PROGRAM EXECUTIVE FOR ADVANCED CAPABILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY Job

Vacancy No. MDA-25-12662018-SES Department Missile Defense Agency
Salary $151,322.00 to $217,000.00 Grade 00 to 00
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/8/2025 Close Date 1/21/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Huntsville, ALFort Belvoir, VA


Summary

  • This is a Senior Executive Service Tier 2 position. Salaries for Tier 2 positions range from $151,322 - $217,000.
  • This position is in the Senior Executive Service, a small elite group of top government leaders. SES members possess a diverse portfolio of experiences including strong skills to lead across organizations.
  • As an executive, you will influence the direction of innovation and transformation of the federal government and lead the next generation of public servants

Duties

As the MDA Program Executive for Advanced Capabilities and Technology, some of the major duties included are:

  • Leading the MDA in anticipating and responding to threat challenges using a dynamic, world-class team of scientists, engineers and phenomenologists from government, industry, and academia to achieve an assured, robust and responsive capability-based missile defense system.
  • Overseeing the directorate staff to ensure efficient operations, and operating as an expert in technical and programmatic aspects of missile defense advancements.
  • Maintaining currency in the ballistic missile threat, the MDS state of the art development, and the most challenging countermeasure and performance issues affecting the MDS.
  • Networking with US National laboratories, academia, international laboratories, and global industry.
  • As the senior advisor to the Director, MDA, on advanced systems, concepts and innovations, the incumbent provides authoritative and technically refined recommendations on all related functional, operational, and management activities.
  • Develops and improves decision and discrimination algorithms supporting the MOS and develops decision architecture for implementing the next generation MOS Battle Management Command and Control. Defines and formulates battlefield learning and adaptation capabilities.
  • Conceptualizes, plans, and leads Advanced Concept Studies that focus on the vision of the MDA mission and advanced capabilities necessary to sustain the evolution of the missile defense program.
  • Directs and oversees the technical and engineering evaluation and analyses of all proposed advanced concepts and innovative research and engineering technology programs in such diverse areas as materials , kinetic energy, propulsion , directed energy, electronics, sensors, manufacturing/ production, thermal management, lethality, computer technologies, superconductivity, and other unique efforts and opportunities that present themselves as having applicability to the full scope of MDA acquisition programs.
  • Provides direction and oversight over the operations and management of the directorate, including civilian and military personnel management and financial management.
  • Engages on behalf of the Director, MDA, in a variety of high level forums and routinely interacts with the senior executives and general/ flag officers within the Department of Defense, as well as with senior executives from the National labs, industry, media representatives, academia, foreign officials, and members of Congress.
  • Participates in the MOS Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) evaluation process to identify engineering, technical, and product innovations that have potential for advancing MDA programs.
  • Coordinates information sharing processes, research and development activities, and evaluates technologies available or being developed through small business research and development activities.
  • Facilitates small business participation in the Federal research and development arena to convert highly innovative, high risk technologies, which develop new or advanced scientific and engineering concepts into established technology, which can be integrated into MDA Directorates, essential to the fulfillment of the overall MDA mission.
  • Evaluates all proposed advanced concepts (internally and externally generated) for potential application or integration into existing or developmental MDA programs and acquisition initiatives. Determines feasibility, engineering maturity and cost implications.
  • Provides direction and oversight to all personnel management and human resource planning activities and actions within the directorate.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Work Schedule: Full Time
  • Must be a U.S. citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service
  • Resume and supporting documents (See How To Apply)
  • Suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
  • Veteran preference is not applicable to the Senior Executive Service
  • Must be able to obtain/maintain Special Sensitive/Top Secret SCI clearance
  • Designated and/or random drug testing is required
  • Supplemental narrative addressing each Executive Core Qualification (ECQ) - 10 pages total
  • Supplemental narrative addressing each Technical Qualification (TQ) - 2 pages each maximum
  • Mobility Agreement: All newly appointed Career SES leaders must sign the Reassignment Rights obligations Agreement as a condition of appointment into the SES.
  • Probationary Period: You will serve a one-year Senior Executive Service (SES) probationary period unless you previously completed the probationary period in the SES.
  • Financial Disclosure: Senior Executives are required to comply with the provisions of the Ethics in Government Act, PL 95-521, which requires the submission of a financial disclosure statement (OGE-278), upon assuming an SES position.
  • Senior Executives are required to complete a "Declaration of Federal Employment," (OF 306), prior to being appointed to determine your suitability for Federal employment and to authorize a background check.
  • Overtime: None
  • Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
  • Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA): Exempt
  • Tour of Duty: Set Schedule
  • Telework: Situational telework eligible

Qualifications

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs):
Applicants must submit written statements (narrative format ) describing accomplishments that would satisfy the ECQs. You must address each ECQ separately. You are required to respond to all ECQs. If you fail to do so, you will be rated as 'ineligible.' Additional information on the ECQs is available at www.opm.gov/ses/recruitment/ecq.asp. Each accomplishment should be clear, concise, and emphasize your level of responsibilities, the scope and complexity of programs managed, and results of your actions. Please limit your written statements to two pages per ECQ.

ECQ 1 - LEADING CHANGE: This core qualification involves the ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization, to meet organizational goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to establish an organizational vision and to implement it in a continuously changing environment.

