Acquisition Program Analyst

About the role

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking an Acquisition Program Analyst for a partner supporting the Air Force. The role supports the ILO Tactical Industrial Base branch within the Acquisition Integration Directorate (AQX) and provides insights into the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). The analyst will join a team serving the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition (SAF/AQ) on the Staffing and Technical Acquisition Services Support II (STAQSS II) contract. This position is on‑site at the Pentagon five days per week.

Responsibilities

• Support HAF budget preparation, SAE oversight, decision‑making activities, and PEO program execution/oversight for aircraft platforms.
• Maintain and analyze planning, scheduling, and management data.
• Study, analyze, and recommend requirements, acquisition strategies, program documentation, phase transition plans, supplemental information, and overall program execution.
• Provide impartial assessments of programs approaching milestone decisions and of prime contractor technical and operational issues.
• Research and analyze program trends, identify issues, and recommend solutions.
• Recommend allocation of funding, establishment of program goals, objectives, schedules, and formulation of program direction.
• Track documentation for compliance with program direction and identify issues.
• Identify and research programmatic trade‑offs regarding capabilities, costs, and schedules.
• Review and recommend on existing and proposed Air Force acquisition and capability‑area policies and their implementation.
• Evaluate the impact of national, DoD, JCS, and civil‑government policies on Air Force acquisition programs and capability areas.
• Maintain historical Air Force weapon‑program documentation; develop summary documents, briefings, and training material.
• Provide short‑notice, quick‑reaction analyses of critical programmatic issues for Congressional, OSD Staff, Joint Staff, HQ USAF, MAJCOM, NATO, coalition, or bi‑lateral activities.
• Prepare PPBE documentation to accurately articulate the current program.
• Support the HAF review process (AFROC, JWCAs, DABs, Congressional cycle, ASPs, AFRBs, CSBs, GAO reports, etc.).
• Perform Secretariat functions for ASPs, AFRBs, and CSBs.
• Review and document MDR and FOIA requests.
• Monitor ongoing studies, analyses, and developmental work relevant to weapon systems.
• Support program‑specific efforts such as CONOPS development, CDD, CPD, IER, and requirements working groups.
• Review and provide data for legislative hearings, program documentation, briefing packages, read‑aheads, Congressional staff visits, and other events to ensure an integrated Air Force position.
• Handle confidential and classified (Secret/TS‑SCI) information, correspondence, and communications.
• Perform any other tasks closely associated with the duties above as coordinated with the COR.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility (mandatory for consideration).
• Master’s degree in business or a related discipline (or qualifying work experience substitutions).
• At least 10 years of acquisition experience (programs of record) in a System Program Office and/or Air Force Headquarters.
• Minimum 10 years working on strategic initiatives for programs of record, including a solid understanding of the DoD PPBE process.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), SharePoint, TEAMS, and Adobe Reader/Pro.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new software and IT tools quickly.
• Strong public‑speaking skills; capable of delivering briefs, leading meetings (in‑person or online), and presenting.
• Work substitutions: 12 years relevant experience may substitute for a master’s degree; BA/BS + 8 years relevant experience may substitute for a master’s degree.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move or traverse throughout a large, secure facility and between multiple work areas.
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands, wrists, and fingers.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods at a desk and work on a computer.

How to Stand Out

• Resumes that clearly demonstrate acquisition knowledge and experience.
• Years of experience meeting or exceeding the required ten‑year threshold.
• Current active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Experience as an Action Officer or in a similar leadership‑support role.
• Program Executive Office (PEO) experience or comparable.
• Prior Pentagon or DoD Headquarters support.
• Program Element Monitor (PEM) or other program‑support experience.
• Task Management Tool (TMT) or other tasker system experience.
• Budget experience, ideally with PPBE, BES, PB, or related processes.
• Relevant education and security‑clearance credentials.

Salary

Up to $160,000, dependent on experience.