A job with Office of the Secretary of Defense in Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. It pays $143,913–$197,200 per year at grade NH-04. Applications close on Nov 4, 2026 — 3 days left.
- Working pattern
- On site
- Who can apply
- Open to the public
- Clearance
- Sensitive Compartmented Information
Main duties
- This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur.
- There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.
- This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.
- This position is being filled using Direct Hire Authority (DHA) authorized under the Department of War Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) for position in the Business and Technical Management Professional Career Path (NH).
Full details
About the role
The Assistant Secretary of War for Acquisition (ASW(A)) is responsible for advising the Secretary of War, Deputy Secretary of War, and the Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment on matters relating to acquisition and the integration and protection of technology that enable capability for the warfighter.
The ASW(A) is responsible for Department policies and procedures governing the Department's procurement and acquisition process.
What you will do
- This is a Direct Hire Public Notice, under this recruitment, applications will be accepted for each location and/or installation identified in this Public Notice and selections are made for vacancies as they occur.
- There may or may not be actual/projected vacancies at the time you submit your application.
- This Public Notice is to gather applications which may or may not result in a referral or selection.
- This position is being filled using Direct Hire Authority (DHA) authorized under the Department of War Civilian Acquisition Workforce Personnel Demonstration Project (AcqDemo) for position in the Business and Technical Management Professional Career Path (NH).
- Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration.
- Incumbents typical work assignments may include the following: Provides oversight of the assigned portfolio (Maritime Munitions) and identifies issues or potential issues, to include development of recommendations to address identified issues.
- Potential issues include unrealistic cost and schedule estimates; inadequate understanding and management of technical risk, unsound management practices, inappropriate acquisition strategies; immature technology and inadequate industrial base capabilities.
- Assesses mission threads within critical mission capability portfolios for overall performance in support of OUSW(A&S) participation in OSW Program and Budget Reviews and in support of Congressional reporting requirements, working collaboratively with military service staffs, the Joint Staff and Cost Assessments and Program Evaluation (CAPE), as well as other OSW organizations.
- Provides advice and staff support to the USW(A&S), ASW(A) and their teams with respect to operational analysis and mission gaps translated back to platform and weapon deficiencies, Science and Technology solution insertion points and concepts of employment, and Research and Development requirements for the future solution space and "to-be" systems architecture across appropriate mission areas.
- Develops and evaluates acquisition strategies, acquisition program baselines, analyses, risk reduction plans, international cooperation plans, and other applicable documentation for assigned major programs.
- Monitors the Services' compliance with and execution of Secretary of War, USW(A&S), or ASW(A) guidance and direction relating to assigned programs and activities.
- The incumbent shall guide the Services in understanding and complying with guidance and direction, exercising tact and understanding of organizational constraints.
- Where necessary, he/she shall formulate recommendations for further management action to assure compliance or for modifications in cases where the guidance of direction has become infeasible or undesirable.
- Reviews the annual Defense Authorization and Appropriations acts and any special legislation for provisions which specifically and directly affect his/her assigned program areas.
- The incumbent shall take such action to ensure what the DoW acts in accordance with law within his/her area of responsibility.
- Where the Congress or its committees provide non-binding advice or guidance, the incumbent shall assure that it is brought to the attention of appropriate higher level officials and shall present options of compliance.
- As assigned, reviews and prepares the DoW position in response to General Accounting Office findings and recommendations and other similar audit agency reports.
- Prepares or provides input to congressional inquiries or testimony related to assigned programs and activities.
Education
Education cannot be substituted for experience.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on whether you meet the basic minimum qualifications and eligibility requirements outlined above. Traditional rating and ranking of applications does not apply to this vacancy.
Your application (resume and supporting documentation) will be evaluated to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications required as listed on the announcement under qualification requirements. Veterans' Preference eligibility under 5 U.S.C. 2108 and 2108a applies and is treated as a positive factor when making a selection from external sources.
When making final selections, any candidate with Veterans' Preference should be granted preference in selection over nonpreference eligible candidates with substantially equal qualifications as described in the Best Meets Mission Requirements definition below.
If you are a veteran claiming Veterans' Preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must submit documents verifying your eligibility with your application package. Best Meets Mission Requirements definition: Applicant has the knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or competencies to substantially exceed the minimum qualification requirements for
Documents you must provide
- YOU ARE REQUIRED TO DOCUMENT IN YOUR APPLICATION PACKAGE EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND QUALIFICATION CLAIMS.
