Job Overview

This job opportunity will be accepting candidate submissions until 8 January 2025.

The Director of the Strategic Partnering Directorate leads a diverse, high-performing team to strategically plan, implement, integrate, and support a wide portfolio of domestic and international partnerships, as well as enterprise-level technology transfer & transition programs, in order to achieve AFRL mission priorities.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

• Builds an innovative, knowledgeable, cohesive team that will enhance the AFRL brand with our partners.
• Provides guidance and recommendations to AFRL Senior Leaders on domestic/international partnering, collaborations & engagements, and national security innovation networking.
• Working with the AFRL Mission Organizations, leverages modern data analysis to identify strategic partnerships and opportunities for innovation.
• Creates, manages, reviews, and updates partnership mechanisms and processes, enabling efficient and synergistic access to all partnering activities in AFRL.
• Ensures AFRL is focused on the correct partnerships and facilitates outreach activities to help build lasting partnerships for the enterprise.
• Expands collaboration constructs (Centers of Excellence, Regional Hubs, NSIN, Tech Connect, etc.) to capitalize on research successes and provide opportunities for deeper engagements.
• Utilizes expert engineering/scientific/operations research knowledge to identify and support opportunities for the scientific and technical civilian and military workforce to expand its technical network and research partnerships through temporary assignments at other scientific and technical organizations (e.g., Regional Hubs).
• Creates a more visible S&T Enterprise Front Door to rapidly connect potential partners with DAF experts and opportunities.

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities; as determined by agency policy

Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.

Eligible for a Referral Bonus?

Yes

Required Qualifications

Conditions of Employment

• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Malse must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
• Must be able to obtain & maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI access
• PCS expenses, if authorized, will be paid IAW JTR and Air Force Regulations
• Recruitment incentives may/may not be authorized
• Disclosure of Political Appointments
• This is a Testing Designated Position
• The incumbent may be subject to pre-employment drug testing as a condition of employment, and participation in random drug testing
• Must file a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE 450, initially and on an annual basis

Qualifications:

• Senior Scientific Technical Managers (SSTM - DR-05) provide a continuity of technical leadership and oversight that is needed to ensure long-term stewardship of an organization’s technical capabilities.
• Candidates are expected to have a graduate degree, significant research and development experience, and a national or international reputation in his/her field (i.e., recognized throughout the applicable community as a renowned expert).

Specialized Experience:

• Candidates must have at least 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-15/DR-04 in the Federal service (or equivalent in an alternate pay system).
• Specialized experience must include professional engineering OR technical program management OR scientific experience leading and managing research and development OR technology development programs.
• Management and direction of scientific or technical organizations (at the Directorate or Division level; or at the Wing/Delta or Group or equivalent level); AND experience in strategic planning development.

IMPORTANT: Your resume, which captures the specialized experience requirements described above, and transcripts will determine your eligibility for referral. Applicants are required to provide separate narrative statements for the THREE categories identified below to describe concisely how your experience supports each of the following requirements. Failure to address these specific qualifications in separate narrative statements will eliminate applicants from consideration.

1. Mandatory Leadership Qualification. (Limit 1 page.)

• Successful performance as a first- or second-level Supervisor, in any occupational series, for at least 12 months at the Division (or equivalent) level or higher. Demonstrated an ability to accomplish work through technical and administrative direction of others, and an ability to provide an inclusive workplace that fosters the development of others, facilitates cooperation and teamwork, and supports constructive resolution of conflicts. Demonstrates outstanding team-building skills, effective written and oral communication skills, and mentoring skills.

2. Mandatory Technical Qualifications (TQs). (Limit ½ page per TQ.) TQs must provide specific examples that address relevant experience & accomplishments and clearly demonstrate technical depth & breadth related to this position. Applicants must reflect superior technical qualifications demonstrated through leadership and management in the following:

• The ability to provide strategic and technical direction to lead diverse teams of scientists and engineers in integrating AFRL’s partnering activities across the different domains of government (national/international), industry (large/small), and academia.
• The ability to assist Senior Leadership in the identification and development of Science and Technology Reinvention Laboratory (STRL), Component, and Department of Defense vision/goals/objectives of national scope and impact.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships and advise senior leadership within the DoD/DAF/USAF/USSF S&T community on plans and programs to achieve strategic S&T priorities, to include response to critical warfighter gaps.

