Director, Office of Congressional & Public Affairs

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Chantilly, VA

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JOB DETAILS

JOB TYPE

Full-time

SKILLS

Acquisitions Management, Administrative Skills, Analysis Skills, Business Operations, Business Plan, Communication Skills, Counterintelligence Polygraph, Defense Intelligence, Disability Accommodations, Documentation, Establish Priorities, Federal Government, Financial Management, Financial Policies, Financial Systems, Genetics, Government, Government Intelligence, Integrated Circuits (ICs), Intelligence Community, Leadership, Military, Military Intelligence, National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Operating Systems, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Public Affairs, Public/Media/Press/Analyst Relations, Research & Development (R&D), Resource Management, Security Clearance, Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Social Media, Staff Training, Strategic Planning, Surveillance, System Integration (SI), System Operations, Team Lead/Manager, Team Player, Time Management, Top Secret Clearance, United States Citizen

LOCATION

Chantilly, VA

POSTED

11 days ago

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

Where You Will Work

This position is located in the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Chantilly, VA. The NRO is the federal agency chartered to meet United States Government’s intelligence needs through delivering space-borne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. As a Department of War (DoW) agency and an element of the Intelligence Community (IC), the NRO is staffed by DoW and IC agency personnel and is funded through the National Intelligence Program (NIP) and the Military Intelligence Program (MIP), consistent with priorities and processes established by the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence and Security (USW(I&S)). The NRO executes the research and development, acquisition, launch, and operation of overhead ISR systems necessary to meet the needs of the DoW, IC, and other national decision makers.

The Business Plans and Operations (BPO) Directorate serves as an advisor to the Director, NRO, his staff and the Directorates and Offices of the NRO in all financial and resource management matters. BPO builds and maintains the resource foundation for developing, acquiring, and operating system that enable the NRO to provide innovate overhead intelligence for national security. BPO also creates, implements, and manages sound financial policies, integrated financial systems, disciplined Congressional liaison, and effective communications counsel. Additionally, the Directorate manages all NRO acquisition processes and documentation, and ensures NRO acquisition planning remains in compliance with DoW and Office of the Director, National Intelligence (ODNI) policy objectives. Finally, BPO provides cohesive resource analysis for NRO leadership, IC decision makers, and external oversight partners; planning and program support to the NRO acquisition functions; and historical insight and analytical framework to NRO leaders.

The Director, Office of Congressional & Public Affairs (D/OCPA) is a Defense Intelligence Senior Level (DISL) tier 1 position within BPO. D/OCPA is responsible for overseeing and executing all matters pertaining to Legislative Branch oversight of NRO programs and activities, all matters related to NRO’s interactions with the public and media, to include social media and public speaking engagements, and distinguished visitors to NRO headquarters. OCPA develops communication strategies to help disseminate key messages to NRO stakeholders (internal and external to the NRO), and disseminates timely information to target audiences to facilitate understanding of the NRO’s mission, goals, and strategies, and ensures uniformity of experience for leadership hosted events and guests.

The position’s responsibilities focus on executive leadership, management, and oversight responsibilities for NRO Congressional, Public Affairs, and Protocol staff at the NRO. The incumbent is responsible for three primary functions on behalf of the Director, BPO (D/BPO):

Develop and sustain NRO relationships across the Legislative Branch and promote NRO programs with Congress;
Represent and communicate the NRO’s public persona; and

Facilitate NRO leadership hosted events at NRO headquarters.

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 07-JUL-2026 through 24-JUL-2026. Applicant packages must be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on the closing date.

Who May Apply

This position is open to current Federal civilian employees who are senior officers, GG/GS-15, and applicants from the Private Sector.
The NRO is only accepting external applicants through this job announcement.

