Deputy Director of Operations, USSF SOCOM

United States Space Force Components; Florida; Remote; USD 127,000 - 194,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Job summary

United States Space Force Components seeks a Deputy Director of Operations at MacDill AFB, FL to lead the Operations Directorate in support of USSF SOCOM. You will exercise delegated authority, coordinate across organizations, and ensure timely execution of Directorate responsibilities in a high-stakes space and SOF environment.

The role requires senior civilian leadership and the ability to develop long-range plans, translate guidance into actionable objectives, and manage complex programs

Qualifications

• Expert knowledge of joint SOF and space operations doctrines.
• Mastery of force generation, readiness cycle management, and tracking readiness metrics.
• Ability to design, coordinate, and execute complex joint-service exercises.
• Excellent ability to brief senior leaders and executives.

Responsibilities

• Lead and direct operations for USSF SOCOM at a high level.
• Represent the Directorate at command-level groups, boards, and planning teams.
• Translate strategic guidance into executable Directorate objectives and tasks.
• Ensure alignment with Space Force guidance and joint requirements.

Skills

Joint SOF doctrines

Space ops knowledge

Force generation mastery

Operational planning

Job description

Deputy Director of Operations, USSF SOCOM

• Department: Department of the Air Force
• Location: MacDill AFB, Florida
• Hiring Path: Public
• Number of Openings: 1
• Security Clearance: Sensitive Compartmented Information

Key Responsibilities

The United States Space Force (USSF) at MacDill AFB, FL is searching for a Deputy Director of Operations to support USSF SOCOM (NH-0301-04, GS 14/15 equivalent). Description: Step into the future of defense innovation as the Deputy Director of the Operations for United States Space Force Special Operations Command. In this high-impact leadership role, you will exercises delegated authority to make or recommend decisions concerning Directorate programs and activities.

Resolves issues involving competing operational requirements, limited resources, compressed timelines, and coordination across multiple organizations. Represents the Director, as authorized, at command-level working groups, boards, planning teams, operational forums, and other engagements. Provides continuity of operations during the Director's absence and ensures timely execution of Directorate responsibilities., shaping the nation's space superiority.

We're seeking a strategist, who thrives in high-stakes environments, navigating complex procurement landscapes with precision, agility, and integrity. If you're ready to lead from the front and make your mark on the celestial frontier -this is your mission Ideal Candidate: Serves as Deputy Director of the Operations Directorate and assists the Director in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the Directorate's operational activities.

Provides senior-level civilian leadership and management oversight for assigned programs, projects, and operational initiatives supporting SPACEFOR-SOC missions. Develops and evaluates long-range and near-term plans, goals, objectives, policies, and procedures necessary to execute assigned missions. Translates command priorities and senior leader guidance into executable Directorate objectives, tasks, milestones, and measures of effectiveness.

Identifies complex operational and organizational problems; analyzes alternatives; assesses mission, manpower, resource, readiness, and risk implications; and recommends courses of action to command leadership. Ensures Directorate activities remain synchronized with command priorities, Space Force guidance, joint requirements, and applicable special operations requirements.

Key Skills and Abilities: 1 Expert, comprehensive knowledge of joint special operations (SOF) and space operations doctrines, with a proven ability to lead, synchronize, and execute current operations and crisis action response. Experience within a Combatant Command operations directorate (specifically USSOCOM J3 or a Theater Special Operations Command (TSOC) is highly preferred over singular domain expertise.

2 Mastery of military force generation, presentation, and readiness cycle management. Proven skill in tracking force readiness metrics, managing deployment/redeployment timelines, and translating high-level operational tasks into clear, tactical-level execution plans.

3 Demonstrated ability to design, coordinate, and execute complex joint-service exercises to validate operational concepts, evaluate training effectiveness, and integrate emerging space capabilities into the SOF Enterprise. Skill in managing formal lessons-learned and corrective action programs. 4 Exceptional capability to communicate high-risk operational concepts and brief senior general/flag officers and civilian executives.

Skilled in drafting operational orders (OPORDs), formal staff packages, and representing command equities in joint, inter-agency, and coalition forums to resolve complex operational conflicts. 5. Highly developed skill in preparing and presenting strategic operational plans, military estimates, theater risk assessments, and formal position papers to senior military, civilian, and international coalition leaders. 6.

Exceptional ability to anticipate complex operational risks in theater, assess and provide strategic direction for the resolution of mission-critical planning obstacles, and establish new strategic concepts and operational methodologies. 7. Effective capability to communicate both orally and in writing.

Skilled in drafting high-level documentation (briefings, staff packages) and maintaining productive working relationships across diverse command entities to resolve complex issues.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with United States Space Force Components, Department of the Air Force.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $126711 – $193760/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What security clearance is required?

This position requires a Sensitive Compartmented Information security clearance.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-12.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.