Front Office SETA Lead - BTO

ECS Corporate Services; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth ECS is seeking a Front Office SETA Lead - BTO to support DARPA's Biological Technologies Office in Arlington, VA, on a hybrid schedule. The role leads Front Office SETAs and provides technical and programmatic assistance to senior leadership, coordinating strategic initiatives to align with the DOW mission.

Essential responsibilities include strategic planning, program assessment, budget coordination, regulatory oversight, SOP development, acquisition support, and technical outreach.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in technical research, program management, or high-level technical advisory services.
• Ability to translate complex biological concepts into clear briefings for senior leaders.
• DoD Secret clearance or eligibility to obtain clearance.
• Experience with strategic planning and coordination across offices.

Responsibilities

• Strategic planning: assist in developing and updating the annual BTO Strategic Plan.
• New program assessment: evaluate technical merit and military potential of concepts.
• Budgetary coordination: support R-Docs, POM submissions, BES.
• Regulatory oversight: assist in HSR/ASR activities per DoD policies.
• Business process management: identify inefficiencies and develop SOPs.
• Acquisition support: monitor BAA and lifecycle from solicitation to award.
• Technical outreach: coordinate workshops, panels, and site visits.
• Briefing development: prepare technical briefings and reports for senior leaders.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Program Assessment

Budget Coordination

Regulatory Oversight

SOP Development

Acquisition Support

Technical Outreach

Briefing Development

Job description

Everforth ECS is seeking a Front Office SETA Lead - BTO to work in our Arlington, VA (hybrid work schedule) office. Please Note: This position is contingent upon contract award. ECS seeks a Science, Engineering, and Technical Advisory (SETA) candidate to provide support to the leadership within DARPA's Biological Technologies Office (BTO). The successful candidate will serve as a functional lead for all Front Office SETAs under this contract. The Front Office SETA will also provide technical and/or programmatic assistance to the Office Director (OD), Deputy Director (ODD), and/or Assistant Director for Program Management (ADPM). The role involves coordinating office-wide strategic and/or administrative initiatives to ensure alignment with DARPA BTO's core mission of developing breakthrough technologies for the Department of War (DOW).

Essential responsibilities may include:

• Strategic Planning: Assist leadership in the development and update of the annual BTO Strategic Plan, identifying national security challenges and emerging research opportunities.
• New Program Assessment: Conduct technology and military needs analyses to evaluate the technical merit, feasibility, and military potential of new program concepts.
• Budgetary Coordination: Support the development of Research and Development Descriptive Summaries (R-Docs), Program Objective Memorandum (POM) submissions, and Budget Estimate Submissions (BES).
• Regulatory Oversight: Assist in the execution of Human Subjects Research (HSR) and Animal Use (ASR) activities in accordance with DOW policies and procedures.
• Business Process Management: Identify process inefficiencies and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to optimize internal office functions and program tracking.
• Acquisition Support: Maintain the office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and monitor the acquisition lifecycle from solicitation through contract award.
• Technical Outreach: Coordinate technical workshops, senior advisory panels, and site visits to support office-wide research goals and recruitment of program manager candidates.
• Briefing Development: Prepare technical briefings, point papers, and reports for the DARPA Director's Office (DIRO), senior DOW leadership, and Congressional staff.

Salary Range: 90,000 - 180,000

General Description of Benefits

• Ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a DoD Secret clearance.
• 3+ years of experience in technical research, program management, or high-level technical advisory services.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex biological concepts into clear, actionable briefings for non-technical senior leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and respond to urgent "Front Office taskers" and data calls within short timelines.