SETA Team Lead

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

The Acquisition and Technology Analysis Group within JOID specializes in the application of multi-disciplinary analytic skills to support multiple clients within the Department of Defense (DoD). These clients include the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), DARPA, the Joint Staff, and USINDOPACOM. SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

SPA has an immediate need for a Senior-level SETA Team Leader to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

The candidate will support the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Program Manager (PM) by participating in or leading all activities in project management, technical and programmatic risk analysis, and program-funded test coordination. As a Lead in our fast-paced Strategic Technology Office (STO), will play a critical role in SPA's mission by providing strategic assistance for the day-to-day operations. The PM's portfolio consists of reasearch in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, human-machine teaming, and data science. The candidate will be responsible for creating and maintaining systems and processes to streamline operations. Will assist and communicate with the PM to aid in efficient decision making, program management, and initiative implementation. Serve as a subject-matter expert handling inquiries, developing action plans, and assisting with preparation of technical documents. Additional duties include maintenance and organization of confidential files and data records, leading teams, easing communications, and uniting people across the group to keep them moving forward and increasing productivity. Support PM in management and executive decision making for existing government programs, and support PM in strategic vision for portfolios. Cooperatively build relationships between portfolio, PM, STO, and DARPA with stakeholders, performers, and potential performers. Cooperatively generate new concept ideas, SBIR topics, and seedlings to support PM portfolio. Manage and guide SETA team to run daily operations to actively manage existing portfolios.

Required:

Master's degree in an engineering, scientific, or other technical discipline

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience

• Experience as an executive leader in client account management
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Able to handle a wide variety of tasks, such as briefing support and general administrative oversight
• Ability to communicate effectively and possess excellent oral and writing skills
• Proficient with MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint)

Desired:

• Prior experience working programs at DARPA as a technical and program management support contractor

• Knowledge of DARPA processes and procedures

• Demonstrated program management expertise, with over 5 years following program management best practices in a research environment, preferably as a project lead