Deputy Director

The United States Space Force (USSF) Headquarters Space Force Command (HQSF) Plans and Programs Directorate (S8P) at The Pentagon is searching for a Deputy Director (NH-0343-04, GS 14/15 equivalent).

Description:
As the Deputy Director for the Plans and Programs Directorate (S8P), you will hold a key leadership position within HQ USSF/S5/8, responsible for developing the future years resource plan and budget request for all research, development, test, and evaluation; procurement; manpower; MILCON; and operations and sustainment funding. In close partnership with the Director, you will focus on executing the USSF corporate process, associated budget programming, and necessary planning for the Service budget across all aspects of appropriations. This pivotal role shapes future investments and involves working closely across all S8 divisions, the Space Warfinghting Analysis Center, OSW entities, and counterpart offices in the United States Air Force to ensure investments appropriately account for current requirements, joint mission needs, and future warfighting capabilities of the DAF. As a Subject Matter Expert, you will be the focal point for engagement and coordination with S5/8 USSF, DAF leadership, the Office of the Secretary of War, Combatant Commands, and Legislative Liaisons to outline and execute the USSF's investment priorities on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with significant experience in Department of War (DoW) operations, planning, acquisitions, budgeting, or staff roles, with a strong preference for a background in space operations. This individual must be highly well-versed in the DoW Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process, bringing proven expertise in critically analyzing operational risk, capability development, long-range planning, forecasting, and overall force readiness. As a capable leader and manager equipped to establish office processes, supervise teams, and direct complex tasks, the candidate must possess highly effective oral and written communication skills essential for presenting technical budget and program data to senior-level leadership. Furthermore, the preferred candidate will hold a Master's degree and demonstrate strong technical proficiency, including comfort with database tools, software applications, and a working knowledge of planning and analysis programs.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Mastery knowledge of the relationship of the various Space Force, Air Force, and OSD entities involved in overall planning and execution of the Space Force budget.
2. Extensive knowledge in leading, defining, managing, and integrating efforts of several groups or teams.
3. In-depth knowledge of Planning, Programming, and Budget Execution (PPBE) processes and of the DoD acquisition processes.
4. Skill in development and fostering development of others by providing guidance or sharing expertise.
5. Skill in defining and establishing organizational focus with challenging and highly complex project/programs and to identify and optimize resources. to accomplish multiple projects/programs goals.
6. Skill in presenting briefings and advocating to senior leaders to obtain consensus/approval on issues of varying complexity and to present organizational briefings to convey strategic vision or organizational policies.
7. Ability to lead and guide others in formulating and execution team plans, achieving organizational goals, to participate on high-level teams, solve broad organizational issues and implements strategic plans within and across organizational components.
8. Ability to work with senior management to establish new fundamental concepts and criteria and stimulate the development of new policies, methodologies, and techniques.
9. Ability to anticipate problems, develop sound solutions and action plans toward program/mission accomplishment.
10. Ability to assess and provide strategic direction for resolution of mission critical problems, policies, and procedures.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI access.
• 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.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations to reduce potential compromise.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
• PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/.
• Incentive is not authorized.
• Depending on the type of position (competitive/excepted) you are selected for, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 2-year trial period.
• Upon completion of your probationary/trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications (whichever comes first).

Qualifications

The 0343 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.

Resume:You must submit a resume that may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume exceeds two pages or is illegible/unreadable. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your resume must provide:

1. Personal information - your full name, email and mailing addresses, phone number
2. Education information - the name of the school and the dates you attended
3. Work experience - paid and unpaid work with the following information:
   • Job title
   • Detailed duties and accomplishments
   • Employer's name and address
   • Supervisor's name and phone number
   • Starting and ending dates (If actual dates are not known, provide your best-estimated timeframes.)
   • Hours per week
   • Salary, if applicable
4. Other qualifications - skills, certifications/licenses, honors, awards, special accomplishments, and job-related training courses

College Transcripts (if applicable): Please see the Education section of this announcement for detailed information about transcripts.

Next steps