Director for Spectrum Policy and Planning
Headquarters, NASA
Posted: February 2, 2026 (1 day ago)
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Headquarters, NASA
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Location
Washington, District of Columbia
Salary
$151,661 - $217,332
per year
Type
Full Time
More Planning & Development jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $123,041 - $159,950
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-14. Senior leader or top expert.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This role leads NASA's efforts in managing radio frequency spectrum for space missions, analyzing policies, forecasting needs, and advising top officials on long-term strategies.
It involves representing NASA in national and international forums to secure resources for telecommunications and scientific operations.
Ideal candidates are seasoned experts in spectrum management with strong skills in navigating complex stakeholder groups and solving technical-policy challenges.
The Director for Spectrum Policy and Planning analyzes spectrum utilization issues and policies, providing expert service and recommendations to the management officials with delegated responsibility to direct and discharge all major elements of the Agency's spectrum management program.
Serves as a technical expert in both national and international spectrum management, representing NASA in the development of spectrum management use policy while performing official liaison with national bodies.
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Candidates must be a recognized subject matter expert with at least 1 year of experience equivalent to the GS-15 level (5 years preferred) in radio-communication technology, spectrum management, spectrum licensing, and associated national and international spectrum regulatory policies of sufficient depth to allow the identification, assessment, and development of solutions to complex radio and telecommunications challenges involving both technical and policy considerations.
In addition, demonstrated experience managing and delivering results across complex stakeholder groups, such as inter-agency and international stakeholders.
Your resume must include a clear and detailed narrative description, in your own words, of how you meet the required specialized experience.
Experience statements copied from a position description, vacancy announcement, or other reference material constitutes plagiarism and may result in disqualification and losing consideration for the position.
NASA strictly prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tools to draft application or assessment responses.
For more information, please refer to NASA's guidance: https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, your resume must also address each of the Senior Level (SL) Evaluation Criteria listed below.
Failure to address these criteria will result in your application being rated ineligible.
For the full definition of the SL Evaluation Criteria please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/executiveleadership/#SL-Evaluation-Criteria. Please include your full name on all documents submitted.
SL EVALUATION CRITERIA: 1. Technical Excellence and Contributions Experience/Accomplishments Technical and Strategic Problem Solving Information Transfer 2.
Corporate Cooperation and Technical Leadership Skills Please refer to the "How you will be evaluated" section for a list of competencies that you will be evaluated on. Major Duties:
The Director for Spectrum Policy and Planning: Reviews and recommends approval of developed descriptions of proposed missions that include forecasts of NASA's programmatic and administrative telecommunications and associated spectrum needs for the long term (5 to 20 years).
Recommends all Agency long-range planning initiatives relative to the allocation and use of the spectrum for spaceflight operations.
Recommends approval of the development of plans and strategies aimed at securing the necessary radio frequency spectrum and orbital arc resources required for the successful conduct of the Agency's current and future telecommunications and scientific observation requirements.
Advises the Deputy Associate Administrator for Space Communications and Navigation and senior NASA officials on spectrum strategy critical to the conduct of the Agency's mission and provides policy and planning guidance regarding overall coordination of spectrum management across all NASA centers' spectrum management activities.
Actively participates in an official capacity in the collective national process for recommending plans and strategies for managing the spectrum and orbital arc resources on behalf of the Federal Government by being the Agency technical representative to the interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC).
Directs and approves results of studies and assessments conducted to assist in selection of technically and politically appropriate spectrum areas needed to assure compatible use of frequencies during critical spaceflight operations.
Formulates recommendations for spectrum management policy, rules, and guidelines, including relevant schedules required for effective administration of the NASA Spectrum Management Program.
Conducts Headquarters and field assessments to assure compliance with Agency, national, and international policy and regulations governing the Agency's use of the critically important spectrum and orbital arc resources.
Acts as Senior Agency Technical Representative in various national and international spectrum management organizations including the important international SFCG.
Serves as senior NASA person credentialed for official duty as U.S.
Delegate to International Telecommunication Union activities such as International Radio Consultative Committee meetings and World Administrative Radio Conferences.
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