DIRECTOR OF CENTER FOR DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY & FUTURE WARFARE Job in Fort McNair, DC

Vacancy No. NDU-12598812-25-EB Department National Defense University
Salary $172,433.00 to $195,933.00 Grade 5 to 5
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 11/4/2024 Close Date 11/25/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Fort McNair, DC


Summary

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world.

This is a Title 10 Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment is not to exceed 3 years with the possibility for extension.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens.

Duties

1. Program Planning and Leadership. The Director, Center for Disruptive Technology and Future Warfare (CDTFW), reports to the INSS Director. He/she leads and manages CDTFW research, operations, budget, and personnel. The incumbent assures that CDTFW's research is methodologically rigorous, cutting-edge, and impactful. He/she develops and manages research and academic initiatives related to disruptive technology and future warfare and helps to effectively disseminate publications and research products to relevant DoD and U.S. government stakeholders to ensure the strongest reach and impact. The incumbent leads, manages, and coordinates across the NDU academic and research enterprise, as well as with DoD and interagency stakeholder organizations. He/she creates and maintains working relationships with Department of Defense stakeholders, as well as relevant think tank, academic, and private sector actors.

The incumbent's focus and responsibilities in leading and managing a center that produces cutting-edge impactful research on disruptive technology and the implications for defense and national security policy and strategy include the following:

  • Conducts and supervises cutting edge research on disruptive technology and future warfare, to include artificial intelligence, autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, and assesses their impact on defense and national strategy and policy.
  • Supports JPME at NDU through teaching, guest lecturing, developing curricula, mentoring students, and/or supporting academic programs with the aim of developing and preparing students for their roles as national security leaders in an unpredictable and complex world.
  • Develops and implements initiatives that enhance the reach and impact of INSS research for DOD stakeholders and the larger national security enterprise.
  • Interacts with senior leaders at DoD and other USG agencies, as well as with private and public academic and research institutions to develop research partnerships and other shared research/publication initiatives.
  • Engages stakeholders within the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and other DOD agencies regarding research projects and directed studies. This may include engagement and initiatives with U.S. allies and partners, as directed.
  • Supports JPME at NDU through teaching, guest lecturing, developing curricula, mentoring students, and/or supporting academic programs with the aim of developing and preparing students for their roles as national security leaders in an unpredictable and complex world.
2. Resource Management and Development. Acts as a fiscal steward of public funds and sustains a relevant business model that aligns with the NDU-INSS mission, increased economic challenges, and fiscal oversight. The incumbent oversees all budget and programming activities and determines the need for budget, manpower, and other resource changes in coordination with the INSS Director and INSS Dean of Administration based on current and long-term stakeholder priorities. The Director collaborates with other INSS Center directors to plan and execute Center priorities and activities.

3. Personnel Management and EEO. As Director of CDTFW, the incumbent directs a staff of Research Fellows and ensures that Center hiring actions and/or contracts are managed in a timely manner and comply with regulation to best support the NDU-INSS mission. The incumbent is responsible for planning, programming, and directing staff activities; assigning functions and responsibilities for Center fellows to achieve short-and long-range INSS goals. He/she recommends selection, nomination, evaluation, and renewal of all Title 10 employees within the Center, holds Center research fellows accountable based on annual INSS performance standards, and provides professional development opportunities, awards, and other employee incentives and recognition where applicable. The incumbent emphasizes EEO, and avoids discrimination regarding race, gender, religion, national origin, color, age, and physical or mental handicap in employee selection, promotion, training, and other personnel management practices. Ensures that equal opportunity underlies all personnel and supervisory actions with attention given to any special development or recruitment objectives relating to minority or women employees.

4. Organizational Representation/Liaison. In support of the INSS Director and in coordination with the NDU Academic Affairs Office where relevant, the incumbent liaises with high-level visitors from USG agencies, foreign governments, civilian and military academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and others.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or be exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.ssa.gov/)
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • The position is governed by 10 USC 1595 and NDUI 1416.0l dated March 2017.
  • Must be able and willing to travel both domestically and internationally. Travel is seldom required. Less than 20 % of the time.
  • The incumbent must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
  • Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, SF-278, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • MUST possess at least an earned PhD in international relations/affairs, political science, national security affairs, or in computer science or engineering with a national security focus.
  • A minimum of 10 years of experience working at management roles in civilian or military components of the U.S. Government, non-governmental organizations, or other entities in areas related to disruptive technologies and defense missions, and/or future warfare particularly at the national security policy and military strategy level.
  • In-depth experience conducting scholarly research and producing publications, or as a practitioner who has participated in or led research activities, delivered significant speeches or policy papers, or is a recognized thought leader on disruptive technology (artificial intelligence, autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, robotics, quantum computing, bio-tech, etc.) and/or future warfare as they relate to defense and national security strategy and policy, and possesses demonstrated familiarity with relevant literature in this area.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Extensive experience in interacting with high-level government officials, senior officers, and private-sector professionals.
  • Experience in building collaborative relationships across agencies and organizations.
  • Experience in developing new insights into unstructured and complex situations and applying creative thinking and innovative solutions to make organizational improvements.
  • Skill in developing and teaching graduate-level courses dealing with disruptive technology and defense and national security strategy and policy.
Volunteer Experience: 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). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education Requirement: Possess at least an earned PhD in international relations/affairs, political science, national security affairs, or in computer science or engineering with a national security focus.

Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if the position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment, if selected for the role.
* An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence PRIOR to appointment.

    • Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
    • For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

NDU has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security, and thrift savings; health, life, and long term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. NDU employees enjoy flexible work schedules, transit subsidy, and the opportunity to telecommute.

Background or Security Investigation: This is a Special Sensitive (SS)position which requires a background investigation. The individual selected for this position is required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartment Information security determination to occupy a Special Sensitive (SS) position within the agency as a condition of employment.

Initial Probationary Period: You will be required to serve an initial probationary period of 18 months.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You will be required to serve an supervisory probationary period of one year if one has not already been completed.

Reemployed Annuitants: Department of Defense has the authority to hire annuitants without reduction in pay. For more information, go to: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-4434 for assistance.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

To qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described above. A NDU screening panel will review your resume and narrative answers to the hiring criteria to evaluate your qualifications for the position. NDU uses a multi-tier selection process for academic positions.

You MUST upload a Cover Letter from your resume addressing the following hiring criteria:(each response should not exceed 2 pages)

1: Please discuss and provide examples of your experience managing research programs related to disruptive technologies and defense missions, particularly at the national security policy and defense strategy level.

2: Please discuss your past record of producing high quality, peer-reviewed scholarly research and publications on disruptive technology, its impact on future warfare, and implications for national security and defense strategy and policy. What was the most original or innovative methodology you employed?

3: Please discuss and provide examples of your experience developing and applying creative thinking and innovative solutions to make organizational improvements.

4: Please discuss and provide examples of your experiences in building collaborative relationships across agencies and organizations.

5. Please provide short answers (500 words each) to the questions below:

  • What is the Department of Defense's most significant challenge (s) regarding disruptive technology and future warfare? Why?
  • Which disruptive technology (s) will most impact warfare in the next 10 years? What are the implications for our defense strategy and/or policy?
  • What are your priorities for helping the Department of Defense remain competitive in emerging disruptive technologies?

Required Documents

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  1. Résumé: The latest resume submitted will be used to determine qualifications. All conferred degrees and certifications should be included in your resume for full consideration
  2. Complete Assessment Questionnaire
  3. Cover letter with narrative responses answering hiring criteria questions listed in the "How you will be evaluated" section of this announcement. Failure to submit will result in an ineligible rating.
  4. Other Supporting Documents - Refer to the eligibilities section for documents to submit.
NOTE: Transcripts are not required at time of application submission. Your resume and narrative answers to the hiring criteria will be reviewed by the NDU screening panel to evaluate your qualifications for the position. If selected for an interview, official transcripts will be requested at that time to verify educational requirements are met.

Eligibilities Information: The following supporting documents are REQUIRED to verify your individual eligibility status. Not all will apply for each applicant. They MUST be received by the closing date of the announcement.
  1. SF-50 - (If applicable) Notification of Personnel Action for current or former federal employees- with the exception of current permanent NDU employees, please provide your most recent SF50 or the SF50 reflecting Career/Career-Conditional tenure and the highest grade held on a permanent basis.
  2. If you claim Veteran's Preference:
    - You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank, dates of active duty service and what they condition of discharge is thought to be.
    - If claiming 10-point preference and/or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability
    - If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow/widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.
  3. Other documents identified in the announcement.
WARNING: Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by the closing date of the announcement at 11:59 EST, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application.

It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered or uploaded is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package. See required documents below.

Click 'Apply Online' to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.
1. Follow the prompts to complete the assessment questionnaire and upload required documents.
2. Please ensure you click the Submit My Answers button to submit your application.
3. Check application status by logging into your USAJOBS account, clicking Application Status, then More Information for this position. Return to an incomplete application by logging into your USAJOBS account and clicking Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

HR Customer Care Center
Address
National Defense University
300 5th Avenue Bldg 62
Washington, DC 20319
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful. The questionnaire will assess your qualifications for the job. ALL eligible applicants will be referred to NDU which will convene a board to review all of the applicants. NDU will contact the applicants directly they would like to interview. We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation.

You will no longer need to call the HR Office to determine your application status. USAJOBS has added an alert setting to their system to drive status updates notification for applicants. You can elect to activate the proactive notification from your USAJOBS profile at any point during the application process to sign-up for automatic alerts when there are status changes for jobs to which you have applied.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.