Duties

The Director for Space Sustainability:

• Leads and represents NASA's orbital debris and space safety and sustainability equities and coordinates within the Agency, with other agencies, and internationally. Recommends and coordinates unified policies and guidance supporting space sustainability for the increasingly active space environment.
• Provides technical guidance to NASA and other US government agencies/offices such as the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Communications Commission. Collaborates across these key partners and other stakeholders (academia; international partners; industry) in support of space and environmental sustainability.
• Evaluates complex regulatory and policy projects dealing with space safety regulations, including domestic and international regulations associated with space vehicle launch, operations, and deorbit, to ensure that regulations and policies are adopted that enable a sustainable and safe space environment.
• Directs and coordinates specific investments related to orbital debris and sustainability, such as research, pilot projects, or demonstrations. Coordinates NASA operational space traffic management efforts to ensure operations are conducted safely and efficiently, avoiding collisions and radio frequency interference resulting from an increasingly congested space environment.
• Engages with Mission Directorates on specific activities to further NASA's work in space sustainability. Implements such activities through their own organization, builds long-term capabilities, and effectively aligns Agency programs to national priorities.
• Supports the creation of U.S. Government Orbital Debris Mitigation Standard Practices, upon which some regulations are based as well as the creation of NASA requirements to guide mission development, enforce sustainability policies across the board to include international agreements and domestic partnerships and procurements.
• Chairs the Space Environment Sustainability Advisory Board (SESAB) which serves as the Agency's integration body. The SESAB advises the implementing organizations and NASA senior leadership by providing a combined perspective across orbital debris, conjunction assessment, and space situational awareness.
• Facilitates collaboration between Agency leadership, Mission Directorates, key functional offices, and other internal stakeholders as necessary to ensure effective execution of a policy strategy.
• Provides leadership for a dispersed workforce of experts in the field of space sustainability and safety, mitigation and remediation, space traffic coordination and orbital debris, and oversees policies and initiatives to ensure the growth, training, and development of all assigned employees.
• Fosters and continually drives a culture of engagement, diversity, inclusiveness, excellence, innovation within and outside of the organization and NASA. Champions the Agency's commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) and creates an environment and culture that promotes and enables the Agency's commitment to safety, inclusion, integrity, teamwork, and excellence.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report' (OGE-278) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.
• Initial Senior Executive Service (SES) Career appointee is subject to a one-year probationary period.
• Successful completion of a background investigation commensurate with the risk and sensitivity level of the position.
• Successful completion of pre-employment and random drug testing may be required.
• Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  You must provide a complete application package. If you do not provide all required information, you will not be considered for this position. Only provide the following:
  1. Resume showing relevant work experience (start/end dates stated in month/year, description of duties), applicable education at a minimum, and your contact information. For current or previous Federal employees, it should also include the Pay Plan, Series and Grade for each work experience entry. Limit your resume to 10 pages. If more than 10 pages are submitted, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
  2. Executive Core Qualifications narrative responses, if applicable. Limit your response to 10 pages. If more than 10 pages are submitted, only the first 10 pages will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
  3. Mandatory Technical Qualifications narrative responses. Limit your response to 1 page per MTQ. If more than 1 page per MTQ is submitted, only the first pages for each MTQ will be reviewed to determine your eligibility/qualifications.
  You may be asked to provide additional documentation to support your eligibility and the information provided in your application package. For example, we may request transcripts, SF-50s, SES Candidate Development Program certificate, etc. Therefore, we encourage you to have these documents prepared and ready when requested by the agency. If you fail to provide the required documents within the stated time period, we may withdraw a job offer and/or remove you from further consideration.

• How to Apply

  To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section.
  A complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.

  • To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.
  • Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.
  • After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.
  • You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

  To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login), all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
  NASA's online application process provides step by step guidance to ensure you provide all needed information. If you are unable to apply online, please contact Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov for assistance. Faxed, emailed, and/or mailed application materials will not be accepted for this announcement.
  NASA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you are an applicant with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency contact center listed on the job vacancy announcement. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.

  Agency contact information

  NASA Executive Staffing

  Email

  Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov

  Address

  NASA Headquarters
  300 E St SW
  Washington, DC 20546
  US

  Next steps

  Although you may or may not be contacted during the selection process, we will always advise you about the outcome of the announcement. If you have questions, please feel free to contact NASA Executive Staffing at Agency-Executive-Staffing@mail.nasa.gov.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents