Military

SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER

Defense Threat Reduction Agency ยท Department of Defense
๐Ÿ“ Fort Belvoir, Virginia GS-14 $143,913 - $187,093/yr
Posted: May 19, 2026 Deadline: Jun 1, 2026 (Closes in 6 days)

About This Position

This position is part of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. The incumbent will be responsible for serving as the primary coordinator and executor of day-to-day division operations. .

Qualifications

You may qualify at the GS-14, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A. One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level in the Federal service: Operational synchronization, battle rhythm management, decision support, and operational oversight from an administrative management perspective. Daily tasks will include consolidating, drafting, and reviewing Situation Reports (SITREPS) with input from branch chiefs, ideal candidate has superior written and verbal communication skills and can proof products for coherence, department priorities, and clarity.

Influence and negotiate with others, leading teams, and financial management across a program is essential. (EXPERIENCE MUST BE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN YOUR RESUME) Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Major Duties

As a SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER at the GS-0301-14 some of your typical work assignments may include: Serves as the primary coordinator and executor of day-to-day division operations. These operations involve de-conflicting multiple, simultaneous advisory missions and ensuring incoming formal tasks, like Capability Force Requests, are assigned to the appropriate internal teams. The incumbent must also dynamically re-allocate division resources and adjust timelines in response to short-notice, time-sensitive contingencies from Combatant Command operational partners.

Responsible for synchronizing tasks, managing timelines, and maintaining situational awareness to ensure mission requirements are performed effectively and leadership is informed. Execution lead for DIV sensitive activities, advisory operations in support of Combatant Command operations, and confirmed Capability Force Request (CFR)/taskings. Manages planning, tasking, and reporting to ensure operational tempo, visibility, and compliance are maintained.

Operates with broad independence under general guidance and produces work with significant impact on organizational mission, external stakeholders, and senior-level decision-making, aligning operational requirements, contractor support, and oversight constraints. When managing planning, the incumbent considers competing COCOM priorities against available division resources to develop achievable courses of action for leadership approval. The plans and taskings they develop are directives that flow down to embedded teams, while their reporting consists of consolidating operational SITREPS into executive summaries for the Division Chief and external stakeholders.

Serves as an Alternate Contracting Officer's Representative (ACOR).

Education

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Once the application process is complete, your resume and supporting documentation will be used to determine whether you meet the job qualifications listed on this announcement. If you are minimally qualified for this job, your resume and supporting documentation will be compared to your responses on the Occupational Questionnaire. If you rate yourself higher than is supported by your application materials, your responses may be adjusted and/or you may be excluded from consideration for this job.

If you are found to be among the top candidates, you will be referred to the selecting official for employment consideration.

Your qualifications will be evaluated on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Competencies: Administration and Management Financial Management Influencing/Negotiating Organizational Awareness Stakeholder Management Structured Resume Review DTRA has elected to use the Structured Resume Review process for this vacancy. What Is a Structured Resume Review? A Structured Resume Review is a screening (pass/fail) assessment whereby a trained panel of two or more subject matter experts (SMEs) follows a systematic process to review an applicant's resume and come to agreement on whether the applicant has the required specialized experience necessary to successfully perform the job.

A Structured Resume Review does not result in a score or quality category for the applicants. It results in a qualified/not qualified determination based on the required specialized experience for the position. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP):This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed.

To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria AND 2) be rated well-qualified for the position AND 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility. Well-qualified means you possess the type and quality of experience that exceeds the position's minimum qualifications. Priority Placement Program (PPP) DoD Retained Grade Preference (RGP): To receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the (RGP) eligibility.

If you are claiming RGP and are determined to be Well Qualified for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant. Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Reserve (MR) and National Guard (NG) Technician Eligible (PPP DoD MRNG):In order to receive this preference, you must choose the (PPP DoD MRNG) eligibility, and fill out and submit the Military Reserve and National Guard Technician PPP Self-Certification Checklist and copies of the appropriate documentation. Priority Placement Program, DoD Military Spouse Preference (MSP) (PPP MSP): In order to receive this preference, you must choose to apply using the(MSP) (PPP MSP) eligibility.

If you are claiming MSP (PPP MSP) and are determined to be Well Qualified (score of 85 or above) for the position, you will be referred to the hiring manager as a priority applicant.

