WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at nro.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Federal Employee Vaccination Requirement

To ensure compliance with nationwide COVID-19 vaccine protocols, please visit NRO Apply Now to review the latest guidance.

Where You Will Work

The Mission Support Career Field includes positions from a wide range of functional areas, including Human Resources, Equal Employment, Public Affairs/Communication, and Office Administration. Currently, the NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for aspiring professionals for our entry level Developmental (GG 7-9) program supporting our Mission Support Career Field, occupational series 0201, 0340, and 0301. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

This is a full time position. Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.

What You Will Be Doing

Developmental employees will receive training and guidance to prepare them to support the full performance level duties as listed below:

• Specific instructional guidance and a specific formal development plan to enable the individual to progressively perform increasingly technically complex assignments and tasks with more responsibility and less guidance.
• On-the-job training in providing professional advice on issues affecting the NRO.
• Formal training on how to originate new and improve existing applications and strategies for program specific concepts theories, and principles that affect day to day operations
• Instructional guidance on making decisions to resolve specific issues and problems while considering different, incomplete and often conflicting information and alternatives.
• Diverse training in various mission areas including human resources, accounting, and supporting program initiatives and/or operations.
• Pursuing full performance target level of GG-12 duties.

At the full performance level (GG-12), Mission Support Officer duties include:

Human Resources:

• Reviewing and evaluating organizational activities and advises management regarding the accomplishments and evaluation of program goals.
• Responsible for administering and effective and efficient Federal Human Resources management program in the areas of staffing, recruitment and placement, security and suitability, benefits, performance management, employee relations, and training and development.
• Planning and assigning work to subordinates, setting and adjusting priorities, and establishing deadlines. Developing performance standards, evaluating work performance, and hearing and resolving complaints from staff members.

Equal Employment:

• Providing advice and assistance to management officials, supervisors, and employees to advise them of their roles and responsibilities for EEO, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and directives
• Providing technical advice concerning resolution of complaints of discrimination to managers and employees to eliminate real or perceived prejudice or discrimination from workplace policies, practices, and working conditions.
• Addressing confidential, complex, and extremely sensitive employment issues relating to EEO, Civil Rights, and Diversity.
• Supervising, managing, and directing the work of an administrative and technical staff engaged in the full range of investigative and compliance functions of sensitive and complex EEO cases involving both DOL employees and applicants for employment.
• Determining resource requirements and allocation of same, formulates long-range and annual office budgetary requests, justifications, and staffing patterns.

Public Affairs/Communication:

• Writing news releases, media advisories, Tweets, key messages, talking points or other media communications to convey information to identified audiences.
• Overseeing the development of communication strategies and the implementation of strategies to support the agency’s messages.
• Researching, writing, reviewing, coordinating and editing material proposed for public release to ensure accuracy, clarity, completeness, timeliness, and consistency with NRO policies.
• Strengthening NRO’s brand equity across the Intelligence Community (IC) and in the public domain to elevate the organization's presence.

Office Administration:

• Directing and orchestrating meetings/conferences to ensure goals are achieved; follow-on actions are completed; and coordinate with organizational staff on major and sensitive issues.
• Developing solutions to problems, providing consultation and advice on issues and options.
• Regularly advising senior management official on complex, sensitive (highly), and controversial issues which may impact or shape the direction of the program.

What You Need

• Desired: a Bachelor’s Degree in a related occupation (human resources, business, communications, program or project management, etc.).
• If qualifying on experience, applicants must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job or through coursework, but will clearly be reflected in your resume.

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: May be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: May be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: May be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions are deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Chantilly, VA

Salary

2023 Salary Range for Washington DC Area:

GG-07: $53,105- $69,035. A Bachelor’s in a related occupation is qualifying for this level.

GG-09: $64,957 - $84,441. A Master’s degree in a related occupation is qualifying for this level.

**This position is an Entry Level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, Federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG 7-9 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil.

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974

7Of7E1flDp