Duties

Summary

JOB DESCRIPTION: Cost Estimators support the planning, implementation, and sustainment of systems and/or programs to meet customer requirements. They develop rough order-of-magnitude estimates for new initiatives/projects and budgetary investment/divestment decisions. They develop cost estimates and models, conduct feasibility studies and tradeoff analyses, assess risk and schedule, and prepare or evaluate estimat

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Responsibilities

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION: The Office of Corporate Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) supports NGA leadership in taking data-driven decisions about the agency. CAPE reports directly to NGA's Chief of Staff, empowering them with the access, authority, and accountability needed to address a variety of enterprise-wide challenges. From incorporating business intelligence to assessing return on investment, CAPE is a trusted partner helping NGA achieve its vision. The Cost Assessment Division provides objective, independent, and defensible cost estimates supported by in-depth analysis to raise the level of resource awareness across the agency. Our strategic goals are to: * (U) Conduct credible and timely cost estimates to support the Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) and stakeholders in managing the Major System Acquisitions (MSAs) and Special Interest Acquisitions (SIAs). In addition, provide cost support for cross-enterprise initiatives. * (U) Provide cost expertise, consultation, training, and guidance to CAPE evaluation teams, Acquisition Offices, and other NGA organizations in support of their cost analysis needs. * (U) Collect, acquire and analyze data and information from acquisition programs to improve the accuracy and reliability of cost estimates. * (U) Conduct research to improve estimating methods, sizing, and analysis of software development, IT procurement, and sustainment of NGA's IT enterprise. (U) Collaborate with IC, DOD, and industry partners on acquiring and sharing Best Practices; resolving cost estimating challenges; and access to timely and relevant cost information. This is an acquisition-coded position. Ability to obtain DAWIA Level 2 Certification in Business Financial Management/Cost Estimating is required for this position; New Acquisition Workforce members or current members transitioning to a new acquisition career field or higher skill level have 24 months to achieve certification. Candidates may receive an invitation to provide additional information or respond to questions via email and/or HireVue as part of the candidate evaluation process. Additional Application Requirement: You may be asked to complete one or more assessments in addition to the application you submit on this website as part of your application to NGA. These assessments may include but are not limited to: 1) Online questionnaires or assessments that require you to describe your job-related knowledge, skills(U) , abilities, or other characteristics that are aligned with the mandatory and desirable qualifications of this job posting. The information you provide in the application you submit must support the response you provide to this questionnaire. You will receive an email to describe any additional assessments required. Please monitor your emails and complete any required assessments as soon as possible.

Travel Required

Not required

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
PB4

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• US Citizenship is required.
• Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
• Security Investigation

SPECIAL INFO:
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship Required
- Security Clearance (Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information)
- Polygraph Test Required
- Position Subject to Drug Testing
- Two Year Probationary Period
- Direct Deposit Required

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to Sensitive Compartmented Information. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, and/or unescorted access to SCIFs.

NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process. Employees on term or temporary appointments are not eligible to apply for internal assignment opportunity notices.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility in our ERecruit application.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

1. Demonstrated experience conducting information-gathering techniques such as market research and interviews to estimate costs while documenting assumptions and constraints. 2. Demonstrated experience with conducting studies, quantitative analysis, and life-cycle cost estimates for Major Systems Acquisitions that have included elements of data collection, ground rule and assumption, methodology, and/or analytical model development. 3. Develops and presents budgets for highly complex programs or organizations, estimating costs based on extensive experience and research ensuring accuracy and conformance with procedures and regulations. EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Finance, Systems Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, Information Science, Information Systems Management, Mathematics, Operations Research, Physics, Statistics, Technology Management, or degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above, and involved advanced mathematical skills in geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, and/or quantitative analysis and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in applying advanced mathematical skills in geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, and/or quantitative analysis, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in applying advanced mathematical skills in geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, and/or quantitative analysis, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: DAWIA certification may be required for this position; see Position License and Certification Requirements below for additional details. New Acquisition Workforce members or current members transitioning to a new acquisition career field or higher skill level have 24 months to achieve certification. -AND- Relevant Competencies: IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Demonstrated experience in acquisition of major IT and software systems in the areas of program/project management; budget; finance; accounting; or contracting. 2. Demonstrated experience performing research and facilitating outreach events. In addition, preparing complex information/data from multiple sources for processing and analysis while documenting standard criteria for future use. 3. Demonstrated experience using scientific inquiry and/or quantitative techniques to prepare data in support of acquisition initiatives. 4. Demonstrated experience briefing results of analysis and developing written technical reports for submission to internal and external stakeholders, customers, and senior leadership. 5. Demonstrated experience Interpreting significance of complex analytic results, drawing appropriate conclusions and recognizing limitations that may affect confidence in results. 6. Possess TS/SCI Security Clearance.

Education

Additional information

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter. The entire cover letter cannot exceed the specified limits provided in the Cover Letter field (3,000 characters). Pages exceeding this limit will not be considered. THE COVER LETTER IS RECOMMENDED BUT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATION WITH THE NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.

APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages: 1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria, 2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates, 3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process. Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable. Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education information referenced in the announcement. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards. In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or redetermined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300, at http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives.) All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation. NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information

Drug test required
Yes

Required Documents

None

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.