HQE Chief Experience Officer

Qualifications:

Eligibility will be based upon a clear showing the applicant has training, education and experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry-out the duties of the position. Candidates must exemplify the corporate perspective, leadership vision, broad experience and character needed in the SES corps not only to satisfy the immediate vacancy, but future vacancies which will occur in a variety of organizations, functions and locations.

HQEs contribute in a variety of occupational fields, such as soft and hard sciences, engineering, technology, human resources, business, transformation, education, medicine, languages, and logistics.

HQEs may be hired to mentor, lead, oversee, direct, manage, and or consult on DoD programs and initiatives, including high profile and fast track assignments.

HQEs serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Official and may be terminated at any time. When practicable, they should be given no less than 3-days' advance notice. Additional requirements include: executive-level experience in IT/ET architecture concepts and program management to include emerging technologies not currently in use within the DoD; a high level of personal initiative, creative problem solving skills, and innovative thought; and the

ability to present and defend independent positions at the highest levels of government.

Responsibilities:

The United States Air Force at the Pentagon, Arlington, VA, is seeking a visionary and results-oriented leader to serve as the Chief Experience Officer (CXO).

Description: The Chief Experience Officer (CXO) serves as the primary champion for a user-centric digital culture within the Department's information technology and acquisition enterprises. In this high-impact role, the CXO spearheads the strategic integration of human-centered design principles to ensure that digital tools empower Airmen rather than hinder them. By providing expert counsel to senior leadership, the CXO influences the full lifecycle of Information Technology (IT)/Emerging Technology (ET) programs-from initial development and implementation to long-term sustainment. This position is not merely advisory; it is a driving force for organizational change, tasked with identifying systemic digital challenges, quantifying their impact on operational readiness, and deploying the modern tools and methodologies necessary to resolve them. The CXO operates at the nexus of technology and mission, ensuring that every digital touchpoint is optimized for efficiency, intuitiveness, and lethal effectiveness.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with an extensive background in human-centered design (HCD), digital product management, and large-scale organizational transformation. They possess a deep understanding of how to integrate user experience (UX) into the Department of the Air Force's (DAF) acquisition and IT lifecycles. They have a proven track record of moving organizations from a technology-first to a user-first culture, quantifying the impact of design on mission readiness, and navigating complex bureaucratic environments to achieve seamless, end-to-end digital journeys.

Key Skills and Abilities

Strategic UX Leadership and Operationalization: Ability to develop, integrate, and operationalize an enterprise-wide UX strategy aligned with Department of the Air Force digital transformation goals. This includes the establishment of measurable UX milestones, maturity models, and assessment frameworks that link user satisfaction directly to operational efficiency and lethal readiness.

Governance and Policy Excellence: Comprehensive knowledge of policy formulation processes with the ability to draft, coordinate, and publish authoritative UX guidance, design standards, and accessibility policies. Skill in ensuring these policies are consistent with Higher Headquarters (HHQ) directives while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the fast-paced evolution of ET.

Complex Analysis and Decision Support: Skill in conducting high-level meta-analysis of digital ecosystems to identify systemic friction points. Ability to distill complex qualitative and quantitative data into senior-leader decision support products-such as executive summaries and courses of action-that justify investments in user-centric infrastructure and process improvements.

Strategic Influence & Cross-Functional Leadership: Expert ability to champion DAF UX interests by leveraging the DAF IT Pulse Survey and 688th UX program dashboards to identify pain points and drive strategic improvements. Proven skill in building consensus among Program Managers and technical stakeholders, negotiating outcomes that prioritize the "Airman/Guardian Experience," and influencing policy decisions across siloed organizational boundaries.

Data-Driven Performance Management: Skill in designing and applying sophisticated performance measures, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs), and Measures of Performance (MOPs) specific to the digital experience. Ability to build longitudinal assessment plans that use data-driven approaches to monitor progress, identify gaps in user journeys, and recommend corrective actions.

Executive Communication & Briefing: Mastery in translating complex design, business cases, and technical concepts into high-impact narratives for large audiences and senior leadership. Highly proficient in authoring executive-level strategy documents, policy memoranda, and staff packages that clearly articulate the "human element" of technology in terms that resonate with both military and civilian senior executives.

Salary : $186,207