- You MUST upload the applicable documents with your application package.
- 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.
- All applicants are required to submit a resume limited to two (2) pages showing all relevant experience.
- Your resume must address your technical qualifications for the position, hours worked per week and the dates of employment for each position (hours per week and month/year to month/year to present) and it may not exceed two (2) pages.
- Your 2-page (or less) resume must be in PDF format, with no smaller than a 0.5" margin and no smaller than a 10-point font.
- If you submit a resume that exceeds the two-page limit and/or does not meet the margin or font limitations stated herein, you will immediately be deemed ineligible for this position and will receive no further consideration.
- If you submit more than one copy of your resume, only the most recent version will be reviewed.
- The latest timestamp will be used to determine which version of your resume is "most recent." If your resume includes a photograph or other inappropriate material or content, it will not be used to make eligibility and qualification determinations, and you will not be considered for this vacancy.
- Other supporting documents: Cover Letter, optional Most recent SF-50 "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade held.
- It is recommended you provide a SF-50 within the last 52 weeks before the closing date of this JOA for current federal employees.
- We will use the employment date and grade on your resume in conjunction with the provided SF-50 to help determine initial eligibility, but may require additional information to confirm at the job offer stage if needed.
- DD-214, SF-15 Form and VA letter, or certification of expected discharge or release from active duty from Veterans for consideration under Veteran hiring authorities Other Noncompetitive appointment authority documentation, if applicable DOES THIS POSITION REQUIRE A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE?
- You are strongly encouraged to provide a copy of your license or certificate in your application package.
- It is also acceptable to document your license number and the name of the licensing authority in your resume.
- ARE YOU A VETERAN CLAIMING SOLE SURVIVORSHIP PREFERENCE OR 5-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
- You must provide legible copy/copies of the following: DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," showing all dates of service, as well as type of discharge and character of service (Honorable, General, etc.) or Statement of Service/Proof of Service (in lieu of a DD-214) from your command or local Personnel Support Detachment (PSD).
- The Statement of Service/Proof of Service must provide all dates of service, the expected date of discharge and anticipated character of service (Honorable, General, etc.).
- Veterans should upload their DD-214 once they receive it upon separation.
- You should also document your complete military service information in the Veterans Preference and Military Service Section of the assessment questionnaire (type of preference, dates of service, date of VA letter, character of service, disability claim and rank and date of retirement if retired).
- ARE YOU A DISABLED VETERAN or CLAIMING 10-POINT VETERANS' PREFERENCE?
- Disabled veterans, veterans, widows, spouses or the mother of a veteran, who are eligible for 10-point veterans' preference, you must provide legible copies of the following: Applicable supporting documents as noted on Standard Form-15 (SF-15).
- To obtain a copy of SF-15, go to: *** ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER POLITICAL SCHEDULE A, SCHEDULE C, NON-CAREER SES OR PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEE EMPLOYEE?
- Submit a copy of your applicable SF-50, along with a statement that provides the following information regarding your most recent political appointment: .
- Type of appointment (Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee); .
- Beginning and ending dates of appointment.
What to expect next
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.
If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration. A tentative offer of employment will be rescinded if the selectee fails to meet the pre-employment requirements: including failure to report to any of the scheduled appointments.
HR will initiate the drug test no later than 2 business days after the Tentative Job Offer is accepted.The selectee must sign a "Drug Test Statement of Understanding." A negative drug test result must be received by HR no later than 30 calendar days after the EOD.
Failure to pass the test or provide results in time may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or removal from Federal service.
Washington Headquarters Services uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit: *** Stay informed of changes to your application status by signing up for automatic email alerts at: *** Washington Headquarters Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Additional information
Probationary Periods: As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing an online application, you may request an alternative application.
Please send an email to the following address for information on how to obtain an alternative application: *** Reemployed Annuitants: Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. /*** Current or Former Political Appointees: Agencies must seek prior approval from OPM before they can appoint a current or recent political appointee to a competitive or non-political excepted service position at any level.
If you are currently or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you MUST disclose that to the Human Resources Office. Nepotism: Under the provisions of 5 USC 3110, an individual may not be appointed into a position if the position is under the supervisory chain of command of a relative.
Additional vacancies may be filled by this announcement.
How to apply
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Details on this page reflect the source posting as of Nov 2, 2026. Closing dates and salary ranges can change without notice — the official listing is always authoritative. How our coverage works.
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