Deputy Director, Plans and Programs Directorate

This position is located in the Plans and Programs Directorate (S8P) at United States Space Force (USSF) Headquarters, The Pentagon.

About the role

As the Deputy Director for the Plans and Programs Directorate (S8P), you will hold a key leadership position responsible for developing the future years resource plan and budget request for all research, development, test, and evaluation; procurement; manpower; MILCON; and operations and sustainment funding. In close partnership with the Director, you will focus on executing the USSF corporate process, associated budget programming, and necessary planning for the Service budget across all aspects of appropriations. This pivotal role shapes future investments and involves working closely across all S8 divisions, the Space Warfighting Analysis Center, OSW entities, and counterpart offices in the United States Air Force to ensure investments appropriately account for current requirements, joint mission needs, and future warfighting capabilities of the Department of the Air Force (DAF).

As a Subject Matter Expert, you will serve as the focal point for engagement and coordination with S5/8 USSF, DAF leadership, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Combatant Commands, and Legislative Liaisons to outline and execute the USSF’s investment priorities on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the USSF corporate process, including budget programming and planning for all appropriations.
• Shape future investments by coordinating across S8 divisions, Space Warfighting Analysis Center, OSW entities, and Air Force counterpart offices.
• Engage with senior leadership, including S5/8 USSF, DAF, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Combatant Commands, and Legislative Liaisons to execute USSF investment priorities.
• Analyze operational risk, capability development, long-range planning, forecasting, and force readiness.
• Establish office processes, supervise teams, and direct complex tasks.
• Present technical budget and program data to senior-level leadership.
• Lead and guide teams in formulating and executing plans to achieve organizational goals.
• Develop new fundamental concepts, criteria, policies, methodologies, and techniques.
• Anticipate problems and develop sound solutions and action plans for mission accomplishment.
• Provide strategic direction for resolving mission-critical problems, policies, and procedures.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top-Secret security clearance with SCI access.
• This is a drug-testing designated position; incumbent is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
• Required to handle and safeguard sensitive and/or classified information in accordance with regulations.
• Eligible for situational telework only, including Emergency and OPM-prescribed “Unscheduled Telework.”
• May be required to work overtime on an unscheduled or emergency basis.
• Subject to Temporary Duty Assignment (TDY): Approximately 15 days per year.
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) is authorized; incentive is not authorized.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Department of Defense (DoD) operations, planning, acquisitions, budgeting, or staff roles, with a strong preference for a background in space operations.
• Highly proficient in the DoD Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) process.
• Proven expertise in critically analyzing operational risk, capability development, long-range planning, forecasting, and force readiness.
• Demonstrated leadership and management skills, including establishing office processes, supervising teams, and directing complex tasks.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills, essential for presenting technical budget and program data to senior-level leadership.
• Preferred: Master’s degree.
• Strong technical proficiency, including comfort with database tools, software applications, and planning and analysis programs.

Skills

• Mastery of the relationship between Space Force, Air Force, and Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) entities involved in planning and executing the Space Force budget.
• Extensive experience leading, defining, managing, and integrating efforts across multiple groups or teams.
• In-depth knowledge of PPBE and DoD acquisition processes.
• Skill in developing and fostering others by providing guidance or sharing expertise.
• Ability to define and establish organizational focus for challenging and highly complex projects/programs, optimizing resources to accomplish goals.
• Skill in delivering briefings and advocating to senior leaders to obtain consensus/approval on complex issues, and presenting organizational briefings to convey strategic vision or policies.
• Ability to lead and guide teams in formulating and executing plans, achieving organizational goals, and solving broad organizational issues.
• Ability to work with senior management to establish new concepts, criteria, and stimulate development of new policies, methodologies, and techniques.
• Ability to anticipate problems, develop solutions, and create action plans for program/mission success.
• Ability to assess and provide strategic direction for resolving mission-critical problems, policies, and procedures.

About the organization

The United States Space Force (USSF) is a military service that organizes, trains, and equips military members and civilians to protect U.S. and allied interests in space and provide space capabilities to the joint force. USSF responsibilities include developing Guardians, acquiring military space systems, maturing military doctrine for space power, and organizing space forces to present to Combatant Commands (CCMDs).

The strategic importance of space cannot be overstated. Political, humanitarian, and commercial interests vital to the world economy all rely on space-based systems. Launched in 2019 as the nation’s sixth and newest military branch, the USSF was created to protect the interests and assets of America and its allies in this contested domain. The Department of Defense relies on satellites and advanced space-based technology for secure communications, navigation, real-time reconnaissance, precision targeting, early warning of missile launches, and weather forecasting.

The Space Force seeks to attract talent with the character and potential to excel, empower them with information and choices, and develop them in line with their desires and the Space Force’s needs to create a high-performing organization necessary to secure and defend space.