The United States Space Force (USSF) at Patrick Space Force Base, FL is searching for a Director, Office of Small Business Programs , SLD45/SB (NH-1102-04, GS-14/15 Equivalent).

Description:
Are you ready to champion the small businesses that fuel America's dominance in the space domain? As the Director, you will exercise significant authority for planning, directing, and executing the activities of the Office of Small Business Programs, serving as the expert liaison between the U.S. Space Force, the Small Business Administration (SBA), and the industrial base.

Ideal Candidate:
Senior-Level Acquisition & Small Business Advocacy: Extensive experience leading small business initiatives within the federal acquisition landscape, with a proven ability to solve complex procurement challenges and drive strategic outcomes.

Mastery of Acquisition Policy: A strong, demonstrated understanding of federal acquisition and small business regulations (e.g., FAR Part 19), policies, and procedures, with the ability to provide authoritative advice and guidance to senior management on complex compliance and strategy issues.

Executive Communication and Influence: Proven ability to communicate with expert authority, negotiate effectively, and advocate for program goals.

Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills are essential for representing the organization at the highest levels.

Educational Background: A bachelor's degree in business, acquisition, or a related field is highly preferred.

Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Expert and detailed knowledge of Federal Government, DoD, DAF, USSF, and SSC acquisition guidelines and business practices, including statues, regulations, practices, policies and procedures that cover different contract types and market conditions applicable to the Small Business programs.
2. In-depth knowledge of assigned contracting and procurement specializations, and acquisition planning for competitive and sole source acquisitions.
3. Expert ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, to present to higher echelons, to provide technical guidance, and to represent the department or unit in industry or governmental forums.
4. Ability to recognize and analyze problems, issues and data, conduct thorough research, summarize results, and make appropriate recommendations.
5. Ability to plan, organize work, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced business environment and to provide well-reasoned guidance pertaining to contracting actions when these actions are not very well defined, clear or understood.
6. Expert ability to effectively negotiate and to advocate or persuade.
7. Strong skill in interpersonal relations and effective acquisition teaming.

Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• Safeguards classified or sensitive budget-related information and/or files.
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM prescribed “Unscheduled Telework”.
• This position will close after 5 business days or 75 applications, whichever comes first.
• Employee may be required to perform travel by military or commercial passenger aircraft in the performance of temporary duty assignments.
• PCS funding is authorized.
• Excluded from bargaining unit per 5 USC 7112(b)(1) - Supervisor
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): 15 days a year.
• Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and by 31 October annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
• This position has been designated as an acquisition position and is covered by the Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP).

Qualifications

DOD QUALIFICATION STANDARD FOR GS-1102 CONTRACTING POSITIONS

This is an individual, single agency qualification standard for Department of Defense positions. This standard implements requirements contained in Title 10, United States Code, Sections 1723 through 1733, as amended by Section 861(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116-92) and implemented on a policy exception basis by Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment memorandum, Exception to 24 Semester Hours Requirement for Contracting Positions, effective and dated August 2, 2020.

Basic Education Requirements for GS-5 through GS-15 (or equivalent) positions:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited educational institution authorized to grant baccalaureate degrees.

NOTE: The education requirements listed above apply only to individuals entering DoD GS-1102 positions on or after October 1, 2000. Current civilian personnel in DoD who occupied GS-1102 positions or contracting positions with authority to award or administer contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in an Executive

Department on or before September 30, 2000 are exempt from meeting this requirement. Current military members who occupied a similar occupational specialty to the GS (or equivalent)-1102 or before September 30, 2000 are also exempt from meeting this requirement.

GS-12 thru GS-15

(no educational equivalent)

One year equivalent to at least next lower grade level

Basic Qualification Requirements for Contracting Officer Positions: In addition to meeting, the basic educational requirement as well as the requirements in the table above, applicants must have:

Have at least two years of experience in contracting positions; and

Have completed all contracting courses required for a contracting officer for positions at the level and grade at which the person is serving. Certification at this level is sufficient to meet this standard.

In addition:

Specialized Experience: In addition to meeting the basic education requirements above, one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions at grades GS-7 (or equivalent) and above. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled.

Basic Requirements for Critical Acquisition Positions: The Secretary of Defense shall designate the acquisition positions in the Department of Defense that are critical acquisition positions, applicants must:

Be eligible for GS-14, or equivalent; and

Hold a bachelor's degree; and

Have completed all mandatory training requirements for Level II or III certification as prescribed by the head of the agency for progression to higher level contracting positions; and

Possess four years of acquisition experience. At least 1 year of that experience must have been specialized experience at or equivalent to work at the next lower grade level of the position, and must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the work of the position.

Basic Qualification Requirements for Senior Contracting Officials: A Senior Contracting Official is a position such as a director of contracting, or a principal deputy to a director of contracting, serving in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Office of the Secretary of a Military Department, the Headquarters (HQ) of a Military Department, the HQ of a Defense Agency, a subordinate command HQ, or a major systems or logistics contracting activity in the Department of Defense. Before a person may be assigned to a critical acquisition position as a senior contracting official, the person must have at least four years' experience in contracting.

Waivers: With the exception of Specialized Experience, the component acquisition career management authority may waive any or all of the requirements listed in this qualifications standard with respect to any employee of the Department of Defense if the board certifies that the individual possesses significant potential for advancement to levels of greater responsibility and authority, based on demonstrated job performance and qualifying experience.

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.

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