Summary

Lead proactive counterintelligence and security activities across the United States government, integrating the instruments of national power to detect, report, deter, disrupt, investigate, exploit, and defeat foreign intelligence threats.

Duties

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The Mission Capabilities Directorate (MCD) drives enterprise technical and information sharing solutions, prioritizes and manages requirements in support of whole of government counterintelligence and security mission partners. MCD identifies mission gaps, builds capabilities through full lifecycle program development, drives data analytics and technical innovation, delivers threat RFIs/assessments, coordinates interagency partners, and ensures legal/policy/civil liberties compliance. MCD is seeking an outstanding IT Program Manager to join our team of mission focused leaders who identify and develop in demand solutions and integrated capabilities on behalf of the Counterintelligence and Security community to more effectively help them execute their duties. The IT Program Manager for Scattered Castles & IC Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF) will be responsible for overseeing the development, implementation, and operation of these systems, ensuring alignment with NCSC strategic objectives and IC wide priorities. This role requires deep familiarity with IT competencies and program management, outstanding communication and briefing skills, senior level management capabilities, and the ability to negotiate interagency agreements for data and information sharing. The IT Program Manager for Scattered Castles & IC SCIF oversees these mission critical, Intelligence Communitywide systems that directly enable national security operations in support of Trusted Workforce 2.0 and Security Reform initiatives. For Scattered Castles, this position provides interagency oversight for system budget, scope, and timelines, and serves as Chair of the Scattered Castles Executive Steering Group. For IC SCIF, this position provides program management oversight ensuring the repository supports IC wide physical security requirements and SCIF accreditation processes in accordance with ICD 705. Primary Responsibilities: Program Leadership & Strategic Alignment

Ensure alignment of Scattered Castles and IC SCIF initiatives with NCSC strategic and IC-wide objectives.

Provide leadership and oversight to complex IT projects with ill defined requirements, ambiguity, parallel tasks, multiple dependencies, high risks, and multiple interfaces.

Lead interagency collaboration and chair the Scattered Castles Executive Steering Group to drive consensus and mission outcomes across IC, DoW, and executive agency stakeholders Requirements Management & Stakeholder Engagement.

Lead the definition and review of customer and stakeholder requirements across the IC, DoW, and participating agencies.

Manage expectations of senior level customers and ensure delivery of quality products and services that support 24/7 global mission operations.

Negotiate interagency agreements for data and information sharing to enhance system integration and mission effectiveness Project Planning & Execution.

Ensure project plans, roadmaps, and schedules are developed and followed throughout the system lifecycle.

Lead and guide the resolution of issues in project plans and schedules based on a clear understanding of customer requirements and information on project cost, schedule, quality, and performance; provide expert oversight of cost and resource estimates; participate in budget planning activities and develop cost estimating strategies for future projects.

Oversee development and maintenance of appropriate project documentation for this IC-mandated authoritative system Budget & Resource Management.

Provide expert oversight of cost and resource estimates for Scattered Castles and IC SCIF programs.

Participate in budget planning activities and develop cost estimating strategies for future projects.

Monitor and control program expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibility for this enterprise-scale system Performance Monitoring & Quality Assurance Provide leadership, guidance, and oversight to project implementation and quality assurance by evaluating and monitoring cost, schedule, and performance.

Assess variances from the plan and oversee execution of necessary corrective actions.

Lead project performance reviews and control gates, gather critical information, and make authoritative decisions about required next steps Team Leadership & Continuous Improvement Oversee the work of team members and monitor work activities to ensure counterintelligence and security policies and procedures are followed.

Provide assistance to team members and communicate needs and requirements to the project team Lead examination of project successes and failures and develop solutions to improve products and services Drive innovation to enhance system capabilities supporting Continuous Evaluation, insider threat detection, and logical access control.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Must be a current permanent ODNI employee OR must be a current permanent Federal employee with supervisory approval to apply to the Joint Duty Assignment (JDA). JDA applicants must be currently at the grade level specified in the advertisement. No temporary promotion opportunities will be granted for this position. The program does not apply to members of the Military service or contractors.

Joint Duty applicants may be considered for this position as a reimbursable detailee, if endorsed by the employing agency. Joint Duty applicants must have a current TS/SCI clearance with polygraph or have the ability to obtain one. The ODNI does not conduct polygraphs or provide security clearances for detailees.

FREE RESPONSE ESSAY QUESTIONS

All applicants must answer the following four short, free response essay questions. The responses cannot exceed 200 words per question. By submitting your responses to the following questions, you certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]).

1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
3. How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.

Qualifications

Mandatory Requirements:

IT Competencies: Strong familiarity with IT program management principles, system development lifecycles, enterprise architecture, and 24/7 mission-critical system operations

Communication & Briefing: Outstanding written and oral communication skills with ability to brief senior leadership and interagency stakeholders across IC, DoW, and executive agencies

Project Management: Demonstrated experience managing complex IT projects with multiple dependencies, risks, and interfaces

Interagency Collaboration: Proven ability to negotiate and establish interagency agreements for data and information sharing

Budget Management: Experience with IT budget planning, cost estimation, and resource allocation for enterprise-scale systems

Leadership: Ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive consensus in ambiguous environments with diverse stakeholder communities

Expert ability to quickly identify and apply new technologies, methodologies, and technical languages.

Security Clearance: Active TS/SCI clearance with ability to obtain additional accesses as required

Desired Requirements:

Personnel Security Systems Experience: Familiarity with Scattered Castles, personnel security databases, clearance verification systems, or related IC security systems

IC/DoD Experience: Prior experience working within the Intelligence Community, Department of Defense, or supporting IC/DoD missions

Continuous Evaluation & Insider Threat: Knowledge of CE programs, insider threat frameworks, or counterintelligence operations

Program Management Certification: PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification

Agile/DevSecOps: Experience with Agile methodologies and DevSecOps practices for mission-critical systems

Stakeholder Management: Experience chairing executive steering groups or governance bodies with IC-wide participation

Policy Knowledge: Understanding of ICPG 704.5, ICD 704, SEAD-3, and other personnel security policies

Enterprise Integration: Experience with web services, API integration, and system interoperability

Change Management: Experience leading organizational change and system modernization efforts

Education

Bachelor's degree

Additional information

JOB INTERVIEW TRAVEL

Candidates from outside the Washington Metropolitan Area (WMA) may be selected for a telephone, teleconference, or in-person interview.

SALARY DETERMINATION

A current Federal Government employee, selected for this position, will be assigned to the position at their current grade and salary.

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.