Budget Analyst

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO); Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hiring incentives

Job summary

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) seeks a Budget Analyst to support financial management across major programs. You will analyze budgets, prepare inputs for IPBS/IPBS submissions, and coordinate with engineers, contracting officers, and site management to ensure accurate funding and compliant spend plans.

You will work in a multi‑discipline environment, performing budget formulation, execution and reporting tasks while providing briefings to management.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of budgeting process to formulate estimates and reports.
• Ability to interpret policy guidance affecting budgets and programs.
• Familiarity with program analysis techniques to review performance and plans.
• Strong planning, organization, and deadline management.

Responsibilities

• Formulate budget estimates and defend budgets before authorities.
• Analyze costs and benefits of alternative financial management approaches.
• Oversee expenditures to ensure propriety and compliance with budgets and audits.
• Coordinate final budget and program products for complex projects.
• Review spend plans, identify resource trade-offs, and advise senior management.
• Draft and review funding docs for accuracy and internal controls.

Skills

Budget analysis

IPBS

PPBES

Financial data

Stakeholder coordination

Contract liaison

Job description

WE ARE THE NRO

For 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 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

The position is assigned to Business Plans & Operations (BPO) Directorate and is matrixed to the Management Services and Operations (MS&O) Directorate within the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The Budget Analyst will be assigned to the Aerospace Data Facility Southwest (ADF‑SW) team to support two complex organizations responsible for NRO satellites operations and worldwide facility operations. Officer responsibilities will cover a wide range of multi‑disciplinary activities within financial management to include analysis of financial reports, execution of current year budgets, coordination of funding actions, development of inputs to the Intelligence Program Budget Submission (IPBS) and Congressional Budget Justification Book (CBJB), entering and validating program financial data in various tools, and preparation and presentation of financial briefings for management. A significant part of the budget is executed via contracts and thus the incumbent must work closely with COTRs and Contracting Officers while analyzing funding requirements and spend plans. The officer will report to the ADF‑SW Lead Budget Analyst and support the provision of financial, budgetary and contractual support to Site management, engineers, and COTRs, as well as point of contacts across NRO budget and contract offices. In addition, the officer may provide support to include source selections, award fee inputs and budget execution. Some travel to CONUS locations may be required.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Non‑Supervisor, Budget Analyst, GG‑13, occupational series 0560.

More information on the occupational series can be viewed on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website.

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 DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position may not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

• Performs or advises on work in any of the phases or systems of budget administration. The work is concerned with the performance of functions such as formulation of budget and cost estimates to support plans, programs and activities, including presenting and defending budget estimates before authorities and oversight.
• Analyzes and recommends costs and benefits of alternative methods of financial management of organization’s programs and administrative operations utilizing various quantitative methodologies.
• Provides budgetary management analysis oversight of expenditures to ensure propriety and compliance with budget, financial, fiscal, and auditing services.
• Coordinates and develops final budget and program products for complex projects and resolves controversial issues by working in close coordination with analysts and functional area subject matter experts.
• Reviews program requirements and develops/reviews spend plans for accuracy and completeness. Identifies and conveys resource trade‑offs within and among competing programs, and provides senior management with resource alternatives.
• Draft and reviews funding documentation for accuracy and compliance with applicable organizational policies and instructions. Maintains appropriate internal controls to minimize data inaccuracy and/or for the unauthorized use of funding.

What You Need

• Demonstrated knowledge of the federal budget process to formulate budget estimates, develop and consolidate, or to edit budget justifications and reports.
• Skilled in interpreting complex legislative and regulatory policy guidance to determine the effects on the organization’s budget and programs.
• Knowledgeable in the use of program analysis techniques to review program performance and plans for improvements.
• Ability to plan and organize work, and to meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills in order to effectively deal with conflict in a timely manner.
• Knowledge and use of the IC Program and Budget Submission Process (IPBS), the DoD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution Systems (PPBES) to include the Management to Civilian Budget (MCB) program.
• Ability to manage and monitor the Intelligence Contingency Fund (ICF) Program, Internal Control (IC) Program, and the Government Travel Card Program, to include keeping the D/BPO aware of delinquent travel cardholders.
• General knowledge of the US Code of Federal Regulation on the administrative control of funds to prevent misuse of congressionally appointed funds.

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, 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.

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.
• 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 24 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.
• 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 MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Las Cruces, NM

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

2026 Salary Range for the Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM Area:

• GG-12: $90,479 - $117,625
• GG-13: $107,592 - $139,871

**The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current federal government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

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

DoW 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 DoW 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 [email protected].

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