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COMM Mission Director
National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)Springfield, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 20 May 2026
💰 $172,578/yr($117,753/yr – $172,578/yr)
About the role
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, the 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 NRO:
Where You Will Work
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Communications Systems Directorate (COMM), Enterprise Management Office (EMO), seeks a motivated IT professional with interest in a highly-visible, fast-paced environment to serve as the COMM Directorate's operational focal point and oversee COMM operations on behalf of the Director of COMM in support of NRO missions.
If selected for the position, you will serve as the COMM Mission Director with authorities to direct all COMM resources within the COMM IT portfolio across the enterprise in support of NRO operations. Acting as the senior government representative for COMM operations within the NRO Operations Center (NOC), you will be charged with the responsibility of actively coordinating with Site Mission Directors, Site Senior COMM Leads, and COMM Group & Office Operations representatives to maintain situational awareness for a wide audience of NRO, COMM and Directorate leaders, driving incident response collaboration, and coordination of COMM maintenance activities. In turn, your role will also be expected to support real-time NRO missions through 24x7 mission assurance of COMM capabilities ensuring availability of COMM systems, services, and capabilities, and conducting maintenance de-confliction and approval. Also, importantly, the position will also require you to coordinate with IC partners and external USG agencies and departments to drive resolution of incidents and assure operational support for USG-level operations. Serving as the operational lead for COMM within the NOC, you will be seen as the delegate of the Director of COMM to be the focal point and voice of COMM for NRO senior leaders.
COMM Mission Director candidates will enter an immersive training program to gain a deep understanding of the NRO Information Enterprise architecture (~2 months) and its impact on NRO missions. Upon certification, COMM MDs serve the NRO in a mission-critical role on scheduled rotational shifts, including holiday, weekend, night duty, as well as regularly scheduled opportunities for professional development activities.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GG12 – GG13) IT Specialists, occupational series 2210. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.
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 May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Jun 2, 2026.
Who May Apply
The COMM Mission Director (MD) is responsible for overseeing and directing all real-time operations across the NRO enterprise on behalf of the Director of the COMM Di
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, the 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 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 National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Communications Systems Directorate (COMM), Enterprise Management Office (EMO), seeks a motivated IT professional with interest in a highly-visible, fast-paced environment to serve as the COMM Directorate's operational focal point and oversee COMM operations on behalf of the Director of COMM in support of NRO missions.
If selected for the position, you will serve as the COMM Mission Director with authorities to direct all COMM resources within the COMM IT portfolio across the enterprise in support of NRO operations. Acting as the senior government representative for COMM operations within the NRO Operations Center (NOC), you will be charged with the responsibility of actively coordinating with Site Mission Directors, Site Senior COMM Leads, and COMM Group & Office Operations representatives to maintain situational awareness for a wide audience of NRO, COMM and Directorate leaders, driving incident response collaboration, and coordination of COMM maintenance activities. In turn, your role will also be expected to support real-time NRO missions through 24x7 mission assurance of COMM capabilities ensuring availability of COMM systems, services, and capabilities, and conducting maintenance de-confliction and approval. Also, importantly, the position will also require you to coordinate with IC partners and external USG agencies and departments to drive resolution of incidents and assure operational support for USG-level operations. Serving as the operational lead for COMM within the NOC, you will be seen as the delegate of the Director of COMM to be the focal point and voice of COMM for NRO senior leaders.
COMM Mission Director candidates will enter an immersive training program to gain a deep understanding of the NRO Information Enterprise architecture (~2 months) and its impact on NRO missions. Upon certification, COMM MDs serve the NRO in a mission-critical role on scheduled rotational shifts, including holiday, weekend, night duty, as well as regularly scheduled opportunities for professional development activities.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GG12 – GG13) IT Specialists, occupational series 2210. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.
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 May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Jun 2, 2026.
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 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 may not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.
The COMM Mission Director (MD) is responsible for overseeing and directing all real-time operations across the NRO enterprise on behalf of the Director of the COMM Di
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