Director of Staff, SLD 45 Job in Cape Canaveral AFS, FL

Vacancy No. SF-FY26-6S-NH-0301-4-SPLASH Department Space Systems Command
Salary $126,711.00 to $193,760.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/19/2026 Close Date 2/26/2026
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Cape Canaveral AFS, FL


Summary

To submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the
Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.

This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Duties

The United States Space Force (USSF) at Patrick SFB, FL is searching for a Director of Staff to support SLD 45 (NH-0301-04, GS-14/15 Equivalent).

Description:
Join the Future of Space Operations - Lead as Director of Staff for SLD 45 at Patrick Space Force Base! Are you a results-driven leader ready to operate at the strategic heart of America's space mission? Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45) at Patrick Space Force Base is looking for a dynamic Director of Staff to join our command team. Your Daily Mission: Drive, Lead, and Influence. As the Director of Staff, you are the Executive Director's key advisor and the engine of the entire Delta staff. Your day-to-day will be focused on leading from the front. You will masterfully plan, organize, and assign work across various diverse agencies-from public affairs and safety to legal and finance-ensuring every element of our organization is aligned and moving forward. Your voice will be crucial in the command suite as you prepare and deliver powerful briefings, professionally advising senior military and civilian leaders on the decisions that shape our mission and impact thousands of people. Florida Living: Enjoy the vibrant culture, excellent weather, and beautiful landscapes of Florida's Space Coast. From world-class beaches to rich cultural and recreational activities, living in the region offers both professional fulfillment and a high quality of life. Take the next step in your career and help shape the future of space operations with SLD 45 at Patrick Space Force Base.

Ideal Candidate:
Seeking an expert-level leader for the Director of Staff position. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in executive leadership, supervising large, diverse teams of senior military and civilian personnel. A strong educational foundation, complemented by comprehensive training in leadership and management. The candidate must demonstrate the ability to develop and implement impactful policies and solve highly complex, multi-disciplinary problems with only general guidance.
Background and Experience: Extensive background in a senior leadership role with a proven track record of supervising high-ranking military and/or civilian personnel. Must have significant experience in staff integration, strategic planning, and policy development. A Decisive and Accountable Leader: Possesses the command presence to lead and mentor a senior team, taking full ownership of mission outcomes and excelling at forging a cohesive, empowered, and high-performing staff.
A Master Integrator with a Systems Mindset: A proactive self-starter who thinks strategically and holistically, acting as the ultimate collaborator. Will expertly synchronize the full spectrum of diverse staff functions into a single, decisive force multiplier. An Influential Communicator with Executive Presence: A highly articulate and persuasive leader who briefs with decisive impact. Must masterfully articulate complex requirements, defend resources with authority, and negotiate with senior officials to build consensus and resolve conflict.
Educational Background: An advanced degree (Master's or higher) is highly preferred, particularly in areas such as Public Administration, National Security Studies, Business Administration, or a related field. Completion of senior leadership development programs is also highly desirable.


Key Skills and Abilities:
1. Thorough knowledge of the organization plans, programs, missions and functions of SLD 45, to include staff operations in program areas such as public affairs, safety, chaplain, legal, command post operations, legal, finance, etc.
2. Thorough knowledge and understanding of a comprehensive range of staff concepts, objectives, policies management and organizational techniques, and military command.
3. Ability to plan organize, assign work and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to lead effectively and present, advocate and/or advise on processes actions and decision impacting SLD 45.
4. Ability to assemble and analyze data to prepare and defend mission/resource requirements. Develop and analyze alternatives and make recommendations to resolve substantive problems and issues impacting mission execution within SLD 45.
5. Ability to plan, organize and negotiate effectively with internal and external agencies to accept and implement recommendations where proposals involve substantial resources and require extensive changes in established concepts and procedures.
6. Ability to prepare projects, staff reports and briefings for high-level officials both civilians and military, then professionally interact with and deliver briefings to these officials.


Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S Citizen.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret / SCI 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.
  • This is a drug testing designated position (TDP). The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use, IAW AFI 90-508.
  • Employee must within 30-days of assuming this position and annually thereafter, file an OGE-450, “Confidential Financial Disclosure Report.
  • This is a Key position. Incumbents must be removed from their military recall status if alternatives for filling the position during an emergency are not available.
  • Subject to TDY: 15 days a year.

Qualifications

The 0301 series does not have an individual occupational requirement that must be met. You can view the experience level requirements here.

Additional information

Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information.

Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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.

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.

Required Documents

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.

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 submit your resume for this Direct Hire opportunity click here.

PLEASE NOTE:
It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.


Agency contact information

US Space Force Enterprise Talent Management
Email
HQ.USSF.TalentAcquisition@spaceforce.mil
Address
USSF - Space Systems Command
1670 Space Force Pentagon
Washington, DC 20330
US

Next steps

For additional information on other USSF direct hire opportunities visit the Air Force Civilian Careers Space Force website and follow USSF on LinkedIn.