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Our nation’s ability to defend the homeland, deter aggression, and build a resilient Joint force rests on our capacity to identify, prioritize, and successfully field the optimal set of effective, suitable, and survivable systems. We must re-envision national security to keep pace with advanced adversaries, leveraging the entire spectrum of the Nation’s Innovation Base, while creating and leveraging a growing set of new options and authorities for accelerating Joint and whole-of-nation capabilities.

That’s where MITRE’s Acquisition Studies & Analysis (ASA) Department comes in. We are a diverse group of defense acquisition experts, operations research / system analysts, cybersecurity professionals, and communication systems engineers– all with a united passion to solve problems for a safer world. We’re experienced professionals who advise senior leaders and decision-makers across the national security enterprise. Our evidence-based work garners visibility and provokes thought and action.  We’re team players who build partnerships across government, industry, academia, and research centers.

And above all - we bring objectivity, innovation, courage, and technical excellence to help our sponsors make the right decision.

Roles & Responsibilities:

MITRE’s ASA Department seeks 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. The team may publish, speak at high visibility events, and advise senior government officials.

Responsibilities include:

Effectively engage and motivate sponsors, stakeholders, and the larger enterprise on acquisition modernization and agility topics ranging from acquisition policy to technology assessments and mission needs.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 DoD to transition emerging technologies and prototypes across the Valley of Death into fielded operational capabilities.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.

Basic Qualifications:

Typically requires a minimum of 10 years experience with broad exposure and significant roles across the DoD’s acquisition environment, including the innovation ecosystem.Track record of providing successful thought leadership in applying, teaching, or leading defense acquisition reform or modernization – prior experience as an acquisition professional, by itself, is not sufficient for this role.Experience building coalitions and communities that span multiple organizations.Strong critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills – comfortable working in dynamic settings where task objectives may evolve or need to be shaped, or creative solutions to task impediments must be identified.Demonstrated ability to work in team settings, to include establishing formal or informal teams or alliances which coordinate across technical and organizational boundaries to achieve significant mission outcomes.Strong interpersonal skills as well as effective verbal and written communication skills.Working familiarity with all aspects of DoD Adaptative Acquisition Framework, in particular the software acquisition pathway, requirements, or resourcing processes – i.e., Defense Acquisition System (DAS), Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS), and/or the Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution (PPBE) processes.Experience in one or more of the domain or functional areas adjacent to the key areas of modern acquisition reform, such as:Software development, including agile software development methodologies, DevOps, and/or cloud-based capabilitiesCyber security or cyber operationsConventional/nuclear command and controlMissile warning/defenseJoint or service logisticsOther Joint force application or supportDoD critical technology areasTest & evaluation, systems engineering, cost estimation, or program protection of acquisition programs related to any of the aboveThe Defense industrial base and Supply Chain management.Business systemsWillingness to visit Sponsor sites periodically for direct engagement and/or meetings.Active DoD Secret clearanceThis position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.

Preferred Qualifications:

Ability to maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance with access to Secure Compartmented Information (TS/SCI).Bachelor’s degree or higher in an Applied Science or Engineering.Demonstrated ability to maintain and leverage a strong professional network to provide thought leadership across the acquisition enterprise.Demonstrated ability leading critical acquisition modernization or reform efforts with visibility and trust at high levels of government and/or industry.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Secret

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

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