Performance Management and Performance Pay Team Lead

With a passion for excellence, Golden Key Group (GKG) helps clients solve their strategic, organizational, and operational challenges to better meet their mission demands.  We have serviced more than 25 Federal departments and agencies and several large commercial companies since our inception in 2002.

Golden Key Group's talented professionals, combined with our strategic partners, bring a depth of commercial and government experience and expertise.  We are relentless in delivering the highest levels of services to provide tangible value and create sustainable results for our clients.

We are seeking an experienced Performance Management and Performance Pay Team Lead to oversee federal performance management, compensation, and pay-pool activities supporting a federal intelligence agency in Springfield, Virginia.

This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for the assigned program area and provide leadership across performance management and performance-based compensation activities. The ideal candidate brings extensive knowledge of federal performance management regulations, Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System compensation structures, data analysis, and pay-pool auditing.

Location: Springfield, VA

Expected Start: Early 2027

• →Serve as the primary point of contact for the assigned performance management and performance pay program area
• →Lead the day-to-day execution of federal performance management, compensation, and pay-pool activities
• →Provide guidance on federal performance management regulations, policies, procedures, and best practices
• →Support performance planning, monitoring, evaluation, rating, and closeout activities
• →Apply knowledge of Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System performance management and compensation requirements
• →Review and audit pay-pool calculations to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance
• →Analyze compensation and performance data to identify discrepancies, trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
• →Develop and maintain data models, reports, trackers, and supporting documentation
• →Protect and appropriately handle confidential salary, compensation, and employee performance information
• →Identify and implement improvements to federal performance management processes and systems
• →Coordinate with Human Resources professionals, managers, executives, and other stakeholders to resolve performance and compensation matters
• →Provide clear guidance and recommendations to senior leaders and decision-makers
• →Develop and deliver executive-level reports, briefings, and program updates
• →Maintain effective, professional communication with senior-level managers, executives, and team members
• →Ensure assigned deliverables meet contractual quality, accuracy, and timeliness requirements
• →Apply artificial intelligence tools to relevant processes and analyses, as appropriate
• →Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Management, or a related discipline
• Active TS/SCI clearance 
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience
• At least three years of experience working with the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System
• At least two years of experience supporting senior-level performance management activities
• Demonstrated experience applying federal performance management regulations
• Knowledge of Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System compensation structures
• Proven experience reviewing or auditing pay-pool calculations
• Proficiency in data management, analysis, and modeling
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify compensation and performance discrepancies
• Ability to handle confidential salary, compensation, and employee performance information with a high degree of discretion
• Strong leadership, communication, documentation, and stakeholder-management skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior-level managers and executives
• Ability to work full-time on-site in Springfield, Virginia

• At least two years of supervisory experience leading a compensation or performance management team
• Experience implementing process improvements within federal performance management systems
• Experience supporting Intelligence Community Human Resources or compensation programs
• Knowledge of pay-pool administration, performance-based compensation, and workforce analytics
• Training or experience using artificial intelligence tools in Human Resources, performance management, compensation, or data analysis
• Professional Human Resources certification, such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, SPHR, or a federal equivalent