per year.
• PCS is not authorized. Incentive is not authorized.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed "unscheduled telework"

Qualifications

The 1101 series does not have an individual occupational requirement that must be met.

You can view the experience level requirements here. Please scroll down to the 3rd section titled Administrative and Management Positions.

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.