Decision Analyst, Lead

About the role

L581 is seeking a well-connected and recognized expert on defense acquisition and innovation. The ideal candidate will be a credible authority on defense acquisition, emerging technologies, and national security processes. You will belong to a high-performing team that regularly initiates and implements projects in support of sponsors’ strategic initiatives, often before a sponsor can fully recognize or articulate that they are needed.

Responsibilities

• Effectively engage and motivate sponsors, stakeholders, and the larger enterprise on acquisition modernization and agility topics ranging from acquisition policy to technology assessments, commercialization, and mission needs.
• Provide subject matter expertise on DoW and/or US federal civilian acquisition practices, including Non-FAR procurement authorities, such as Other Transaction (OT), acquisition processes applied across the defense innovation and rapid acquisition ecosystems, and working knowledge of the Federal Acquisition Register (FAR), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and other US federal acquisition regulations.
• Develop and propose innovative strategies, policies, and processes that improve defense acquisition outcomes, ranging from programs, portfolios, and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Contribute with impact as part of one or more integrated product teams to enable DoW to transition emerging technologies and prototypes.
• Strategically communicate internally and externally on key issues related to defense acquisition.
• Build and manage relationships between senior sponsors, MITRE, and other stakeholders (Federally Funded Research & Development Centers (FFRDCs), think tanks, Industry, academia).
• Increase collaboration and coordination on acquisition reform and improvement issues across policy, practice, and academic domains.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or 3 years and a PhD; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Broad exposure and roles across the DoW and Federal Civilian agencies acquisition environments, including the innovation ecosystem.
• Possession of an Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) certification at a minimum of Level II in Program Management (PM), or equivalent DAWIA or FAC-C, FAC-COR, or FAC-PPM Level II certification, demonstrating validated proficiency in federal acquisition principles, program execution, and compliance.
• Experience building coalitions and communities that span multiple organizations across government and the private sector.
• Strong critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills – comfortable working in dynamic settings where task objectives may evolve or need to be shaped in real-time, and developing and delivering creative solutions to task impediments to ensure successful outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully in team settings, to include establishing formal or informal teams which coordinate across technical and organizational boundaries to achieve mission outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Working familiarity with the DoW Adaptative Acquisition Framework, including familiarity with the Defense Acquisition System (DAS), Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) processes, and/or Service-specific requirements and acquisition processes.
• Experience in three (3) or more of the following domain or functional areas adjacent to the key areas of modern acquisition reform, such as: Shift from Linear to Iterative Acquisition, Accelerated Requirements and Decision-Making, Empowering Program Executive Officers (PEOs), Strengthening Product Support and Sustainment, Commercial Solutions First, Modernizing Contracting and Reducing Red Tape, Revitalizing the Defense Industrial Base, Reforming Bid Protests and Procurement Practices, Risk Management and Entrepreneurial Thinking, Establishing Industry-Driven Solutions.
• Willingness to visit Sponsor sites periodically for direct engagement and/or meetings.
• Active DoW Secret clearance.