Director, Office of Public Affairs

WE ARE THE NRO

For over 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 18 years of age or older
• 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
  
  

Position Summary

This position is located in the BPO/Office of Congressional & Public Affairs (OCPA) and serves as the Director of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). The Director of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA) is responsible for internal and external corporate communications, including representatives of the print, televised, social and other media; the public; and internal communications with the entirety of the NRO workforce. The Director supervises a team of government and contract employees and is responsible to the Director of OCPA as a major component of the NRO's strategic messaging team. The Director of OPA will maintain close strategic relationships with counterparts in the Department of Defense, ODNI, and other Intelligence Community and defense agencies. The Director is expected to have comprehensive knowledge of communications strategies, techniques, and dissemination methods; sound communications skills; and knowledge and experience with public affairs tradecraft. The Director should have demonstrated experience leading formal and informal teams with members from multiple workforce components and organizations.

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for a Senior Level, Director of the Office of Public Affairs (GG-14 to GG-15), occupational series 1035. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

This is a full time position. 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 January 8th, 2025 to January 22nd, 2025. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on January 22nd, 2025.

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 IAW DoD 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 DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.
  
  

What You Will Be Doing

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in communications strategy development and brand journalism approach to content creation (AP Stylebook)
• Administers public affairs plans, programs, and initiatives by developing, designing and advising on communications strategies and approaches. Identifies, develops, and applies a range of tools to evaluate communication efforts across the spectrum of outreach and communication mediums and provide options for increasing program effectiveness.
• Manages, develops, and executes comprehensive NRO corporate communication plans ensuring consistency of message and unity of effort with NRO's public affairs activities, speech service liaison activities, and national news media engagements of strategic value. Develops, implements, and evaluates proactive strategies to communicate NRO's mission and programs. Continuously reviews existing programs for impact and effectiveness, and recommends adjustments or new initiatives as required to achieve communication and outlook goals.
• Oversees the execution of the public affairs strategy for the NRO. Provides NRO Director, and senior staff public affairs guidance on a wide array of public affairs issues. Advises senior leadership on implications of media coverage and community relations actions and events.
• Manages outreach and events program. Monitors IC, DoD, and space community events and recommends NRO's participation in support of communications strategies to include regular engagement with foundations, academia, and industry/government relations points of contact. Plans, designs, executes, and evaluates the appropriate level of NRO's participation in non-traditional media outlets and community events. Monitors public engagements, including industry and partner activities, and congressional proceedings to detect and advise leadership on the impact of impending major changes to regulations and/or guidance.
• Oversees the development and implementation of marketing strategies in a variety of venues, such as conferences, social media, and editorial boards, to inform and educate a wide variety of audiences about NRO's mission and activities. Develops and disseminates informational materials to the public or specialized target groups or stakeholders.
• Develops and designs communication strategies and objectives for NRO that promote international, national, regional and local understanding and acceptance of the people, mission, culture and contributions of the NRO. Strategies and objectives include enduring campaigns with worldwide scope, editorial boards, interviews, demonstrations, and media background briefings. Strategic approaches utilize all Public Affairs resources in linking publicity opportunities with key themes on a timely basis.
  
  

What You Need

• Expert of communication principles, methods, practices and techniques; analytical methods; and interpersonal relations practices. Skilled in applying this mastery in developing new methods and approaches in planning, integrating and evaluating the overall communications program.
• Expert knowledge and skill for advising top management officials on aspects of the communication program, recommending strategies for all aspects of the NRO's program; and establishing standards for the development and evaluation of communications and outreach activities throughout the organization.
• Comprehensive skill in analyzing media, congressional, and other outside agency reactions to NRO programs and policies.
• Mastery of written English in order to prepare responses to a variety of complex, controversial, and/or sensitive issues, ensuring completeness and accuracy, proper tone and format, and technical terminology appropriate for the intended audience. Expert advisor on programs involving media relations, agency information, and community outreach services.
• Mastery ability to interpret public policy trends and senior leadership intent to turn them into actionable direction, policy, goals, mission priorities, and original solutions.
• Ability to integrate inputs from multiple sources to develop and recommend communication strategies.
• Superior ability to listen, clarify, and convey understanding of others' ideas, comments, and questions, and to integrate and build upon diverse opinions.
  
  

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.
  
  

**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-14 to GG-15 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 DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Location

Chantilly, VA

Salary

2025 Salary Range For The Chantilly, VA Area

GG-14: $142,488 - $185,234

GG-15: $167,603 - $195,200

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

DoD 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 DoD 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].

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