Operations Manager

Arenatechnologies; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) is seeking a highly experienced Operations Manager or Chief of Staff to support the AUKUS Integration & Acquisition program office at the Washington Navy Yard.

The role requires servant leadership, empathy, and the ability to coordinate executive workflows for senior leaders and SES-level audiences. Ideal candidates have 5+ years of senior-lead administrative support experience in defense or government, and an active DoW security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required with 5+ years of professional administrative support to senior leaders.
• Experience in defense, government, Navy, or Foreign Military Sales environments preferred.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and transparent, inclusive culture experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and collaboration tools (SharePoint, Teams, etc.).
• Active Department of War (DoW) Secret or higher security clearance required.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive support and calendar management for senior leaders.
• Coordinate schedules with partner organizations for high-level engagements.
• Prepare briefings and materials for flag and SES-level audiences.
• Develop and implement administrative policies to improve performance.
• Manage task tracking and action items using enterprise systems.
• Arrange and support international meetings and capture meeting minutes.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team building

Servant leadership

Security clearance

Project coordination

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

SharePoint

Teams

Job description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission.Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The AUKUS, Submarines, and Industrial Base Group (ASIG), within the Sea, Land, Air Division, provides timely, objective, analytic assessments that integrate technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis to NAVSEA Team Submarine program offices and key stakeholders surrounding submarine platform construction. Team Submarine unifies submarine platform procurement activities, which includes the Columbia-class SSBN program (a Major Defense Acquisition Program and the Navy’s top acquisition priority), the Virginia-class SSN program and the new SSN-X program (developing the next generation attack submarine), to bring improved capabilities to our undersea forces. Analysts and Engineers supporting Team Submarine will continue SPA’s decades of support to the SSBN force, as well as supporting oversight of cutting-edge attack submarine construction, assisting in developing the design requirements for the SSN platform of the future, and helping plan and execute new and innovative strategies to strengthen the critical submarine shipbuilding industrial base. These are high-profile, major acquisition and manufacturing programs of significant importance to the future capabilities of the US Navy in an era of renewed strategic competition.

SPA's AUKUS Portfolio provides timely, objective, analytic assessments that integrate technical, operational, programmatic, policy, and business analysis to NAVSEA's AUKUS Integration and Acquisition (I&A) Program Office and associated partner organizations. Analysts and Engineers supporting AUKUS will continue SPA’s decades of support to the undersea force and assist in developing a trilateral submarine force for the future. This is a high-profile, major international program of significant importance to the future of the U.S. Navy and its partners in an era of renewed strategic competition.

SPA has an immediate need for a highly experienced Operations Manager or Chief of Staff to support AUKUS I&A.

Responsibilities

Overview:

SPA is seeking a highly organized Operations Manager, former Chief of Staff, or former U.S. Navy Leader to support a senior leader and the associated team within our AUKUS Integration & Acquisition (I&A) program office. We need a leader with a proven record of servant leadership, leading with empathy, optimism, and humility. Demonstrated ability to build trust, inspire collaboration, and bring out the best in people through encouragement and accountability. Adept at turning setbacks into shared wins by keeping the team focused, united, and motivated. Operating out of the Washington Navy Yard, this critical role acts as the administrative backbone of our operations, managing executive workflows, coordinating schedules, and preparing key deliverables for flag and Senior Executive Service (SES)-level leadership.

Responsibilities:

To ensure the seamless day-to-day operations of the office, the Operations Manager will execute a diverse portfolio of tasks divided into the following focus areas:

Executive Support & Calendar Management

• Manage executive schedules by proactively maintaining calendars, setting appointments, and responding to invitations.
• Synchronize schedules with partner organizations to coordinate high-level engagements.
• Provide executive-level support for senior leadership, including preparing briefings, collecting data, and preparing materials for senior-level meetings.

Correspondence, Deliverables, & Policies

• Develop official correspondence in accordance with the Navy Correspondence Manual, SECNAV M-5216.5.
• Edit, track and route correspondence systematically to ensure timely responses.
• Create deliverables and directly assist with briefings for flag and Senior Executive Service (SES)-level audiences.
• Develop and implement administrative policies and procedures to improve performance across varying organizational levels.

Action Tracking & Process Improvement

• Manage task tracking and formal actions through enterprise systems, ensuring responses adhere to organizational standards and are completed on time.
• Analyze workflows and administrative processes to identify areas for refinement.
• Formulate process improvement recommendations to guarantee the smooth, unhindered operation of the office.

Meeting & Conference Logistics

• Provide administrative and logistical support for the planning, coordination, and execution of international convening events and meetings.
• Facilitate executive-level meetings, record comprehensive meeting minutes, and develop/deliver high-impact presentations.
• Handle sensitive information with the utmost discretion and professionalism.

Location:

Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and at least five (5) years of professional work experience providing administrative support to senior leaders. Experience in defense, government, U.S. Navy, or Foreign Military Sales (FMS) environments is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead a collaborative team, build trust-based relationships and foster a culture of transparency, inclusiveness, and respect. Adept at modeling calm, positive, and solution-oriented leadership outcomes that break down silos and keeps teams moving together.
• Proven record of leading through service and empathy that is grounded in servant leadership. Energizes teams with steadiness and belief, listens generously, and turns setbacks into shared wins through team-first leadership.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office products to include but not limited to: SharePoint, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Demonstrated ability to track action items and manage team deliverables using collaborative task tracking systems like Microsoft Planner (or comparable software).
• Exceptional organizational and communication skills. Proven track record supporting senior U.S. Government leaders with calendar management, planning, meeting minutes, and action-item tracking.
• Must also possess an active Department of War (DoW) Secret (or higher) security clearance.

Desired Qualifications:

• Prior experience serving as a Chief of Staff or Operations Manager for a DoW organization.
• Experience navigating Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Foreign Disclosure, Foreign Visits protocols, and/or International Agreements.
• Outstanding written, verbal, interpersonal, and cross-cultural communication skills.

Pay Range Information

At SPA, we strive to deliver a robust total compensation package that will attract and retain top talent. Elements of the compensation package include competitive base pay and variable compensation opportunities. SPA provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life and disability insurance programs, and a number of programs that provide for both paid and unpaid time away from work. The specific programs and options available to any given employee may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, etc. Please note that the salary information shown below is a general guideline only. Salaries are commensurate with experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Washington, DC, Pay Transparency Salary range: USD $110,000.00/Yr. - USD $175,000.00/Yr.