Air Warfare Directorate Associate Directors (2) - Wright-Patterson AFB and Eglin AFB

Air Force Research Laboratory; Dayton (OH); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Situational telework

Federal employee benefits

Job summary

Air Force Research Laboratory is seeking leaders at the Directorate level to oversee a broad portfolio of programs, operations, and strategic initiatives. You will guide a multidisciplinary workforce and collaborate with defense organizations, industry, and academia to deliver high-impact results.

Role requires leading organizational change, translating mission into executable strategies, and ensuring alignment with priorities and statutory requirements.

Qualifications

• US Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain/maintain Secret clearance; Top Secret may be required.
• At least 1 year of specialized experience at DO/DR-03/GS-14 or equivalent.
• Applicants must meet all OPM qualification standards for the applicable series/grade.
• Male applicants must be registered for Selective Service.

Responsibilities

• Oversees formulation, planning, and execution of a broad range of S&T programs.
• Provides expert counsel to AFRL and DAF leaders including SLGs and Secretaries.
• Engages with defense organizations and universities to promote collaboration.
• Establishes policies, procedures, and resource allocations for the Air Warfare Directorate.
• Chairs/participates in Directorate boards and governance bodies.
• Leads an organization of civil service and military personnel, including SMEs and mission support functions.
• Provides strategic leadership, vision, and direction for mission execution.
• Guides workforce with executable strategies aligned to Directorate goals.
• Identifies risks and mitigates to ensure continuity of operations.
• Drives data-informed decision-making and process improvements.
• Fosters culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Collaboration

Cross-functional leadership

Conflict resolution

Education

Master's or Doctoral degree

Intermediate Developmental Education / Senior Developmental Education

Job description

Job Overview

OPEN TO CURRENT AFMC CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES ONLY.

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 11:45 EST, 27 October 2026.

This job opportunity is for employees interested in leadership at the Directorate Level in the Air Warfare Directorate at the grade of DO/DR-04. These positions are open to current AFMC employees only. One selection will be made at Wright-Patterson AFB, and one selection will be made at Eglin AFB. The incumbent will be responsible for teaming with the Director to oversee a portfolio of programs, operations, and strategic initiatives. These positions provide organizational leadership and direct guidance to ensure alignment of portfolios and Division science and technology development with organizational priorities, mission objectives, and statutory requirements. The incumbents will lead a multidisciplinary workforce and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders such as defense organizations, other agencies, universities, and a large industrial base to deliver high‑impact results.

Position Duties Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Oversees the formulation, planning, and execution of a broad range of Science and Technology (S&T) programs in collaboration with RA Leadership, Portfolio Leads, and Division Chiefs to support AFRL, USSF as well as broader Department of the Air Force and Department of War priorities in force design, operational capabilities, and foundational S&T competencies.


• Provides expert counsel to all levels of AFRL and DAF leaders, including general officers, senior executives, Secretaries, and Service Chiefs.


• Engages across a spectrum of defense organizations such as FIELDCOMS, MAJCOMs, COCOMS, HQ USAF including A5/7 A10, HQ USSF, OSW, DARPA, and other US agencies to include DOE, NNSA, NASA, the intelligence community, universities, as well as the defense and commercial industrial base to promote collaboration and partnerships to achieve mission priorities.


• Establishes and implements policies, procedures, and resource allocations that affect the entire Air Warfare Directorate.


• Chairs and/or participates in Directorate boards, councils and governing bodies associated with the operations of the Air Warfare Directorate.


• Provides leadership to an organization comprised of civil service and military personnel, including technical subject‑matter experts and mission support functions such as finance, security, manpower, contracting, information technology, and logistics.


• Provides strategic leadership, vision, and direction - responsible for ensuring mission execution and organizational effectiveness.


• Drives the translation of Directorate mission and vision into executable strategies by providing critical guidance to the workforce.


• Identifies risks, assesses impacts, and implements mitigation strategies to ensure operational resilience and mission continuity.


• Drives data‑informed decision‑making and champion process improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.


• Fosters a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning to build, grow, and maintain the deep, multi‑disciplinary expertise essential for a premier lab mission.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship


• Ability to obtain and maintain at least a Secret security clearance. Some positions may require the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance.


• At least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade (DO/DR-03/GS-14), or equivalent experience in other pay systems.


• This position may be filled under multiple occupational series. Applicants are required to meet all OPM Qualification Standard requirements for the applicable occupational series and grade.


• Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov


• PCS expenses, if authorized, will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations.


• Recruitment incentives may/may not be authorized


• Disclosure of Political Appointees


• This is a drug testing designated position. The incumbent may be subject to pre‑employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing.


• Must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE 450, initially and on an annual basis.

Desired Qualifications

• Supervisory experience in a laboratory environment.


• Demonstrated ability to lead people, build consensus, and identify and resolve conflicts/problems with the workforce.


• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional teams or enterprise‑level initiatives to resolve technical or warfighter challenges.


• Experience distilling strategic and/or leadership guidance into actionable plans or courses of action for the workforce.


• Excellent written and oral communication skills.


• Ability to support and enable organization programs, mission, vision, values, and promote a culture of innovation.


• Experience with facilitating and enabling internal/external collaboration and partnerships.


• Master's or Doctoral Degree in appropriate career field.


• Completion of Intermediate Developmental Education and/or Senior Developmental Education.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for situational telework; as determined by agency policy

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

No

Series

• 0801


• 1101


• 1301


• 1515

Requisition Number 22046

Posting End Date

10/27/2026