DARPA Portfolio Operations Lead

Systems Planning and Analysis; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 188,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking an experienced Portfolio Operations Lead to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

You will manage DARPA portfolio execution, coordinate across offices, and ensure timely, high-quality leadership deliverables. You will track milestones, organize briefings, and maintain calendars to support program reviews and industry days, while ensuring compliance with all processes and security requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and 12+ years of demonstrated experience leading transition coordination and external stakeholder engagement across DoD, interagency, and Service partners.
• Direct experience with OTA prototype, OTA follow-on production, and FAR/DFARS contracting environments.
• Proven ability to coordinate across multi-Service and joint portfolios and to engage senior leadership and external mission partners.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with demonstrated ability to produce decision-quality briefings and read-aheads.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.
• Able to report to Arlington, VA up to full-time based upon client needs.
• Advanced scientific degree desired.
• Prior experience in a DARPA program office or as a former Government Program Manager desired.
• Experience coordinating with DHA, DLA, and service acquisition executives.

Responsibilities

• The Operations Lead will oversee activities across a full DARPA portfolio, including PI meetings, program reviews, industry days, and site visits.
• Maintain the integrated portfolio calendar, decision timeline, and execution rhythm.
• Track program status at the execution level (milestones, approvals, actions, dependencies).
• Coordinate across DARPA functional offices to enable program execution.
• Prepare and integrate briefings, read-ahead packages, and leadership deliverables.
• Manage internal tasking, action tracking, and follow-through across programs and supporting staff.
• Serve as the primary interface for cross-office coordination within DARPA.
• Ensure compliance with DARPA processes and review gates.
• Enable rapid, accurate response to short-notice leadership requests and external engagements.

Skills

Written communication

Stakeholder engagement

Program coordination

TS/SCI clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced scientific degree

Job description

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking an experienced Portfolio Operations Lead to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

You will manage DARPA portfolio execution, coordinate across offices, and ensure timely, high-quality leadership deliverables. You will track milestones, organize briefings, and maintain calendars to support program reviews and industry days, while ensuring compliance with all processes and security requirements.