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 Communications Directorate (COMM) within the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as the COMM Referent - NRO Office of the Director. As COMM Referent, the employee will be responsible for providing executive level Tier I and II enterprise technical support to the NRO Director and COMM Director suites. This position reports to the Chief and Deputy Chief of Operations Division within the Digital-Workspace Solutions Group (COMM/DSG/OPS).

COMM/DSG provides and delivers to the NRO and mission partners an optimized, resilient IT infrastructure with a minimized IT footprint. DSG designs, acquires, integrates, and deploys secure digital managed IT products, services, and capabilities for NRO programs and consumers. This includes providing effective, efficient, and rapid enterprise information technology solutions for digital-workspaces worldwide.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for Non-Supervisor, COMM Referent – NRO Office of the Director, GG-12, occupational series 2210. 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.

This is a full-time position that is open from 2026-09-16 to 2026-09-30. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on 2026-09-30.

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 does not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

• Developing and interpreting policies, procedures, and strategies governing the planning and
• delivery of services throughout the agency
• Providing technical advice, guidance, and recommendations to management and other technical specialists on critical IT issues
• Applying new developments to previously unsolvable problems; and make decisions or recommendations that significantly influence important agency IT policies or programs.
• Serves as a direct link between COMM and the NRO Office of the Director.
• Enable white glove service of COMM services to the NRO Office of the Director (e.g. workstations, phones, video conferences).
• Clarify and represent the NRO Office of the Director's digital business needs to the COMM Groups and Offices
• Serve as the integrator of end-to-end IT service delivery to satisfy the NRO Officer of theDirector 's IT requirements
• Coordinate with IT groups within NRO, CIA, DoW, and other partner organizations to ensureequities of all stakeholders are communicated and that IT solutions are realized
• Provide status reporting to NRO Office of the Director Staff on upcoming COMM deployments,hardware and software upgrade schedules, global incidents, and other issues and areas of concern and enable/conduct briefings and system demonstrations
• Lead and/or support of DSG initiatives to develop, deploy, operate, and maintain secure enterprise information technology solutions for digital-workspaces worldwide.
• Assist DNRO Office Staff with IC wide conferences and activities as assigned.
• Other duties and projects as assigned by Chief and Deputy Chief of Operations Division - several projects have a heavy cyber security focus

What You Need

Highly desired qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related function (software engineer, information technology, cybersecurity, systems and network engineers, etc.)
• Experience with the interrelationships of multiple IT specialties
• Understanding of an organization's IT architecture
• Knowledge of new IT developments and applications

Desired Qualifications

• Program Management or technical management expertise is highly desirable (i.e., cost, performance, schedule, and technical reporting) to accomplish the duties and responsibilities of the position
• Experience with NRO missions, programs, and management processes
• Knowledge of DoW and Intelligence Community (IC) organizations, missions, relevant policies, and processes

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

Chantilly, VA

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

Salary

This position meets 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. 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 range:

GG-11: $105,262 – $136,848

GG-12: $117,753 – $153,082

** ** This position is a full performance level DCIPS position. 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 11-12 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 Hiring@nro.mil.

Privacy Act Notice

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.

Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974