What You Will Be Doing

The D/OCPA executes all aspects of the office’s duties outlined below, beginning with the NRO’s overall Congressional and Public Affairs strategies and is responsible for overseeing protocol functions supporting DNRO and NRO senior leaders. Within OCPA, the director has responsibility for ensuring that the office is operating at high levels of performance and that mission operations are streamlined and effective, as well as overseeing personnel-related decision-making. The office promotes the mission of the NRO by:

Expertly advising the DNRO, PDDNRO, DDNRO, and the NRO leadership team on Congressional issues and engagement
Ensuring that Congress is fully and currently informed of significant intelligence activities and programs
Organizing notifications on time-sensitive subjects
Tracking legislation that could affect the NRO
Responding to Congressional correspondence and directed actions
Educating NRO personnel about their obligations for keeping the Congress fully and currently informed of significant intelligence activities
Leading, managing, and overseeing all public communications for the DNRO; and rapidly and accurately responding to public and media queries
Leading, managing, and overseeing relationships with appropriate media organizations and serve as a credible and authoritative source on National Reconnaissance and related issues
Serve as chief spokesperson on behalf of the DNRO
Direct the NRO in external and internal communications matters
Communicate the DNRO’s messages to the NRO workforce
Communicate the DNRO’s messages to the public
Work with the IC and DoW Offices of Legislative Affairs and Public Affairs on Congressional and public communications matters, respectively
Ensure uniformity of leadership hosted events
Manage the distinguished visitor parking program for headquarters
Track and control the use of representational funds in support of leadership engagements
Responsible for overseeing protocol functions supporting DNRO and NRO senior leaders.

Qualifications

All applicants for this senior officer position must submit written capability statement (narrative format) of accomplishments that would satisfy the IC Senior Office Core Qualification and the technical qualifications.

IC Senior Officer Core Qualification (IC SOCQ)

Leading the Intelligence Enterprise is the core qualification that involves the ability to integrate resources, information, interests, and activities effectively in support of the IC's mission and to lead and leverage cross-organizational collaborative networks to achieve significant mission results. Inherent to this senior officer qualification is a deep understanding of the Intelligence Enterprise and a shared commitment to the IC's core values.

Technical Qualifications

Expert knowledge and demonstrated ability to develop and execute:
1. A legislative strategy for Members of Congress and Legislative Branch staff, and
2. A public affairs strategy to include public speaking engagements, media and social media that advance organizational objectives.
Expert knowledge and demonstrated ability to lead teams and translate strategic objectives into a comprehensive, executable program.

Other Significant Facts and Requirements

Excepted Service: This position is an Excepted Service, Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) position under authorities of the U.S. Code Title 10, Section 1601 and 1607, dated 20 July 1999.

DCIPS Trial Period: Newly appointed NRO Cadre senior officers must meet a two-year DCIPS trial period if not previously satisfied. Runs concurrent with other probationary or trial periods.

DISL Probationary Period: Newly appointed DISL employees (including DISES moving into a DISL position) must complete a one-year DISL Probationary Period if not previously satisfied.

Citizenship: U.S. citizenship required to qualify for this position.

Drug-Free Workplace: Position is a Testing Designated Position. Incumbent subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.

Security Clearance: Position is designated special-sensitive and incumbent must obtain and retain a TOP SECRET security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. Employee remains subject to initial and periodic Counterintelligence Polygraphs and the terms of their signed NDA.

Financial Disclosure: The incumbent is required to submit an initial OGE 278e (Financial Disclosure) within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter in accordance with the Joint Ethics Regulation.

Education Requirement: Advanced degree preferred in related field.

Duty Hours: The incumbent is required to be available for other than normal duty hours to include weekends to support exercises and crisis planning.

Submission Package

All applicants for this senior officer position must submit:

Resume. A two-page resume is required. In addition, you may choose to also submit a more detailed resume that exceeds two-pages.
Capability Statement: a narrative statement specifically addressing your ability to perform the duties and meet the qualifications for this position as described in the announcement above.

Current IC officer applicants, including banded or graded personnel, current DISL or DISES, and other IC Component senior officers, are also required to submit:

SF-50 proving current Federal civilian status
Last two performance appraisals.

If you would like to submit a classified resume and/or capability statement, please complete your unclassified application to this vacancy announcement and send an email to Hiring@nro.mil for instructions for handling classified application materials.

Location
Chantilly, Virginia

Salary
2026 DISL salary range: $186,207 - $209,600

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, if not previously satisfied.

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 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

About the Company

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

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