Defense Acquisition SME and Acquisition Transformation Strategist

KBR; Eglin Air Force Base (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life insurance

Flexible spending account

Disability

Paid time off

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR’s National Security Solutions team seeks a Defense Acquisition SME to support Air Force capabilities through acquisition transformation and digital modernization. You will work with Armament Directorate leaders to design governance, processes, and decision support to accelerate program execution.

You will interact with senior officials to translate strategy into actionable improvements, drive adoption of modern practices, and contribute to shaping future air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related discipline.
• 10+ years DoD acquisition experience with senior roles.
• Strong knowledge of the DoD Adaptive Acquisition Framework.
• Experience leading governance and digital transformation.
• Ability to work with senior government leaders on strategy.
• Proven record turning analysis into actionable actions.

Responsibilities

• Support Directorate-level acquisition transformation and modernization initiatives.
• Lead cross-Directorate forums and translate policy into actions.
• Develop governance, processes, and decision forums.
• Drive data-driven decision-making across SPOs and enterprise.
• Prepare executive briefings and leadership communications.
• Identify risks and lead continuous improvement efforts.

Skills

DoD acquisition governance

Cross-functional leadership

Executive briefing & communications

Strategic program management

Data-driven decision support

Governance frameworks

Digital modernization

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree (Business/Engineering/Systems/PM)

Master’s degree in Business/Engineering/PM

PMI/ PMP certification

Tools

PMP certification

Executive dashboards/tools

Job description

Title: Defense Acquisition SME and Acquisition Transformation Strategist Belong. Connect. Grow. with KBR!

KBR’s National Security Solutions team provides high-end engineering and advanced technology solutions to our customers in the intelligence and national security communities. In this position, your work will have a profound impact on the country’s most critical role – protecting our national security.

Why Join Us?

Innovative Projects: KBR’s work is at the forefront of engineering, logistics, operations, science, program management, mission IT and cybersecurity solutions.

Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic team that thrives on collaboration and innovation, fostering a supportive and intellectually stimulating workplace.

Impactful Work: Your contributions will be pivotal in designing and optimizing defense systems that ensure national security and shape the future of space defense.

Position Summary

KBR is seeking a highly experienced Defense Acquisitions program management professional to support Directorate-level acquisition transformation and digital modernization initiatives within the Air Force's Armament Directorate. This is a highly visible role for a proactive leader who can bridge strategy and execution, drive organizational change, and help shape the future of Air Force weapons acquisition.

Working directly with senior Directorate leadership, the selected candidate will help develop and implement changes that improve acquisition execution, including organizational design, governance frameworks, business processes, and decision support capabilities.

This role requires daily interaction with senior leaders across the Armament Directorate, Department of War, and the Department of the Air Force to maintain detailed awareness of higher headquarters initiatives and translate strategic direction into actionable organizational improvements.

Role has flexibility to be enduring or transition to Senior-level Acquisition SME supporting next generation air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon development programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as key member of a high-performing acquisition transformation team working directly with Armament Directorate senior leadership to maintain comprehensive awareness of Department of War and Department of the Air Force acquisition transformation initiatives.
• Participate in cross-Department acquisition forums, working groups, and senior leader engagements; assess the potential impact of emerging policies, guidance, and best practices; and translate those initiatives into Directorate communications, implementation strategies, action plans, and organizational improvements that enable System Program Offices to execute more effectively.
• Lead acquisition transformation and digital modernization initiatives across the Armament Directorate and its System Program Offices (SPOs), improving how acquisition teams plan, execute, and deliver weapon system capabilities.
• Partner with Directorate and SPO leadership to identify organizational, governance, and process improvements that increase speed, effectiveness, and data-driven decision-making throughout the acquisition lifecycle.
• Develop, document, implement, and institutionalize organizational structures, governance frameworks, business processes, operating instructions, and decision forums that improve acquisition execution at both the enterprise and program levels.
• Drive adoption of modern acquisition practices, digital tools, integrated data environments, and innovative business processes that enable SPO personnel to perform their day-to-day responsibilities more efficiently and effectively.
• Develop acquisition strategies, organizational implementation plans, and transformation roadmaps that align Directorate objectives with Department of the Air Force priorities and emerging acquisition initiatives.
• Integrate complex technical, cost, schedule, manufacturing, contracting, test, and operational data into executive dashboards, scorecards, metrics, and decision-support products that improve leadership insight and acquisition decision-making.
• Lead strategic communications activities, including development of leadership messaging, executive summaries, talking points, briefing materials, and recurring organizational communications that support acquisition transformation initiatives.
• Develop and deliver executive briefings, technical assessments, and decision-support products for senior Government leaders supporting acquisition strategy, governance, and organizational decision-making.
• Support major governance forums, leadership engagements, organizational reviews, site visits, and strategic planning activities while identifying programmatic risks, integration challenges, and opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Research acquisition reform initiatives, organizational models, digital capabilities, and best practices across the Department of Defense, industry, and other Government organizations, recommending innovative approaches that improve acquisition outcomes.

Work Environment

• Location: On-site (Eglin AFB, FL)
• Travel Requirements: Low, 10-15%
• Working Hours: Standard – Core hours 0900 - 1500

Qualifications – Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Systems Engineering, Organizational Management, Program Management, Public Administration, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience supporting or leading Department of Defense acquisition organizations, including System Program Offices, Program Executive Offices, Headquarters staffs, FFRDCs, UARCs, or defense industry organizations.
• Strong understanding of the DoD Adaptive Acquisition Framework, acquisition policy, and the execution of weapon system acquisition programs.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, or improving acquisition governance, organizational structures, business processes, operating instructions, or digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience working directly with senior Government leaders to develop implementation strategies, evaluate courses of action, and support executive decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to identify organizational challenges, conduct analysis, develop actionable recommendations, and lead implementation of process improvements.
• Experience integrating technical, cost, schedule, contracting, manufacturing, test, and operational information into executive-level decision support products, dashboards, and briefings.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated experience preparing executive correspondence, white papers, decision memoranda, strategic communications, and senior leader briefings.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and coordinate activities across multiple organizations and stakeholders.
• Active DoD Secret clearance required.

Qualifications – Desired

• Prior experience supporting weapons, munitions, missile, or air defense programs
• Experience supporting Headquarters Air Force, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, or other Service headquarters organizations.
• Experience designing, implementing, or improving governance structures, decision forums, or organizational operating models within a complex acquisition organization.
• Experience supporting digital engineering, digital acquisition, model-based systems engineering, data analytics, business intelligence, or enterprise digital transformation initiatives.
• Experience developing executive dashboards, performance metrics, scorecards, and data visualization tools.
• Experience facilitating executive-level governance forums, strategic planning sessions, or organizational change initiatives.
• Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Program Management, or related field
• PMP certification or similar professional credential
• TS/SCI eligibility preferred

KBR Benefits

• 401K plan with company match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• AD&D
• flexible spending account
• disability
• paid time off
• flexible work schedule
• We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow.

We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Core Values

We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential.

We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology-led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders.

We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business.

We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision-makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed.

We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company.

We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals.

Global Presence

Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.