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Posted: April 14, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Program Analyst

Missile Defense Agency

Department of Defense

Fresh

Location

Salary

$143,913 - $197,200

per year

Closes

April 20, 2026

GS-13 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $88,520 - $115,079

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-12. Expert-level knowledge in field.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves advising on national security policies related to missile defense, analyzing complex issues, and coordinating with government agencies and international partners to shape strategies and respond to legislative needs.

A good fit would be someone with strong analytical skills and experience in defense policy who enjoys working on high-stakes, interagency projects in a fast-paced environment.

It requires a deep understanding of U.S. government processes and the ability to build relationships across various organizations.

Key Requirements

  • One year of specialized experience equivalent to NH-03/GS-13 level in federal service
  • Experience with U.S. national security, missile defense policies, strategies, and programs
  • Ability to perform analyses, conduct research, and develop recommendations on complex missile defense and international affairs issues
  • Knowledge of Congressional budget cycle, legislative process, and supporting briefings for inquiries
  • Familiarity with Executive Branch interagency functions, including Office of the Secretary of Defense, Joint Staff, military departments, and combatant commands
  • Experience in U.S. foreign policymaking and national security coordination processes
  • Ability to monitor laws, policies, and trends to assess impacts on agency programs

Full Job Description

This position is part of the Department of Defense (DoD), Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

The incumbent will be responsible for: Serving as a senior analyst and advisor for policy and interagency affairs, and will report to the Director, Interagency Coordination and Policy Division.

You may qualify at the NH04 Broadband Level, if you fulfill the following qualifications: A.

One year of specialized experience equivalent to the NH-03/GS-13 grade level in the Federal service as listed below and must meet 3 of the 5 specialized experience listed below to be qualified: Experience with U.S.

national security and missile defense policies and strategies, and missile defense programs. Ability to interpret the above in order to inform MDA functional and program efforts.

Performing analyses and studies by using critical thinking; identifying issues; conducting research; developing courses of action; evaluating results.

Ability to develop recommendations on complex and sensitive missile defense strategy and international affairs issues. Work with the Congressional budget cycle and the legislative process.

Skilled in supporting the development of briefings and responses to satisfy Congressional inquiries.

Experience in the functions of the Executive Branch's interagency environment, the Office of the Secretary of War, the regional combatant commanders, the Joint Staff, and the military departments.

Familiarity with their respective roles in strategy formulation and execution. Experience in U.S.

foreign policymaking and national security policy- and strategy-making environment and coordination process.

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 directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Major Duties:

This position is being filed under AcqDemo Direct Hiring Authority (DHA) for non-acquisition position involving 51% or more of the time in direct support of acquisition position within the Business and Technical Management Professional Career Path.

As a Program Analyst at the NH-0343-4 broadband level, some of your typical work assignments may include: Establishes and strengthens strategic relationships and communication channels with, and represents the Director, lnteragency Affairs and Policy Division in, staff-level policy engagements with other Executive Branch departments and agencies, the Office of the Secretary of War, the Joint Staff, the military departments, the combatant commands, defense agencies, other government entities, and foreign partner organizations.

Leads staff-level actions in conducting comprehensive analyses of missile defense and defeat policy, including its adjacent policy areas.

Ensures proper consideration of operational imperatives, budgetary constraints, technological advances, the political environment, and human resources, to develop wide-ranging recommendations for MDA's strategy development efforts, and to inform external stakeholders on MDA's functional and programmatic activities.

Monitors and analyzes new laws, issuances, guidance, policies, and trends, to assess impacts on MDA's programs and other activities.

Maintains constant awareness of the status of MDA's key programs and activities. Provides policy, technical, administrative, and managerial direction and guidance to functional and program managers.

Ensures that the agency's program strategies are planned and implemented according to U.S. statutes and policies.

Assists the Director, lnteragency Affairs and Policy Division, and in turn the Director for Strategy, Plans, and Resources, as MDA's principal interlocutor at policy committees ("PCC" or "IPC") at the National Security Council, and commensurate engagements with the Office of Management and Budget (0MB), on matters of U.S.

missile defense and national security policy. Leads staff-level actions to provide missile defense expertise and bespoke analysis to U.S. interagency stakeholders.

Develops and coordinates timely and comprehensive responses to requests for information. Performs the same to support congressional engagements.

Supports adjacent policy planning activities for strategic policy documents including, but not limited to, the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, the Missile Defense Review, and the Defense Planning Guidance.

Assists on strategic communication and engagement activities such as development of strategic messaging, development and execution of MDA executive briefings, and reviewing MDA's annual budget exhibits and other documentation.

Prepares, reviews, and/or approves reports, papers, and other written, policy-related products for internal and external distribution. Manages the division's day-to-day operations.

Participates in formulating goals, strategies, and objectives. Implements the agency's internal control system to effect proper system accountability.

Provides policy, governance, and managerial expertise for the ongoing development of a vision, strategic plan, and objectives for MDA, that will bridge present and future organizational requirements.

Informs complex and comprehensive studies and analyses if alternatives, strategies, execution results, technical reports, staffing plans, organizational structures, and processes.

Implements sound and innovative solutions to complex problems. Develops and conducts independent assessments from a policy perspective of MDA's programs, plans, and their alternatives.

Identifies issues to ensure full compliance with legislation, congressional intent, Department of War guidance, MDA's strategies, and other governing authorities.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/14/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/15/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: MDA-26-12929989-DH