Joint Exercise Program Manager
How this pay compares
This posting states $109k–$142k a year. Open program manager jobs in Colorado post a median of $155k a year, the middle half $133k–$180k, across 123 jobs that state their pay, so this one is below the middle half of what they post.
Program and project managers in Colorado: pay by town and employer
About the job
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is: to serve as a Joint Exercise Program Manager in the NORAD Operations Directorate in North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Exercise and Training Branch (NJ35X).
Responsible for planning, executing, synchronizing and comprehensive management of joint and combined exercises for the N/J3 Directorate which ensures full mission success in support of the NORAD Aerospace Warning, Aerospace Control, and Maritime Warning missions.
Duties Serve as the Joint Exercise Program Manager for Director of NORAD Operations (N/J3) responsible for the shortand long-range exercise planning, design, development, and execution Serves as the N/J3 representative to the Joint Exercise Control Group (JECG) and the primary N/J3 exercise observer/controller during all Joint and combined exercises.
Develops and maintains NORAD Operations training and exercise planning for N/J3 assigned exercises Synchronizes the collection of N/J3 observations during exercise execution for the conduct of after-action reviews (AAR), captures lessons learned, and develops and provides recommendations on process improvements.
Conditions of Employments: (cont'd) This position is designated by the Air Force as a Test Designated Position (TDP) under the Air Force Civilian Drug Testing Program.
As a mandatory requirement for employment in this TDP, the incumbent is (A) to refrain from use of illegal drugs and (B) if required, to submit to urinalysis testing. lllegal drug use by employees in sensitive position presents a clear threat to the mission of the Air Force, national security, and public safety. The selectee must sign a statement acknowledging the position occupied is identified as a TDP.
This is a KEY position 1AW 32 CFR, Part 44 Appendix A and DoD Directive 1200.7. A Key Position is a Federal position that cannot be vacated during a war, national emergency, or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the parent Federal Agency to function effectively.
Applicants for positions designated as "Key" positions who do not agree to this condition shall not be extended an offer of employment. The employee must be removed from the Ready Reserve and CANNOT become a member of the Ready Reserve while assigned to this position. May be required to perform Battle Roster functions during Exercise and Real World events.
Battle Roster functions may include, but are not limited to, NORAD Future Operations Center, Air Coordination Component (C/JFACC), and other tasks as assigned. These duties may require additional duty hours and/or alternate duty locations. YA002 = Eligible for situational telework only, including Ad hoc, Emergency, or OPM prescribed "Unscheduled" Telework.
This eligibility is separate and distinct from the employee's eligibility. A civilian employee's telework arrangement may be terminated at the discretion of the supervisor or at the employee's request.
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, 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 expert-level knowledge of the Joint Training System (JTS) and the policy and procedures governing the planning and execution of CJCS-sponsored exercises in order to develop new and revised approaches to integrate objectives across all training and exercise events; Thorough knowledge and understanding of current missions, capabilities, organization and operations of: NORAD, other Combatant Commands, OSD, the Joint Staff, the Joint Warfighting Center (JWFC), NORAD Regions (CONR, CANR, ANR), Transportation Canada, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserves, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Knowledge of current military law, joint doctrine, joint plans, policies, and practice; Expert-level knowledge of homeland defense activities, operations and exercises as used by DOD, the Joint Staff, other Combatant Commands, and the Services; Knowledge of NORAD and USNORTHCOM operations center and the command and control systems used in these centers that support joint training, exercises and war games.
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: 1.
Knowledge of the Joint Training System (IA W Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction (CJCSI) 3500.01 ); military law and doctrine; joint policies and procedures; organizational structures of DoD, Services and Joint components; and national intelligence organizations. The Joint Training System serves as the foundational approach for DoD exercises. 2.
Knowledge of military strategic, operational, and tactical concepts, principles and processes as they apply to aerospace defense (i.e., NORAD) missions to develop an exercise and venues of sufficient depth to exercise the training audience. 3.
Knowledge of the various combatant command missions, organizations, and respective agents involved in planning and executing military operations and evaluations, combined with the role that strategic/operational planning and war gaming plays-sufficient to build respective venues, which are realistic and adequately exercise strategic and national level objectives. 4.
Skill in oral and written communication in order to negotiate and defend ideas and support training/exercise concepts (e.g., author well-written products to stimulate the training audience during exercise execution; author information papers in support of training and exercise requirements; and articulate/present concepts and directorate objectives during exercise planning conferences). 5.
Skill in making critical analytical judgments, formulating recommendations that may have major command impact/consequences, and conveying those recommendations clearly and concisely to the highest authority levels in the command. 6.
Ability to react in a high-stress environment to intense domestic event situations, whether exercise or real-world (i.e., the planning and execution of an exercise is a high-pace and high-stress environment where the incumbent is required to make decisions and develop products that will determine the success or the failure of an exercise).
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.
From US Space Force's job posting, checked 10 Nov 2026. The employer's own page is the final word on requirements and availability.
Selected agencies hiring now
Motion RecruitmentEngineering and technical staffing agency
IT and software recruiting firm placing software, data, infrastructure, cybersecurity and product people on contract and permanent roles across North America.
Places: Software & IT, Programs & Business, Science & Data
ISGFEngineering and technical staffing agency
Staffing firm placing IT, finance and accounting, engineering, administrative and sales staff on contract.
Places: Software & IT, Programs & Business
These agencies and apps pay SpaceJobs.Now a referral fee when someone we introduce is placed or signs up. It costs you nothing and never changes your pay. Employers' own jobs below keep their own order.
Sponsored jobs from job networks, which pay SpaceJobs.Now when you click one.
Free tools for this application: check your resume against this job, answer the application's questions or see every free tool.
New program management and business jobs in space in Colorado, by email
One email a week with the newest ones, straight from the employers' own careers sites, with the pay each posting states. Free, stop anytime.
About US Space Force
The civilian side of the US Space Force: engineers, program managers and specialists at Space Systems Command and the space bases in California, Colorado and Florida.
Pay on its listings: 100% of its open jobs state their pay
How it pays: Paid as a federal civilian employee of the Department of the Air Force, on the pay plan and grade each announcement states.
More open jobs at US Space Force
- Budget Analyst$76,463–$118,204/yr
- Telecommunications Specialist$76,463–$118,204/yr
- Acquisition Program Engineer, SSC/SW$102,415–$158,322/yr
- Electrician (Motor Vehicle Operator)
- Human Resources Specialist (Classification)$76,463–$118,204/yr
- Chief, Human Capital Management, Mission Delta 8$91,870–$142,022/yr
More program management and business jobs in space
Experienced in space programs or business?
One profile for every employer here. Space companies and their recruiters ask us for people with a specific degree, clearance, specialty or location: add yours once, and when a job fits, we introduce you, only with your yes. Free.
US Space Force openings, sent to you weekly
Each week we send the newest postings from US Space Force's own careers site, along with similar openings at other space employers. It costs nothing and you can stop anytime.