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CAPSTONE SENIOR DIRECTOR

Department of Defense
National Defense University
Office of the President-NDU
This job announcement has closed

Summary

National Defense University (NDU) supports the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world.

This is a Title 10 Excepted Service Appointment. Appointment is not to exceed 3 years with the possibility for extension.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
06/05/2025 to 07/10/2025
Salary
$168,865 to - $204,425 per year
Pay scale & grade
AD 7
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Fort McNair, DC
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Temporary - 3 Years
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
7
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Special-Sensitive (SS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
NDU-12744242-25-EB
Control number
838095300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

All U.S. Citizens.

Duties

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1. Senior Military Education
The Senior Director directly contributes to the University's education of senior military officers, select senior enlisted, and select civilian officials in national strategy, national security policy and its research, and policy analysis for the Department of Defense. This requires that the incumbent have a strong ability to lead, manage, and coordinate a multi-dimensional and complex effort across the breadth and depth of the NDU enterprise to leverage the extant intellectual capacity in the teaching and research faculties of the University's colleges, centers, and outreach components to ensure these programs further advance the intent of these critical programs. The Senior Director has entire course responsibilities for Capstone, Keystone, and Pinnacle. Due to a small staff, the Senior Director will become the corporate knowledge for the consistent curriculum execution within each course.

2. Academic Leadership
Prepares and delivers lectures and seminars of instruction for the Capstone Fellows as well as NDU components, other DOD and USG academic institutions, and the foreign National Defense Universities that desire to emulate the Capstone program. Instruction of the Capstone Fellows includes interagency dynamics and operating successfully in Washington, regional and country issues of the day, historical context of current international policies and sensitivities, customs and culture of services in foreign countries and regions.

3. Program Director
Provides direct input to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff via the President, NDU, and Joint Staff Director of Joint Force Development (DJ7) on the structure, scheduling objectives, and scope of the Capstone, Keystone, and Pinnacle programs for the upcoming year. Coordinates with geographic combatant commands to plan and schedule overseas field studies for the Capstone Fellows that meet the requirements of the Capstone learning objectives and mission while directly supporting the Theater Security Cooperation plans of the Combatant Commanders. Coordinates with the Joint Staff for the participation of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and other key staff leaders in the curriculum of the three courses.

4. Personnel and Resource Management
The incumbent participates with NDU leadership and provides recommendations on appropriate budget and programming activities for NDU across the enterprise. Coordinates the budget with appropriate NDU elements. Recommends budget, manpower, and other resource changes based on corporate-level knowledge of current and long-term priorities for leader development. The Senior Director has direct oversight and line responsibility for multiservice military and civilian staff that includes civilian Title 10, and Title 5 staff and military officers. Directly responsible for planning, execution, disbursement, and accounting of a $2.6 million dollar budget. Indirectly responsible for the execution and stewardship of another $3 million of USAF military air transportation funding.

5. Organizational Representative and Outreach
The incumbent interacts regularly with the NDU President, Provost, and components in support of curriculum development, teaching, research, outreach, and program execution. Directly responsible for the execution of contract support with 23 Senior Fellows consisting of retired senior E9s, and three and four-star general and flag officers. This includes scheduling, security clearance updates, payments, and training. Serves as the focal point for curriculum support from 60 embassy staff, protocol and staff support from nine Combatant Commands, and Secretary of Defense and Service Chief staff. Conducts required liaison with high-ranking visitors, foreign dignitaries, senior government officials, leaders of civilian academic institutions, professional associations, and others.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or be exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.ssa.gov/)
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit
  • The position is governed by 10 USC 1595 and NDUI 1416.0l dated March 2017.
  • Must be able and willing to travel both domestically and internationally. The travel requirement for this position is frequent and at least quarterly.
  • The incumbent must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
  • The incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, OGE-450 upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, dated 30 August 1993.