ECQ 2 - LEADING PEOPLE: This core qualification involves the ability to lead people toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts.

ECQ 3 - RESULTS DRIVEN: This core qualification involves the ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations. Inherent to this ECQ is the ability to make decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.

ECQ 4 - BUSINESS ACUMEN: This core qualification involves the ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.

ECQ 5 - BUILDING COALITIONS: This core qualification involves the ability to build coalitions internally and with other federal agencies, State and local governments, nonprofit and private sector organizations, foreign governments, or international organizations to achieve common goals.

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQ): All applicants must submit written statements (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications. You must address each technical qualification separately. Please limit your written statements to 2 pages per technical qualification.
  1. Comprehensive knowledge and proven technical and managerial expertise required to provide oversight and direct all activities associated with ensuring successful execution of weapon systems advanced technology and rapid acquisition, including a demonstrated ability to work with the warfighter community to develop and codify operational and joint requirements.
  2. In depth knowledge of DOD acquisition practices and policies, directives, regulations, and public laws as applied to Joint and combined weapons systems acquisition programs. This includes expert knowledge of the technological, procurement, and acquisition processes that go into major DOD weapons programs comprised of multiple systems and organizations. Proven skill and demonstrated ability to develop program execution activities and mastery of the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution process.
  3. Ability to represent the organization and engage in technical interchange activities with industry, other government agencies, or international organizations regarding advanced technology concepts, operational demonstrations and rapid prototyping.

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this position.

Individual Occupational Requirements:

A. Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR

B. Combination of education and experience - college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional registration or licensure - Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test - Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses - Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
4. Related curriculum - Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

Note: An applicant who meets the basic requirements as specified in A or B above, except as noted under B.1., may qualify for positions in any branch of engineering unless selective factors indicate otherwise.

Additional information

The incumbent should be a recognized authority in the integration of advanced concepts into large-scale, complex weapon systems such as the Missile Defense System. An advanced degree in a related physical science, or a closely related engineering or technical discipline, and broad, senior- level professional experience is highly desired.

Acquisition Certification :

This is a Critical Acquisition Position. Unless specially waived by the appropriate official, the following are statutory mandated requirements:

  • Selectee must execute, as a condition of appointment, a written agreement to remain in Federal Service in the position for at least three years. In signing such agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
  • This CAP requires a Program Management, Advanced acquisition certification. The incumbent has 48 months to achieve this certification.
  • The incumbent must complete 80 continuous learning points every two years.

REEMPLOYED ANNUITANTS: https://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25- V300.pdf

SELECTIVE SERVICE REQUIREMENT: If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, and are at least 18 years of age, civil service employment (5 U.S.C. 3328) requires that you must be registered with the Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. If you are required to register but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for appointment by executive agencies of the Federal Government.

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.

We will review your resume and supporting documents, for the quality and extent of your total accomplishments, experience and education as it relates to the fundamental competencies, identified below. Your application will be evaluated by an Executive Evaluation Panel rating and ranking panel, and highly qualified candidates may be contacted for an interview and to provide reference checks.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Resume: Your resume listing your name, contact information, work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be referred for consideration.

2. ECQs: Applicants who currently hold or previously held permanent SES or equivalent positions (e.g. DISES, SIS, SNIS) are encouraged to submit updated ECQs, but may submit ECQs previously used in the executive hiring process.Your narrative statement should include specific examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the position. Your narratives should be no more than 2 pages per ECQ, not to exceed a total of 10 pages. More information on how to prepare/address ECQs can be found at www.opm.gov/ses. If you are a current/previous SES or equivalent you are not required to submit ECQs, but must submit SF50 showing you are an SES or equivalent.

3. Technical Qualifications: Completed supplemental narrative in a separate document that gives specific examples of work experiences addressing each technical qualification. Your narrative should be no more than 2 pages per technical qualification. Narratives over the page limit will not be accepted.

4. Transcripts: If applicable, 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.

5. Standard Form (SF) 50: If you are a current or former Federal civilian employee, you must submit your last or most recent SF-50 showing grade and tenure. Current and former career SES or equivalent members must provide an SF-50 showing their status or reinstatement eligibility.

DO NOT submit additional information (i.e. awards, appraisals, pages in excess of the limit for the MTQs and/or ECQs).

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

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration.

To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account. You will be taken to an online application. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application. Your application must include your written statements addressing all five of the Executive Core Qualifications and each of the Technical Qualification statements. You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

Applications mailed using government postage or through an internal federal government mail system will not be considered.

Once your application is received we will conduct a review of your application package to ensure all required documents have been received. All applications that have all required documents will be forwarded to management for panel review and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 90 days of the closing date of the announcement. You will be notified of the outcome.

Agency contact information

DE Applicant Inquires
Address
Missile Defense Agency
Bldg 5222 Martin Rd
Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once you successfully complete the application process, you will receive a notification of receipt. Your application package will be reviewed to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and qualifications requirements, and you will receive a notification. A review will be made of your online questionnaire and the documentation you submitted to support your responses. A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter.

A list of qualified applicants will be created and sent to the selecting official. All applicants reviewed and/or referred will receive a notification letter. The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.


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


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