Director, Acquisition Strategist

Serco; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Serco is seeking a Director of Acquisition Strategist to drive growth through strategic acquisition planning, customer insight, and competitive positioning across mission areas. This role blends acquisition expertise with growth strategy to shape opportunities and win.”

You will collaborate with Growth, Operations, Contracts, Pricing, Finance, and technical leaders to translate customer needs into executable strategies that differentiate Serco in a competitive federal market.

Qualifications

• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to synthesize customer needs into actionable acquisition plans.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills for complex, cross-functional issues.
• Excellent negotiation and executive communication capabilities with stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience translating mission requirements into clear, executable strategies.
• Ability to influence outcomes without direct authority across multiple teams.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and developing options as requirements evolve.
• Proven track record of shaping growth strategy in federal government contexts.

Responsibilities

• Develop acquisition strategies for priority pursuits aligning mission, pathways, competition, Serco capabilities and business objectives.
• Translate complex customer and contractual requirements into actionable pursuit strategies.
• Evaluate approaches to identify risks, constraints, and opportunities to strengthen Serco's position.
• Bring creative approaches to acquisition strategy beyond traditional procurement paths.
• Collaborate with Growth and Capture teams early to influence strategy before requirements are fixed.
• Anticipate evolving customer needs and market dynamics to shape future opportunities.
• Serve as trusted advisor to Business Development, Capture, and Operations on strategic pursuits.
• Provide strategic input on timing, contracting options, and risk management.
• Translate insights into differentiated solution strategies and pursuit decisions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Analytical

Negotiation

Executive communication

Ambiguity tolerance

Cross-functional collaboration

Influential leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, acquisition, program management, finance, engineering, or related discipline

Job description

Position Description & Qualifications

Serco is seeking a Director, Acquisition Strategist to bring intentional, strategic, and innovative thinking to our most important growth pursuits.

This role sits at the intersection of customer mission, acquisition strategy, competitive positioning, and growth. The Acquisition Strategist will help our teams understand not only what customers are asking for today, but where their missions and acquisition needs are headed next. This leader will translate those insights into actionable strategies that position Serco to differentiate, compete, and win.

Working closely with the Growth, Operations, Contracts, Pricing, Finance, and technical leaders, the Acquisition Strategist will bring an informed and creative perspective to how we shape and pursue opportunities. The successful candidate will combine deep understanding of the federal acquisition environment with strategic curiosity, strong business judgment, and the ability to challenge conventional thinking.

This is not a traditional contracting role. It is a growth strategy role grounded in acquisition expertise, designed to help Serco think several moves ahead and identify differentiated paths to addressing our customers' evolving mission challenges.

In This Role, You Will

Shape Acquisition and Growth Strategy

• Develop acquisition strategies for priority pursuits that align customer mission requirements, acquisition pathways, competitive dynamics, Serco capabilities, and business objectives.

• Translate complex customer, technical, operational, financial, and contractual requirements into clear, actionable pursuit strategies.

• Evaluate customer acquisition approaches to identify opportunities, constraints, risks, and alternatives that can strengthen Serco's competitive position.

• Bring creative, nontraditional thinking to acquisition strategy and challenge teams to consider new approaches rather than simply responding to established procurement paths.

• Partner with Growth and Capture teams early in the pursuit lifecycle to help influence strategy before requirements and acquisition approaches become fixed.

• Anticipate how customer needs and acquisition strategies may evolve based on mission priorities, funding considerations, performance requirements, and market dynamics.

Turn Customer Insight into Action

• Develop a deep understanding of customer missions, priorities, challenges, acquisition environments, and desired outcomes.

• Listen beyond the stated requirement to identify the underlying mission problem the customer is trying to solve.

• Translate customer insights into specific actions, differentiators, solution strategies, and pursuit decisions.

• Connect customer mission needs with acquisition realities to identify the best path from customer challenge to executable solution.

• Help teams anticipate where customers are going, not simply respond to where they are today.

Strengthen Pursuit and Capture Strategy

• Serve as a trusted acquisition strategy advisor to Business Development, Capture, and Operations leaders on strategic pursuits.

• Contribute acquisition insight to pursuit strategy sessions, customer assessments, solution development, competitive positioning, and reviews.

• Provide strategic perspective on acquisition timing, procurement approaches, contract vehicles, source-selection considerations, cost and pricing factors, and acquisition risks.

• Develop recommendations that appropriately balance customer mission, cost, schedule, performance, compliance, and risk.

• Identify potential acquisition barriers early and recommend strategies to mitigate or overcome them.

• Translate acquisition intelligence into concrete actions designed to strengthen Serco's competitive position and probability of win.

Provide Strategic Analysis and Executive Decision Support

• Analyze acquisition approaches, contracting alternatives, customer requirements, funding considerations, schedules, and risks to inform growth decisions.

• Develop clear, executive-level recommendations to support investment and pursuit decisions.

• Apply strong analytical judgment to complex or ambiguous situations where the appropriate acquisition or pursuit strategy may not be immediately apparent.

• Identify patterns and lessons across customers and pursuits that can inform broader account, market, and growth strategies.

• Clearly articulate acquisition assumptions, risks, alternatives, and decision points to senior leaders.

