Consulting Employee - JPA

Fairygodboss; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A defense and technology company is seeking a Joint Program Advisor in Reston, Virginia. The role supports a critical national security mission, leveraging operational expertise and intelligence to impact U.S. interests. Candidates should have extensive overseas experience, active TS/SCI clearance, and demonstrated leadership in complex environments. This position offers opportunities for strategic decision-making and collaboration.

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph required.
• 20+ years of relevant experience or 4 additional years in lieu of a degree.
• Proven success in overseas assignments in senior roles.
• Experience in complex dynamic environments abroad.
• Ability to deliver innovative solutions.
• Experience with counterintelligence and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Advise on complex operational activities.
• Deliver high-impact briefings to senior officials.
• Leverage classified systems to manage operational requirements.
• Build relationships with operational partners.

Skills

Operational expertise

Intelligence acumen

Leadership experience

Counterintelligence principles

Risk management skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Classified databases

Intelligence reporting tools

Job description

Description

Join a Mission That Matters
The BEACON Program at Leidos is seeking exceptional Joint Program Advisors (JPAs) to join our elite team supporting a critical national security mission. This is not your typical role — it’s an opportunity to apply your operational expertise, intelligence acumen, and leadership experience to help shape and execute global initiatives that directly impact U.S. interests at home and abroad.

As part of the BEACON team, you’ll work at the center of a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment that drives strategic decision-making across the Intelligence Community and partner agencies. Every day brings new challenges — and the opportunity to make a measurable difference.

Primary Responsibilities

As a Joint Program Advisor (JPA), you will serve as a trusted expert and key advisor, supporting a wide range of operational and programmatic activities that advance the client’s mission objectives. Your insights and judgment will guide critical decisions across multiple operational domains.

Responsibilities include:

• Advising on complex operational and program activities to support mission success.

• Providing expert operational guidance and identifying potential counterintelligence issues to safeguard personnel, facilities, and sensitive operations.

• Designing, assessing, and recommending courses of action for classified activities, presenting clear pros and cons for strategic decision-making.

• Delivering high-impact briefings to senior government officials and stakeholders.

• Leveraging classified systems and databases to track, analyze, and manage operational requirements.

• Building strong, trust-based relationships with key operational and interagency partners to drive mission outcomes.

• Providing limited administrative support for field elements and deployed personnel as needed.

Basic Qualifications

To be considered for this high-visibility position, candidates must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph (required).

• Bachelor’s degree and 20+ years of relevant experience (or 4 additional years of experience in lieu of degree).

• Proven success in multiple official overseas assignments in senior leadership or advisory roles.

• Extensive experience operating in complex and dynamic environments abroad.

• Demonstrated ability to deliver innovative solutions to operational and strategic challenges.

• Proven experience applying counterintelligence and risk management principles to protect personnel, assets, and missions.

• Expertise in managing operational cases, intelligence production, and policy implementation.

• Advanced proficiency with classified databases and intelligence reporting tools.

• Superior written and verbal communication skills; ability to brief senior executives under tight deadlines with clarity and precision.

• Exceptional judgment, self-direction, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior overseas experience, particularly in high-threat environments.

• Relevant professional certifications or specialized operational training.

• Experience leading or mentoring multi-disciplinary teams in austere or sensitive environments.

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

October 20, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range - The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.