Top-Secret Performance Management / Performance pay team lead

About the role

B&A is seeking a Performance Management / Performance Pay Team Lead to support a federal government client in a mission-critical human capital program. The successful candidate will serve as the lead advisor and primary point of contact for performance management and performance pay activities, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS), and agency-specific policies. This role requires a strategic and detail-oriented professional with expertise in federal performance management, compensation administration, and pay-for-performance programs. The candidate will collaborate with senior leaders and executives, manage sensitive compensation data, drive process improvements, and support implementation of performance management initiatives across the organization.

At B&A, we foster and embrace a distinct set of values that we live by and instill in all aspects of our organization: dedication, commitment, partnership, trust, and recognition. We have incorporated these values into successful delivery for our customers since 1988. B&A believes in ensuring its employees feel deeply connected to B&A, recognizing successes and hard work, and providing continuous opportunities to learn and grow. Our people are entrepreneurial thinkers that combine mindset, vision, and experience to drive value – not only to us as an organization, but to the clients we support. We promote a collaborative culture with our clients, and with each other, as one team working towards a common vision.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for performance management and performance pay support.
• Lead support for the DCIPS performance management cycle, including performance plans, mid-point reviews, and close-out evaluations.
• Develop and maintain NGA’s annual Performance Pay Guide in line with DCIPS and NGA regulations.
• Support pay pool processes, including compiling component data for deliberations and auditing pay pool calculations.
• Develop, update, and deliver performance management and performance pay training, including quarterly performance pay training.
• Run reports, analyze trends, and identify shortfalls and efficiencies for performance management, performance pay, and awards and recognition.
• Conduct annual evaluations of the executive and banded performance management and pay processes through surveys and focus groups, and report findings.
• Support the planning and rollout of NGA’s new Performance Development System, including implementation plans, change management, research-based training, and stakeholder feedback.
• Maintain accurate content on HD’s performance management, compensation, and awards web pages, and answer customer requests within three business days.
• Communicate effectively with senior managers and executives.
• Protect strictly confidential salary and performance data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, or Management.
• Minimum of five (5) years of total experience, including:
  • Three (3) years of DCIPS experience.
  • Two (2) years with senior-level performance management.
  • Demonstrated experience with federal performance management regulations and DCIPS compensation structures.
  • Proven experience auditing pay pool calculations.

Skills

Required Skills

• Proficiency in data management and modeling.
• High degree of discretion and the ability to handle strictly confidential salary and performance data.
• Analytical skills for identifying compensation discrepancies.
• Effective communication with senior-level managers and executives.

Desired Skills

• Two (2) years of supervisory experience leading a compensation or performance management team.
• Experience implementing process improvements in federal performance management systems.
• AI training, experience, or demonstrated aptitude for learning AI tools.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance; willing to submit to a counterintelligence polygraph.

Benefits

• Three robust individual and family medical plans (including HSA option) and two tiers of dental coverage.
• Vision, life & AD&D, disability, accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance.
• Paid time off.
• B&A sponsored trainings and certifications.
• Pet insurance benefits.
• Commuter transit benefits.
• Free subscription to a virtual exercise platform (NEOU).
• 401(k) plan with company matching contribution.
• B&A Cares program: 30/60/90‑day wellness check‑ins, personal development, financial management, stress management seminars, and more.
• Formal mentorship program.
• Job shadowing and cross‑training opportunities.
• Brand Ambassador program.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to counseling, legal guidance,