Qualifications

1. Applicants must evidence the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
  • Possess a master's degree (a doctorate or other terminal or professional degree is preferred) from a regionally accredited institution of higher education (or international equivalent) in an appropriate discipline or field.
  • Demonstrated success in building teams and leading collaboratively, achievement in managing senior-level employees, working effectively with others in a diverse environment; and ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships.
While not required, exceptional candidates will evidence the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
  • Experience with regionally accredited graduate-level professional academic programs. Experience with Joint Professional Military Education is also valued.
  • Display a collaborative manner and be adept at conflict resolution with excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Be an able communicator. Both in writing and as a public speaker. Combine vision with effective organizational skills.
  • Demonstrated ability for innovation, critical thinking, strategic, and analytical skills in leading diverse and agile organizations.
  • Demonstrated ability to act with discretion, maintain confidentiality and professional demeanor at all times and operate with the highest standards of personal and professional conduct.
  • Demonstrated successful record of willingness to take and accept risk, leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and leading change within an organization.
  • Demonstrated ability to plan and execute information resources budget and management.
Volunteer Experience: 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 to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

Education Requirement: Master's degree from an accredited college or university (or international equivalent) in an appropriate discipline or field.

Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are not required at the time of application; however, if the position has a positive degree requirement, qualifying based on education alone or in combination with experience, transcripts must be verified PRIOR to appointment, if selected for the role.
* An accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education must accredit education. Click here to check accreditation.

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence PRIOR to appointment.

    • Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation upon request. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
    • For more information regarding evaluation of foreign education for federal employment, please visit the U.S. Department of Education.

Additional information

NDU has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security, and thrift savings; health, life, and long term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

Background or Security Investigation: This is a Special Sensitive position which requires a background investigation. The individual selected for this position is required to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security determination to occupy a Special Sensitive position within the agency as a condition of employment.

Initial Probationary Period: You will be required to serve an initial probationary period of 18 months.

Supervisory Probationary Period: You will be required to serve an supervisory probationary period of one year if one has not already been completed.

Reemployed Annuitants: Department of Defense has the authority to hire annuitants without reduction in pay. For more information, go to: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/1400.25-V300.pdf

All applicants are encouraged to apply electronically. If you are unable to apply on-line, you may contact 317-212-4434 for assistance.

National Defense University (NDU) is the premier national security institution focused on advanced joint education, leader development and scholarship. Under the direction and leadership of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the oversight of the Director for Joint Force Development, Joint Staff (J-7), NDU offers a collegial and collaborative academic environment to support the joint warfighter by providing rigorous Joint Professional Military Education (JPME) and other graduate level programs to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and select others in order to develop leaders who have the ability to operate and creatively think in an unpredictable and complex world.

NDU is comprised of five primary educational institutions and four additional component agencies: National War College (NWC), Dwight Eisenhower School (ES), Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), College of International Security Affairs (CISA), the College of Information and Cyberspace (CIC), Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS), International Student Management Office, Operations Support and the CAPSTONE General and Flag Officer Course.

NDU has a comprehensive benefits package that includes retirement, social security, and thrift savings plan (TSP); health, life, and long-term care insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays. NDU employees enjoy flexible work schedules, transit subsidy and situational telework opportunities.

How you will be evaluated

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

To qualify, you must meet the education and experience requirements described above. A NDU screening panel will review your resume and narrative answers to the hiring criteria to evaluate your qualifications for the position. NDU uses a multi-tier selection process for academic positions.

You MUST upload a Cover Letter from your resume addressing the following hiring criteria:(each response should not exceed 2 pages)

1: Please provide examples of your experiences that address the following factor: Experience with leading, managing, and coordinating multi-dimensional and complex efforts across the breadth and depth of organizations/enterprises to leverage the extant intellectual capacity to ensure these programs further advance the intent of these critical programs

2: Please provide examples of your experiences that address the following factor: Experience in preparing and delivering lectures and seminars of instruction.

3. Please provide examples of your experiences that address the following factor: Experience providing recommendations on appropriate budget and programming activities for organizations.

4. Please provide examples of your experiences that address the following factor: Experience in curriculum development, teaching, research, outreach, and program execution.

Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil

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