
PROGRAM MANAGER (DECEPTION ACTIVITIES)
Langley AFB, VAFull-time$108–140K/yrPosted 1 day ago
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Job overview
Air Combat Command seeks a Program Manager and subject matter expert for its Deception Activities program. The role leads planning, coordination, evaluation, execution, and reporting across ACC units, and advises senior staff and commanders. It also leads and assists deception managers and supports operational testing, evaluations, planning, and mission execution.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Summary
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Duties
The primary purpose of this position is: To serve as the Headquarters, United States Air Combat Command (ACC) Program Manager for the Deception Activities (DA) program. Serves as lead in planning, coordinating, evaluating, executing, and reporting on the DA program. Leads, trains, and assists ACC NAF and wing deception managers to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of DA at all ACC NAFs and wings. Duties: Serves as Program Manager and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Headquarters, ACC DA Program including all ACC Numbered Air Forces, Active Duty Wings, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units. Leads and/or conducts studies, initiatives and inspections for HQ ACC DA program to improve the program and influence ACC and AF policy changes. Provides DA advisory services directly to ACC Staff, NAF staffs, and Wing Commanders. Chairs, executes, and/or attends DA events, planning meetings, operational planning teams, and any other meetings necessary to plan and execute operational testing and evaluations (OT&E), Air Force Forces (AFFOR) planning, and Air Component mission execution. Qualifications
Conditions of Employment Continued: This position has been designated by the Air Force as a Testing Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Demand Reduction Program. Employee must pass initial and periodic short notice drug testing. Illegal drug use by employees in sensitive positions presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. In order to qualify, you must meet the specialized experience requirements described in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards for General Schedule Positions, Administrative and Management Positions, Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year of specialized experience at the next lower grade GS-12, or equivalent in other pay systems. Examples of specialized experience includes knowledge at an expert level of airpower plans, procedures, and employment at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels for conducting major operations such as war, military operations other than war, mobilization, and deployment with an emphasis on signature management to evaluate mission readiness; knowledge of tanker, transport, and/or command and control intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs, weapons systems, and military operations at an in-depth level to evaluate signature management and mission readiness of ACC units and mission execution; and knowledge of the body of laws, regulations, policies, standards, procedures, methodologies, and techniques applied at an expert level to a broad range of DA requirements in order to determine compliance with applicable regulatory provision during execution of tactics, techniques, and procedures in the performance of special operations. FEDERAL TIME-IN-GRADE (TIG) REQUIREMENT FOR GENERAL SCHEDULE (GS) POSITIONS: Merit promotion applicants must meet applicable time-in-grade requirements to be considered eligible. One year at the GS-12 level is required to meet the time-in-grade requirements for the GS-13 level. TIG applies if you are in a current GS position or held a GS position within the previous 52 weeks. NOTE: Applicants applying as VEOA candidates who are current GS civil service employees or are prior GS civil service employees within the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Knowledge of military Information Operations at the strategic and operational levels with emphasis on DA development, coordination, and execution. Knowledge of airpower program goals, objectives, and operational missions while planning, coordinating, and budgeting DA activities, the sequence and timing of key operational events and milestones, and methods of evaluating the effectiveness of planning actions as related to actual events. Knowledge sufficient to analyze and draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the DA program and write reports appropriate for senior AF, DoD, and joint service executives. Knowledge of a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods for the planning and assessment of DA plans and programs for conducting major operations such as war, military operations other than war, mobilization, deployment, special operations, rescue, or similar operations. Skilled communication, both orally and in writing, to provide seasoned expertise; lead team studies, negotiate complex, controversial issues; provide informational briefings to include options and recommendations to high level management; mentor, motivate, and appraise subordinates; and establish and maintain effective and positive working relationships. Ability to research, analyze, and interpret high-level guidelines including general, DoD, Joint Service, and military service directives and instructions requiring considerable adaptation and/or interpretation for application to issues or problems. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. BASIS OF RATING: Your application will be rated under the Cut Point procedures based on the extent to which the quality, depth, and complexity of your experience and education relate to the qualification requirements. Additional points are not added for Veteran's Preference; however, Veteran's Preference is considered where applicable. Best Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess exceptional skills and experience to exceed well above the minimum requirements Fully Qualified Group: Candidates in this category possess good skills and experience above the minimum requirements. Basically Qualified Group: Candidates in this category meet the minimum education and/or experience requirements. The resume/documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. For additional information on what to include in your resume, click here. APPRAISALS/AWARDS: Hiring Managers use objective methods and consider previous performance appraisals and awards in the selection process. Current Federal Civilian employees should list any relevant performance related rating and/or awards in your resume. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further. Other Information
Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated well qualified or above for this position. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (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. Click here for more information. Military Spouse Preference (MSP) Eligible: MSP applicants, if determined best qualified, must be selected and placed at the highest grade for which they applied. You must include a completed copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility for MSP. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the DD Form 3145-4, Military Spouse PPP Self-Certification Checklist. Priority Placement Program (PPP) Applicant Eligible: PPP Applicants, if determined well qualified and selected, will be placed at the at the full performance level. You must include the applicable completed copy of the PPP Self-Certification Checklist dated within 30 days along with the documents identified on the checklist to verify your eligibility as a PPP Applicant. Click here to obtain/download a copy of the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist (DD3145-1 through DD3145-4, select the appropriate checklist for your claimed preference). To determine the applicable PPP Self-Certification Checklist required to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming, refer to the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide located in the Required Documents section of this vacancy announcement. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
How this job compares
Set against the 11,445 open Program Manager jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$108–140K/yr
- Virginia median$130–200K/yr436 salary ranges
- US median$120–205K/yr9,031 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $124K, is 25% below the Virginia median midpoint ($165K) — in the lowest quarter of Program Manager salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 560 open Program Manager jobs in Virginia and 11,445 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 1 year of experience — less than three in four Program Manager postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 9,642 postings).
- Education
- 4,830 of the 11,445 open Program Manager jobs (42%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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