Lead Across Organizational Boundaries

• Build alignment across Growth, Operations, Contracts, Pricing, Finance, Legal, and technical organizations.

• Facilitate productive strategic discussions and respectfully challenge established assumptions when a different path could provide competitive advantage.

• Translate complex acquisition concepts into clear business language that enables timely decision-making.

• Build trusted relationships with business and functional leaders and serve as a strategic thought partner on complex pursuits and acquisition matters.

• Capture and share acquisition insights, best practices, and lessons learned to continuously strengthen Serco's growth capabilities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, acquisition, program management, finance, engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

• Significant experience in federal government acquisition, contracting, program management, capture, business development, or a related field.

• Strong understanding of the federal acquisition lifecycle and the relationship among customer requirements, acquisition strategy, funding, contracting, cost, schedule, performance, and risk.

• Demonstrated ability to translate complex customer or mission requirements into actionable strategies.

• Experience working across multiple business and functional disciplines and influencing outcomes without direct authority.

• Strong strategic thinking, analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and executive communication skills.

• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, challenge conventional thinking, and develop options when requirements or acquisition approaches are still evolving.

• Demonstrated ability to identify risks, evaluate alternatives, and make clear, actionable recommendations to senior leaders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of War or other federal government customers.

• Experience developing acquisition plans, procurement objectives, solicitation strategies, or contract vehicle approaches.

• Experience with cost and price analysis, negotiations, source-selection activities, contractor performance, or acquisition risk management.

• Program or portfolio management experience.

• PMP, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA)/Defense Acquisition University credentials, Contracting Officer experience, or comparable acquisition credentials.

• Experience leading or mentoring teams.

• Experience supporting complex, mission-critical federal programs and competitive acquisitions.

What Will Make You Successful

The strongest candidates will bring more than deep acquisition expertise. They will bring the curiosity and strategic mindset to see possibilities others may miss .

You will be successful in this role if you are:

• Strategic: You connect customer mission, acquisition dynamics, competitive positioning, and business objectives.

• Customer-centered: You begin with the mission challenge rather than an existing solution.

• Curious: You ask the next question and look beyond what the customer has explicitly stated.

• Creative: You challenge conventional thinking and explore alternative paths.

• Analytical: You can turn complex and sometimes conflicting information into clear recommendations.

• Influential: You create alignment across functions and senior stakeholders without relying on positional authority.

• Forward-looking: You anticipate where the customer and acquisition environment are heading.

• Action-oriented: You turn insight into meaningful pursuit decisions and executable strategies.

Company Overview

Serco Inc. (Serco) is the Americas division of Serco Group, plc. In North America, Serco’s 9,000+ employees strive to make an impact every day across 100+ sites in the areas of Defense, Citizen Services, and Transportation. We help our clients deliver vital services more efficiently while increasing the satisfaction of their end customers. Serco serves every branch of the U.S. military, numerous U.S. Federal civilian agencies, the Intelligence Community, the Canadian government, state, provincial and local governments, and commercial clients. While your place may look a little different depending on your role, we know you will find yours here. Wherever you work and whatever you do, we invite you to discover your place in our world. Serco is a place you can count on and where you can make an impact because every contribution matters.

To review Serco benefits please visit: https://careers.serco-na.com/us/en/what-we-offer .

Candidates may be asked to present proof of identity during the selection process. If requested, this will require presentation of a government-issued I.D. (with photo) with name and address that match the information entered on the application. Serco will not take possession of or retain/store the information provided as proof of identity. For more information on how Serco uses your information, please see our Applicant Privacy Policy and Notice.

Serco does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies without being a contracted approved vendor. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Serco and will not be obligated to pay a placement or contract fee. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor at Serco, please email [e-mail] .

Serco is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Pay Transparency

Our Total Rewards package includes competitive pay, performance-based incentives, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance—so you can thrive both professionally and personally. Eligible employees also gain access to a wide range of benefits from comprehensive health coverage and health savings accounts to retirement plans, life and disability insurance, and time-off programs that support work-life balance. Program availability may vary based on factors such as contract type, location, hire date, and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Salary range: The range for this position can be found at the top of this posting. This range is provided as a general guideline and represents a good faith estimate across all experience levels. Actual base salary will be determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the scope of the role, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, education and training, key skills, and geographic market considerations. For roles available in multiple states, the range may vary to reflect differences in local labor markets. In addition to base salary, eligible positions may include other forms of compensation such as annual bonuses or long-term incentive opportunities.Benefits – Comprehensible benefits for full-time employees (part-time employees receive a limited package tailored to their role):

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Robust vacation and sick leave benefits, and flexible work arrangements where permitted by role or contract

• 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds

• Tuition reimbursement program

• Life insurance and disability coverage

• Optional coverages that can be purchased, including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection

• Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits

• Employee Assistance Plan

To review all Serco benefits please visit: https://careers.serco-na.com/us/en/about-us .

Serco complies with all applicable state and local leave laws, including providing time off under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for eligible Colorado residents, in alignment with our policies and benefit plans. The application window for this position is for no more than 60 days. We encourage candidates to apply promptly after the posting date, as the position may close earlier if filled or if the application volume exceeds expectations.