Additional Information

Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA): To be eligible for a VEOA appointment under Merit Promotion procedures, the veteran must be a preference eligible or a veteran separated after 3 years or more of continuous active service performed under honorable conditions. Interagency Career Transition Assistance Programs: This program applies to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: 1) meet ICTAP eligibility criteria; 2) be rated well-qualified for the position; Well qualified is defined as possessing the type and quality of experience that exceeds the positions minimum qualifications. and 3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your ICTAP eligibility.

For more information: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. Noncompetitive Appointment Authorities: For more information on noncompetitive appointment authority eligibility requirements: Persons with Disabilities - Schedule A Special Hiring Authority for Veterans Special Hiring Authority for Certain Military Spouses Other Special Appointment Authorities - Subpart F Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/register/) The selecting official may choose to conduct interviews, and once the selection is made, you will receive a notification of the decision.

NOTE: Declining to be interviewed or failure to report for a scheduled interview will be considered as a declination for further consideration for employment against this vacancy. Selective Service Requirement: Please visit http://www.sss.gov for more information. For more information, please visit https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d Other Notes: Re-employed Annuitant: This position does not meet criteria for re-employed annuitant.

The DoD criteria for hiring Re-employed Annuitants can be found at: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/140025/140025_vol300.PDF?ver=LQ7feWw-8-5DI2tceUpmgA%3d%3d This position is subject to an initial drug screening, and random testing thereafter. A negative drug test result must be received by HR within 30 calendar days after the EOD (i.e., start date). The selectee's inability successfully pass; or refusal to conduct the test may result in: 1) the tentative or FJO being withdrawn during the recruitment process; or 2) subsequently being removed from Federal service for failure to meet a condition of employment.

You may be required to sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding" if you are selected for this position. Status candidates must meet time-in-grade requirements (52 weeks at the next lower grade level).

How to Apply

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on the closing date to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply Online to access an online application.

Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents.

You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account or you may need to create a new account.

You will be taken to an online application.

Complete the online application, verify the required documentation, and submit the application.

NOTE: Resumes up to a total of two pages will be accepted. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration.

You will receive an email notification when your application has been received for the announcement. To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account, https://www.usajobs.gov, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Application Status page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and your responses submitted to the online application.

Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To preview the questionnaire, please go to https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12965930. Review the General Application Information and Definitions at: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DoDGenAppInfo%2012-1-2020.pdf?ver=ECNbdsHtGilTd3OENN4A0Q%3d%3d

Required Documents

The documents you are required to submit vary based on the authority you are using to apply (i.e., applying as a veteran, applying as a current permanent Federal employee, applying as a reinstatement, etc.).

Your complete application includes your COMPLETE resume, your responses to the online questionnaire, and documents which prove your eligibility to apply. If you fail to provide these documents, you will be marked as having an incomplete application package and you will not be considered any further. The following documents are REQUIRED 1.

Resume: IMPORTANT UPDATE: Your resume must not exceed two (2) pages. If your resume exceeds the two-page limit, you will be removed from consideration for this announcement. The resume and required supporting documentation should provide the minimum qualifications and relevant experience for the announced position.

Must include the work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment, and duties performed. If multiple resumes are submitted by an applicant, only the last resume submitted will be reviewed for qualifications and referred for selection consideration, if eligible. The resume must not be more than 5MB and should be saved and uploaded as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages.

We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. Page margins should be 0.5 inches, and font styles must be legible. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text.

We recommend using a font like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Additional guidance on writing a federal resume can be found at: USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started.

  1. SF50 All current and former civilian Federal employees must submit a copy of your MOST RECENT SF50 (Notification of Personnel Action) showing your tenure, grade and step, salary, and type of position occupied (i.e., Excepted or Competitive); or similar Notification of Personnel Action documentation, i.e., Transcript of Service, Form 1150, etc. This is also a requirement to verify your Time in Grade (TIG).
  2. Veteran's Documents: If applying using veteran's preference or under a Veteran's hiring authority you must submit the following documents: DD214 showing character of service, SF-15 Form and VA letter showing final percentage, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty. PLEASE REVIEW THE BELOW LINK FOR OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS needed for proof of eligibility: https://www.dla.mil/Portals/104/Documents/Careers/downloads/DODCustomersRequiredSupportingDocumentation.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER position at Defense Threat Reduction Agency?
The salary range for this position is $143,913 - $187,093/yr. This is a GS-14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the SENIOR OPERATIONS OFFICER job located?
This position is located in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Jun 1, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance is required.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.