Acquisition Program Manager - Full Performance

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 102,415 - 133,142; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Potential hiring incentives

Competitive salary

Job summary

A U.S. government agency seeks an Acquisition Program Management Officer in Chantilly, Virginia. The role focuses on managing multi-million-dollar acquisition contracts for reconnaissance satellite systems, ensuring operational readiness, and collaborating with various stakeholders. A Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience are required. The position offers full-time employment with competitive salary ranges for government employees and potential hiring incentives.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience in acquisition and contract management.
• Experience with satellite systems or complex engineering projects.
• Certification in Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead acquisitions for satellite reconnaissance systems.
• Manage complex contracts to ensure operational readiness.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to support mission objectives.

Skills

Negotiation

Management

Cost Management

Risk Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Management, Engineering, or Science

Job description

We Are The NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated 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

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• 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

Are you a negotiator? Do you enjoy managing or overseeing complex legal agreements or contracts? Are you a finance, accounting, business or economics professional looking for an exciting challenge? Does managing and overseeing multi‑million‑dollar acquisition and procurement contracts for reconnaissance satellite systems to ensure the safety and security of the United States interest you? Does a career with an “out of this world” mission sound intriguing?

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Full Performance Level Acquisition Program Management Officers, occupational series 1101. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, see the OPM website.

This is a full‑time position. Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees must currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is not a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position does not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

• Influence and lead acquisitions to ensure both requirements and designs address operational needs via requirements reviews, increment planning sessions, design reviews, increment demonstrations, etc. Lead activities with functional specialists, including contracting, engineering, manufacturing program control, configuration/data management, test, and logistics and operations support.
• Manage cost, schedule, and performance of complex contracts to develop, deliver, and sustain overhead reconnaissance systems, including spacecraft hardware, ground and communication components, and mission software applications.
• Ensure the end‑to‑end operational readiness of new satellite missions, to include successful delivery of all ground systems; completion of systems test and operational exercises; development of initial and final operational capability criteria with stakeholders; and assessment of ability to support launch, initialization, and operations.
• Collaborate with operational stakeholders both internal and external to the NRO, to include acquisition offices and mission partners in support of mission operations.
• Manage technical issues and risks to minimize impacts to ensure mission success while minimizing operational impacts.
• Investigate and make recommendations to improve mission operations, in areas such as efficiency, availability, resiliency, and operability. Ensure completion of milestone readiness criteria and coordination with decision authorities to bring new satellite missions and ground capabilities into operations.
• Opportunity to identify and work on innovative technology solutions and approaches with real‑time impact to the existing Ground Segments.
• Provide input in source selection and assess contractor performance during all acquisition phases, including operations.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate activities with functional specialists, including contracting, engineering, manufacturing, program control, configuration/data management, test, logistics and operations support. Continually study, review and evaluate program progress.
• Work closely and substantially with program Contacting Officer’s Technical Representatives (COTRs) and prime contractors to provide leadership and ensure program objectives are achieved within stringent cost, schedule, and technical performance requirements.
• Provide authoritative recommendations, briefings, and other formal and informal feedback and status to management on all aspects of program status, contractor technical performance and for all significant decision points.

What You Need

• A Bachelor’s Degree in a related occupation (Management, Engineering, Science, etc.) is highly desirable, or you may qualify based on experience.
• Applicant must have directly applicable minimum of 4 years of experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 48 – 60 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
• DAWIA functional area/tier required:
  • GG12: Program Management/Practitioner
  • GG13: Program Management/Advanced
• Employee is expected to meet Continuing Education requirements to maintain DAWIA certification. If appointed as a Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR), employee must attend the NRO Acquisition COTR training in NI 30‑1‑3. If appointed as a COTR, employee must attend the NRO Acquisition COTR training in NI 30‑1‑3.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two‑page limit per OPM Memorandum, “Merit Hiring Plan,” dated May 29, 2025, are not eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see “Guidance for Applicants on 2‑Page Resume” and visit the Resume Help Center.

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: May be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: May be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: May be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions are deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Various NRO locations.

Salary

This position may meet the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position and meet degree requirements. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and candidates generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale.

For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/.

2026 STEM Salary Ranges

• GG‑12: $117,753 – $153,082
• GG‑13: $132,751 – $172,578

2026 Salary Range For The Washington, DC Area

• GG‑12: $102,415 – $133,142
• GG‑13: $121,785 – $158,322

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.

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, pregnancy, 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 [e-mail].

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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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