3. Desired Qualifications (Limit 1 page.)

Technical Depth and Breadth:

• Experience at the journeyman level or higher in at least two of the following technical areas (at least 24 months cumulatively) : Science and Technology, Test and Evaluation, Product Acquisition, Product Sustainment, Intelligence or Information Technology.

Corporate Breadth and Complementary Assignment:

• One or more assignments to any of the following: MAJCOM/FIELDCOM/COCOM HQs; Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD); Joint Staff; SAF, Air Staff or USSF Staff; or equivalent HQ organizational level.
• One or more assignments to any positions where primary duties were outside the core Scientist & Engineer (S&E) occupational series, such as those found in Program Management, Logistics, Financial Management, etc.

Education:

A Baccalaureate degree in a technical or scientific field, such as engineering, physical science, operations research, or a related field; AND a graduate degree (technical, scientific, or management) is required.

General Engineering (0801) series requires : a professional engineering degree from an accredited institution is required. To be acceptable, the curriculum must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics; (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics; or a combination of education and experience.

General Physical Science (1301) series requires : A degree in physical science, engineering, or mathematics that includes 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science such as mechanics, dynamics, properties of materials, and electronics; or a combination of education and experience-education equivalent to one of the majors shown in above that included at least 24 semester hours in physical science and/or related engineering science, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Operations Research (1515) series requires: A degree in operations research; or at least 24 semester hours in a combination of operations research, mathematics, probability, statistics, mathematical logic, science, or subject-matter courses requiring substantial competence in college-level mathematics or statistics. At least 3 of the 24 semester hours must have been in calculus.

Required Documents:

• Mandatory Narrative Statements addressing the Qualifications (Limit 4 pages total).
• Most recent Performance Appraisal or Performance Report.
• Current or Former Federal Civilian Employees: Most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action , noting your current position, grade level and salary level. Block 24 must contain “1” or “2” AND block 34 must be a “1”. Employees eligible under an OPM-approved interchange agreement may have a “1” OR a “2” in block 34.
• College Transcripts: If qualifying on education/position requires education, you must submit a legible official or copy of your transcripts.
• Veterans: If claiming VEOA, VRA or 30% Disabled Veteran - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the office DD214, which must include the character of service (i.e., an honorable or general discharge). This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD214. If claiming 30% DV, you must also submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces. NOTE: All veterans claiming 10-point preference must also submit an SF-15 ( https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf )

Desired Qualifications

(Requisition No. 32645)

Additional Information

• This is an APDP position requiring Level/Tier 2 (Practitioner) Critical certification in Engineering & Technology Management (N), or the ability to obtain certification within 24 months.
• This is a Critical Acquisition Position. Selectee must execute, as a condition of employment, a written agreement to remain in Federal service in this position for at least 3 years. In signing such agreement, the employee does not forfeit any employment rights, nor does such an agreement alter any other terms or conditions of employment.
• The temporary promotion may be utilized for up to a 5-year period and/or extended in up to 5-year increments. Candidates may be permanently promoted if services are deemed permanent, served a minimum of 1 year of continuous service on temporary promotion and have at least a fully successful performance rating. If not extended or made permanent, the employee will be placed in a position in AFRL comparable to the position held before the assignment.

Series

0801

1301

1515

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) employs approximately 11,500 military, civilian and contractor personnel, and manages a $7 billion portfolio of investments. The lab supports external customers and partners with industry while investing in basic research, applied research and advanced technology development. As one integrated lab, AFRL seamlessly supports the Science & Technology needs of two services: the Air Force and the Space Force.