Director, Ctr for Disruptive Technology & Future Warfare

Position description

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.

1. Program Planning and Leadership. The Director, Center for Disruptive Technology and Future Warfare (CDTFW), reports to the INSS Director. He/she leads and manages CDTFW research, operations, budget, and personnel. The incumbent assures that CDTFW’s research is methodologically rigorous, cutting-edge, and impactful. He/she develops and manages research and academic initiatives related to disruptive technology and future warfare and helps to effectively disseminate publications and research products to relevant DoD and U.S. government stakeholders to ensure the strongest reach and impact. The incumbent leads, manages, and coordinates across the NDU academic and research enterprise, as well as with DoD and interagency stakeholder organizations. He/she creates and maintains working relationships with Department of Defense stakeholders, as well as relevant think tank, academic, and private sector actors.

The incumbent’s focus and responsibilities in leading and managing a center that produces cutting-edge impactful research on disruptive technology and the implications for defense and national security policy and strategy include the following:

• Conducts and supervises cutting edge research on disruptive technology and future warfare, to include artificial intelligence, autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, and assesses their impact on defense and national strategy and policy.
• Supports JPME at NDU through teaching, guest lecturing, developing curricula, mentoring students, and/or supporting academic programs with the aim of developing and preparing students for their roles as national security leaders in an unpredictable and complex world.
• Develops and implements initiatives that enhance the reach and impact of INSS research for DOD stakeholders and the larger national security enterprise.
• Interacts with senior leaders at DoD and other USG agencies, as well as with private and public academic and research institutions to develop research partnerships and other shared research/publication initiatives.
• Engages stakeholders within the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), and other DOD agencies regarding research projects and directed studies. This may include engagement and initiatives with U.S. allies and partners, as directed.
• Supports JPME at NDU through teaching, guest lecturing, developing curricula, mentoring students, and/or supporting academic programs with the aim of developing and preparing students for their roles as national security leaders in an unpredictable and complex world.

2. Resource Management and Development. Acts as a fiscal steward of public funds and sustains a relevant business model that aligns with the NDU-INSS mission, increased economic challenges, and fiscal oversight. The incumbent oversees all budget and programming activities and determines the need for budget, manpower, and other resource changes in coordination with the INSS Director and INSS Dean of Administration based on current and long-term stakeholder priorities. The Director collaborates with other INSS Center directors to plan and execute Center priorities and activities.

3. Personnel Management and EEO. As Director of CDTFW, the incumbent directs a staff of Research Fellows and ensures that Center hiring actions and/or contracts are managed in a timely manner and comply with regulation to best support the NDU-INSS mission. The incumbent is responsible for planning, programming, and directing staff activities; assigning functions and responsibilities for Center fellows to achieve short-and long-range INSS goals. He/she recommends selection, nomination, evaluation, and renewal of all Title 10 employees within the Center, holds Center research fellows accountable based on annual INSS performance standards, and provides professional development opportunities, awards, and other employee incentives and recognition where applicable. The incumbent emphasizes EEO, and avoids discrimination regarding race, gender, religion, national origin, color, age, and physical or mental handicap in employee selection, promotion, training, and other personnel management practices. Ensures that equal opportunity underlies all personnel and supervisory actions with attention given to any special development or recruitment objectives relating to minority or women employees.

4. Organizational Representation/Liaison. In support of the INSS Director and in coordination with the NDU Academic Affairs Office where relevant, the incumbent liaises with high-level visitors from USG agencies, foreign governments, civilian and military academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, professional associations, and others.

Qualifications

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.
• The incumbent must be able to successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Incumbent is required to submit a Financial Disclosure Statement, SF-278, Executive Branch Personnel Confidential Financial Disclosure Report upon entering the position and annually, in accordance with DoD Directive 5500-7-R.
• Travel requirements for this position are occasional. The incumbent must be physically able and willing to travel and may be required to travel up to 10-15% of the time.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MUST possess at least an earned PhD in international relations/affairs, political science, national security affairs, or in computer science or engineering with a national security focus.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience working at management roles in civilian or military components of the U.S. Government, non-governmental organizations, or other entities in areas related to disruptive technologies and defense missions, particularly at the national security policy and military strategy level.
• In-depth experience conducting scholarly research and producing publications, or as a practitioner who has participated in or led research activities, delivered significant speeches or policy papers, or is a recognized thought leader on disruptive technology (artificial intelligence, autonomous and semi-autonomous weapons systems, robotics, quantum computing, bio-tech, etc.) and future warfare as they relate to defense and national security strategy and policy, and possesses demonstrated familiarity with relevant literature in this area.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Extensive experience in interacting with high-level government officials, senior officers, and private-sector professionals.
• Experience in building collaborative relationships across agencies and organizations.
• Experience in developing new insights into unstructured and complex situations and applying creative thinking and innovative solutions to make organizational improvements.
• Skill in developing and teaching graduate-level courses dealing with disruptive technology and defense and national security strategy and policy.

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: Possess at least an earned PhD in international relations/affairs, political science, national security affairs, or in computer science or engineering with a national security focus.

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.

Application instructions

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