Director, Network Services Group at National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) – Chantilly, Virginia

WE ARE THE NRO

For over sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at NRO.gov.

Basic Eligibility for a Position with the NRO

• You must be a U.S. Citizen
• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

This position is located in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, VA. The NRO is the federal agency chartered to meet United States Government’s intelligence needs through delivering space-borne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. As a Department of War (DoW) agency and an element of the Intelligence Community (IC), the NRO is staffed by DoW and IC agency personnel and is funded through the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and the Military Intelligence Program (MIP), consistent with priorities and processes established by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security (USW(I&S)). The NRO executes the research and development, acquisition, launch, and operation of overhead ISR systems necessary to meet the needs of the DoW, IC, and other national decision makers.

The mission of the Communications Systems Directorate (COMM) is to provide end-to-end, secure information technology and transport services for the NRO and its mission partners. The NRO relies on COMM for information technology (IT) and space transport products, services, and capabilities to meet national security challenges. COMM products, services, and capabilities are essential to every NRO mission, business, and enterprise function. COMM directly enables the collection and processing of overhead intelligence needed by warfighters, the IC, and senior decision-makers to accomplish their mission. Within COMM, Network Services Group (NSG) securely connects missions through innovative global network solutions 24/7 /365 in support of the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, and other mission partners.

NSG is responsible for delivering, operating, and maintaining one of the world's largest global networks. This network encompasses a global backbone; wide, local, and campus networks; and command and telemetry networks. NSG also provides an array of enabling network engineering and implementation services, including network access to NRO's industry partners. NSG's network management scope includes strategic planning and execution that ensures global network services, capacity, and availability remain ahead of NRO's growing demand and consistent with industry best practices. NSG develops, updates, and implements the NRO Network Strategy, which describes the goals and objectives to modernize and simplify the NRO network, anticipate demand and scale networks to meet partner needs, and improve global resilience. NSG also supports partners in implementing Zero Trust Architecture capabilities, including Comply to Connect, Least Privilege, and Multi-Factor Authentication. NSG has a diverse portfolio with a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars per year and a staff of several dozens of Government Civilian, Military, and support contractors who work closely with hundreds of network service provider contractors and other industry partners.

The NSG Director, a DISL Tier 1 2210 Technical Director position, is the senior officer responsible for the leading the portfolio and people involved in the acquisition and operations of network services and capabilities. The NSG Director also leads efforts impacting the entire Intelligence Community consistent with NRO's role as a wide area network service provider to the IC. The NSG Director reports directly to the Deputy Director of the COMM Directorate.

Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

This is a full-time position that is open from 27-MAR-2026 through 10-APR-2026. Applicant packages must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on the closing date.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to current GG/GS-15, Private Sector, and Federal civilian employees who are senior officers.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants through this job announcement.

What You Will Be Doing

In coordination with COMM leadership, the NSG Director:
• Leads and manages the organization and activities responsible for engineering, acquiring, implementing, and supporting NRO's end-to-end terrestrial network capabilities and services.
• Develops and executes programs, in collaboration with the NRO partners, for connectivity and resiliency requirements supporting diverse missions.
• Serves as the NRO representative at high-level conferences and meetings with the Department of War, the Intelligence Community, Foreign partners, and industry partners
• Directs, coordinates and oversees work through subordinate supervisors; advising staff on policies, procedures, and directives; selecting candidates for vacant positions; developing performance standards; explaining performance expectations, appraising performance; recommending awards; correcting performance or conduct problems; encouraging development of employees; and approving leave.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and experience overseeing the full life cycle of IT and transport services to include acquisition, engineering, development, and operations of state-of-the-art IT and cybersecurity systems and services in support of national security missions.
• Seasoned and adaptive interpersonal, communication, leadership, team building and negotiation skills with a demonstrated ability to effectively execute executive reasoning/function skills to persuade, negotiate, unify, adjust, recalibrate, motivate, and drive decision-making in time sensitive, high-stress, high-stakes environments.
• Demonstrated executive presence and political acumen with ability to effectively interact at all levels of the organization, work across organizational boundaries, and objectively steer organizations to a common ground in order to advance mission.
• Intelligence Community and/or DOD experience.

Technical Qualifications

All applicants for this senior officer position must submit written capability statement (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy all of the following technical qualifications:

1. Extensive knowledge and experience in acquiring state-of-art terrestrial network or other comparable complex IT systems and services in support of national defense missions.
2. Extensive knowledge and experience in overseeing the operations and maintenance of terrestrial network or other comparable complex IT systems and services.
3. Demonstrated experience in written and oral communications skills.

Other Significant Facts and Requirements

Excepted Service: This position is an Excepted Service, Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) position under authorities of the U.S. Code Title 10, Section 1601 and 1607, dated 20 July 1999.

A Joint Duty Assignment (JDA) Program certification is required for promotion or assignment into an Intelligence Community Senior Officer position.

DCIPS Trial Period: Newly appointed NRO Cadre senior officers must meet a two-year DCIPS trial period if not previously satisfied. Runs concurrent with other probationary or trial periods.

DISL Probationary Period: Newly appointed DISL employees (including DISES moving into a DISL position) must complete a one-year DISL Probationary Period if not previously satisfied.

Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required to qualify for this position.

Drug-Free Workplace: Position is a Testing Designated Position. Incumbent subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.

Security Clearance: Position is designated special-sensitive and incumbent must obtain and retain a TOP SECRET security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. Employee remains subject to initial and periodic Counterintelligence Polygraphs and the terms of their signed NDA.

Financial Disclosure: The incumbent is required to submit an initial OGE 278e (Financial Disclosure) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter in accordance with the Joint Ethics Regulation.

Education Requirement: Advanced degree preferred in related field.

Duty Hours: The incumbent is required to be available for other than normal duty hours to include weekends to support exercises and crisis planning.

This is a Key Leadership Position. This position is designated a Key Leadership Position (KLP) which carries significant responsibility, primarily involving supervisory or managerial duties in acquisition. Requirements include:
a. A 3-year service agreement (Form DD2889) to stay in this position for at least that amount of time. In signing the agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
b. Advanced level certification in Program Management or Practitioner level certification in Engineer & Technical Management.
c. Desired 10 years of acquisition experience or equivalent, 4 of which were in a CAP, KLP, or equivalent position.
Submission Package

All applicants for this senior officer position must submit:

1. Resume: Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, “Merit Hiring Plan,” dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see “Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume” and visit the Resume Help Center.
2. Capability Statement: a narrative statement specifically addressing each mandatory technical qualification. Each statement should not exceed two pages per Technical Qualification.

Current Intelligence Community (IC) officer applicants, including banded or graded personnel, current DISL or DISES, and other IC Component senior officers, are also required to submit:

1. Joint Duty Credit Certification: Provide a copy of your completed Joint Duty Assignment (JDA_ SF-50) or an adjudicated IC JDA claim form. For more information regarding the IC Joint Duty Program, please refer to https://www.icjointduty.gov
2. Last two performance appraisals
3. SF-50 proving current Federal civilian status

If you would like to submit a classified resume and/or capability statement, please complete your unclassified application to this vacancy announcement here and contact NRO HR Questions at HR_Questions@nro.mil for instructions for handling classified application materials.

Location

Chantilly, Virginia

Salary

2026 DISL salary range: $186,207 – $209,600

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period, if not previously satisfied.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

• Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil.

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

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