Director, Cargo Landers Office

NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

NASA's Moon Base Program seeks a Director for the Cargo Landers Office to lead cargo delivery initiatives for Artemis missions and robotic exploration. You will oversee the existing CLPS program and develop new international partnerships to support lunar surface logistics and site preparation.

The role requires high-level program leadership, cost and risk management, and the ability to coordinate utilization, payloads, and cargo interfaces to ensure readiness in a hazardous, remote lunar

Qualifications

• Resume must clearly articulate ECQs and MTQs related to this position.
• Evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience in a program of significant scope and complexity.

Responsibilities

• Lead Cargo Landers Office to deliver cargo delivery capabilities for Artemis astronauts and robotic missions.
• Manage partnerships with international space agencies and CLPS program.
• Assist Moon Base Program Manager with processes, procedures, and priorities.
• Oversee end-to-end cost and risk management for cargo landing assets.
• Conduct technical analyses and advise on strategies for lunar cargo landing.
• Ensure readiness for deployment in hazardous, remote environments and coordinate interfaces within Moon Base Program.
• Represent cargo landing considerations in Moon Base pre‑formulation and architecture development.
• Engage with NASA Headquarters and external liaisons on cargo landing topics.

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science or related field

Job description

Summary

Serves as the Director of the Cargo Landers Office for the Moon Base Program within the Human Spaceflight Mission Directorate (HSMD). The Cargo Landers Director helps to ensure that Agency and HSMD needs, goals and objectives for lunar surface cargo delivery capability are implemented in a sustainable and affordable manner.

Duties

The Director, Cargo Landers Office:

• Provides leadership of Cargo Landers Office to deliver small‑through large‑class cargo delivery capabilities for Artemis astronauts and uncrewed robotic capabilities for scientific exploration, Moon Base construction, logistics delivery and removal, and surface site preparation. This includes management of the existing Commercial Lunar Payload Services program as well as creation of new domestic and international partnership arrangements.
• Partners with other international space agencies to deliver cargo landing capabilities in conjunction with US domestic systems supporting overall Moon Base development.
• Assists the Program Manager, Moon Base with the development of Program processes, procedures, and priorities.
• Supports end‑to‑end cost and risk management of cargo landing assets across the Artemis and Moon Base Campaigns as defined by the Moon Base Program Manager.
• Conducts technical engineering analysis for the Moon Base Program cargo landing elements and advises the Program Manager on associated strategies and actions.
• Ensures all cargo landing elements maintain readiness for deployment, operations, and sustainment in a hazardous, remote environment. Coordinates and implements required interfaces with utilization, payloads, and cargo program elements within the Moon Base Program and across other NASA stakeholders as required.
• Ensures requirements for Moon Base utilization and logistics services are implemented into the Cargo Landing requirements set.
• Represents Cargo Lander considerations in Moon Base pre‑formulation and architecture development activities and implements technology development efforts to support future in‑space and lunar descent & landing transportation needs.
• Represents the Moon Base Program in Agency, Directorate, Center, Academic and industry discussions, and community relations, providing expert information and advice on the topic of lunar cargo landing.
• Advocates for cargo landing considerations within the Moon Base Program as required at NASA Headquarters, including interactions with Legislative and Executive Branch liaisons and the Office of International and Interagency Affairs.

Requirements

Conditions of employment

• The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report' (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
• Initial Senior Executive Service (SES) Career appointee is subject to a one‑year probationary period.
• Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• Successful completion of pre‑employment and random drug testing may be required.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required by the position.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
• Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.

Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment, you must clearly articulate and describe within your 2-page resume that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications MTQ(s) related to this position. Any additional pages over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed. Your resume should include evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity, normally obtained over several years by serving in positions at the GS‑15 level or equivalent.

If you are (1) currently serving under a career SES appointment, (2) eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one‑year probationary period), OR (3) have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and certified by OPM, you do not need to address the ECQs in your resume. However, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for SES reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQ(s). Only your 2-page resume will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding

This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

Competencies

Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, and Civic-Mindedness

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

Competencies

Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence

This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

Competencies

Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience

ECQ 4 - Leading People

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high‑performance, high‑accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

Competencies

Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgment

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results -

This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Competencies

Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking

Mandatory Technical Qualification (MTQ)

Your resume must include accomplishments that address the MTQ(s).

MTQ: Demonstrated experience leading development, integration, and readiness of lunar or planetary cargo landing systems, including managing technical analyses, cost and risk, logistics and utilization requirements, and partnerships that deliver surface cargo capabilities for human and robotic missions.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, and college/university. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre‑accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science is required.

An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

Special Instructions for Foreign Education

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university.

Additional Information

Veterans’ preference is not applicable to the SES.

NASA may discuss and consider candidate duty station location after selection, which means that the duties can be performed at any NASA location. The selected candidate will need to relocate and report to an on‑site NASA location or duty station, which may be different from where he/she currently resides.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full‑time, part‑time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.