Manager Orion Production Operations

NASA

$125K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of managerial experience within complex organizations
  • Demonstrated leadership in managing program-level spaceflight systems
  • Expertise in production operations with a focus on efficiency and risk management
  • Strong decision-making skills on production planning and integration issues
  • Ability to work collaboratively with international partners and internal stakeholders

Responsibilities

  • Drive overall production efforts and address performance issues
  • Identify and implement efficiencies to enhance production cadence
  • Make authoritative technical decisions affecting program planning and execution
  • Manage multi-disciplinary teams and prime contractors for spacecraft production
  • Conduct assessments of contract proposals to ensure alignment with program requirements

Benefits

  • Comprehensive federal employee benefits package
  • Opportunities for professional growth and development
  • Access to military discounts and federal employment perks
  • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance options
  • Retirement plan options, including Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Full Job Description
Summary

As the Manager of Orion Production Operations, leads the Orion Production Operations Office at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) responsible for the fabrication, assembly, integration, test, and post-flight refurbishment of key Orion spacecraft elements, modules and integrated spacecraft. Provides executive leadership and strategic direction for a complex, mission-critical organization supporting human spaceflight and responsible for delivering key components of the Artemis Program.

Duties

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The Manager Orion Production Operations:

  • Drives the prime contractor's overall production efforts, including measuring performance-to-plan, rapidly mitigating issues during production, communicating potential impacts, and proactively identifying opportunities where NASA resources and facilities could be used to improve overall production efficiency and achieve mission objectives.
  • Identifies processing efficiencies, resource and equipment requirements, and other areas of improvement to increase overall production cadence to meet Agency objectives.
  • Provides authoritative technical decisions, direction, advice, and consultation on variables and unknowns affecting production planning, integration, coordination, execution and critical management problems with commitments and recommendations on behalf of the Orion Program.
  • Serves as the Cost Account Manager (CAM) for all Orion Production and Operations activities.
  • Responsible for managing a complex team of civil servants, prime contractors, and other team members to drive the overall production of the Orion spacecraft to meet delivery commitments.
  • Conducts technical and cost assessments of contract proposals to ensure they align with Orion Assembly and Integration requirements and fully meet the needs and objectives of the Orion Program.
  • Makes substantial and continuing contribution to long-range project planning and to the formulation, modification, and determination of overall Orion production and operations mission milestones.
  • Responsible for simultaneous builds, out-year planning for future Artemis hardware and critical integration with both International Partners such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and internal NASA partners such as Orion, EGS, and Space Launch Systems (SLS).
  • Serves as the Resident Manager of the Orion Program Office at KSC, managing the cost, schedule, and technical risk of Orion Program work being performed at KSC.
  • Routinely works with and makes recommendations to KSC, NASA Technical Authority, contractor personnel, International Partners within ESA and Orion Program Office management personnel to achieve Program goals and resolve issues affecting these goals.


Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • The individual selected will be required to file an 'Executive Branch Personnel Financial Disclosure Report' (OGE-278e) within 30 days of appointment and annually from then on.
  • 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 be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required by the position.
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Must meet qualifications requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Complete a Declaration for Federal Employment to determine your suitability for Federal employment, at the time requested by the agency.


Qualifications

As a basic requirement for entry into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment, you must clearly articulate and describe within your 2-page resume that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and Mandatory Technical Qualifications MTQ(s) related to this position. If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and MTQ(s), you may be disqualified. Any additional pages over the 2-page limit will not be reviewed.

Your resume should include evidence of progressively responsible supervisory, managerial, or professional experience which involved management of a program or organization of significant scope and complexity, normally obtained over several years by serving in positions at the GS-15 level or equivalent.

If you are (1) currently serving under a career SES appointment, (2) eligible for reinstatement into the SES (this means you were previously employed as a Career SES employee and you successfully completed a one-year probationary period), OR (3) have successfully completed a SES Candidate Development Program (CDP) and certified by OPM, you do not need to address the ECQs in your resume. However, your resume must clearly state that you are a current career SES, eligible for SES reinstatement, or SES CDP certified and year of certification.

Please DO NOT submit separate documents addressing the ECQs or MTQ(s). Only your 2-page resume will be accepted and considered. Any additional documents submitted will not be accepted.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs)

For more information on the ECQs, please visit OPM's ECQ webpage.

ECQ 1 - Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding: This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people. Competencies: Knowledge of the American System of Government, Commitment to the Rule of Law, and Civic-Mindedness

ECQ 2 - Driving Efficiency: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades. Competencies: Fiscal Responsibility, Managing Resources, Leveraging Technology

ECQ 3 - Merit and Competence: This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality. Competencies: Technical Skill, Problem Solving, Agility and Resilience

ECQ 4 - Leading People: This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture. This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable. Competencies: Accountability, Developing Others, Executive Judgment

ECQ 5 - Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors. Competencies: Operational Mindset, Innovation, Strategic Thinking

MANDATORY TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (MTQ):

Your resume must include accomplishments that address the MTQ(s).

MTQ: Demonstrated program/project level experience in leading the fabrication, assembly, integration, test and refurbishment of complex multi-disciplinary spaceflight systems. Competencies: Program/Project Management and Technical Management

Your application package must be in your own words. Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement, or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the job. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of artificial intelligent (AI) or AI-assisted tools during the application process.

Education

This position has a positive education requirement. To be eligible, you must clearly state in your resume the following: degree, major and/or minor, and college/university. A college or university degree generally must be from an accredited (or pre-accredited) college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools which meet these criteria, please refer to Department of Education Accreditation page.

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major study in engineering, physical science, mathematics, life sciences, computer science, or other field of science is required.

An official transcript will be required if you are selected.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show that the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs. These education credentials must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, click here.

Additional information

Veterans' preference is not applicable to the SES.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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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.

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