Principal Consultant (Operations)

Valid8 Financial, Inc.; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Forward Edge-AI, Inc. is seeking a Principal Consultant (Operations) to serve as the Program Manager's operational advisor and lead execution of a complex DoD program. The role covers personnel, schedules, quality, risk, resources and customer engagement.

Reporting to the VP of DoD Programs, the role translates strategic priorities into executable plans, coordinates cross-functional teams, and maintains governance and performance metrics aligned with contract requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent directly relevant experience.
• 15+ years of progressively responsible military, federal civilian or defense-contractor leadership.
• 7+ years leading complex multidisciplinary organizations and programs.
• Experience advising senior executives and coordinating cross-organizational teams.

Responsibilities

• Serve as senior advisor for operational strategy and performance.
• Lead integrated execution across program management, IT, data and governance.
• Direct task leads and managers to balance priorities and delivery commitments.
• Represent the Program Manager in executive governance meetings and reviews.

Skills

Operational leadership

Program management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, management, information technology, engineering, public administration, national security studies, or related fields

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION
Principal Consultant (Operations)
Forward Edge-AI, Inc.

DEPARTMENT

Program Management Office (PMO)

REPORTS TO

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

JOB BAND

DIVISION

Customer Operations

LOCATION

MD, VA, Washington, DC/Hybrid

Position Summary

The Principal Consultant (Operations) serves as the Program Manager's principal operational advisor and leads integrated execution of a complex Department of the Air Force Business Mission Area support program. The role provides senior-level direction across personnel, workstreams, schedules, deliverables, quality, risk, resources and customer engagement.

Reporting to the Vice President, DoD Programs, the Principal Consultant translates strategic priorities, contract requirements and Government direction into coordinated execution and ensures functional teams operate as a unified program. The position may represent the Program Manager in designated operational forums but does not independently make contractual commitments or accept direction outside authorized Government channels.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operational Leadership and Integration

• Serve as the Program Manager's senior advisor for operational strategy, organizational performance, workforce alignment, resource prioritization and execution risk.
• Lead integrated execution across program management, front-office support, enterprise architecture, data, cloud, technology, audit, acquisition and portfolio-governance workstreams.
• Direct task leads and functional managers in balancing priorities, staffing, resources, dependencies and delivery commitments across concurrent efforts.
• Exercise delegated operational authority to resolve cross-workstream execution issues and elevate matters involving contractual scope, Government policy, significant resources or executive decisions to the Program Manager.

Planning, Performance and Governance

• Convert strategic objectives, contract requirements and Government priorities into executable operating plans, performance measures, decision points, accountable owners and measurable outcomes.
• Represent the Program Manager in designated executive governance meetings, operational reviews and customer engagements, providing clear assessments, options, recommendations, and follow-through.
• Maintain integrated visibility of schedules, staffing, performance measures, risks, issues, dependencies, deliverables, and corrective actions.

Quality, Risk and Rapid Response

• Direct quality oversight and recovery planning for significant performance, schedule, staffing or deliverable issues and verify that corrective actions are owned and time bound.
• Coordinate rapid-response and short-notice requirements while protecting committed outcomes and communicating resources, schedule and downstream impacts.
• Identify and elevate emerging risks before they materially affect mission delivery.

Contract and Customer Alignment

• Ensure operational decisions, Government interactions and partner-contractor coordination remain within contract scope, delegated authority, organizational-conflict requirements and authorized channels.
• Build trusted relationships across military, civilian, contractor, technical, acquisition, financial, cybersecurity and mission stakeholders.

Supervisory and Program Responsibilities

The Principal Consultant directs and coordinates task leads, functional managers and integrated support teams within delegated program authority. The role supports workforce alignment, resource prioritization, delivery accountability and operational continuity across the program while reserving contractual commitments and matters outside delegated authority for the Program Manager.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in business, management, information technology, engineering, public administration, national security studies, or related fields. Equivalent directly relevant experience may be considered.

Experience

• At least 15 years of progressively responsible military, federal civilian, defense-contractor, program-management or operational leadership experience.
• At least 7 years leading complex multidisciplinary organizations, programs, portfolios, operational staff or service-delivery teams in a federal, defense or technical environment.
• Experience operating at a senior headquarters, command, enterprise or executive-advisory level and advising general/flag officers, Senior Executive Service leaders, senior federal executives or leaders with comparable organizational responsibility.
• Demonstrated responsibility for workforce planning, organizational performance, resource prioritization, risk management, executive governance, and delivery of accountability.
• Experience integrating military, civilian, contractor, technical, acquisition, financial, cybersecurity and mission stakeholders across organizational boundaries.
• Experience overseeing program plans, integrated schedules, staffing plans, performance metrics, deliverables, risk and issue registers, corrective actions and executive reviews.

Clearance and Availability

• Active DoD Secret clearance and ability to maintain it for the duration of employment.
• Ability to support the core operating window of 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Eastern Time and occasional time-sensitive requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service in a position of scope and responsibility comparable to a DoD O-5/O-6 military officer or GS-14/GS-15 federal civilian.
• Previous command, deputy command, chief of staff, director, deputy director, division chief, operations officer, program director or senior headquarters staff experience.
• Experience supporting OSD, the Joint Staff, Combatant Command, Service headquarters, MAJCOM, defense agency, PEO/PMO or comparable federal headquarters.
• Experience supporting the Department of the Air Force, Headquarters Air Force, SAF/CN, SAF/MG or another DAF enterprise organization.
• Master's degree in business, public administration, national security, information technology, engineering or related discipline.
• Knowledge of Defense Business Systems, Business Mission Area governance, BCAC, IT portfolio management, enterprise architecture, cloud adoption, or business transformation.
• Experience with contract deliverables, performance standards, quality-control plans, subcontractor coordination and advisory and assistance services.
• Experience leading distributed or hybrid teams across Government and contractor organizations.
• PMP, PgMP, DAWIA, FAC-P/PM, ITIL, Lean Six Sigma or comparable certification.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Exceptional operational judgment and ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic information into executive recommendations, decision briefs and actionable direction.
• Executive-level written, verbal, facilitation and stakeholder-management skills.
• Strong organizational leadership, resource prioritization, risk management, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and lead to coordinated execution in a fast-paced, mission-focused environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and working knowledge of enterprise project scheduling, collaboration, reporting or work-management tools.
• High standards of integrity, accountability, discretion, and documentation.

Working Conditions

• Work may be performed in an office, customer site or approved hybrid environment as designated by Forward Edge-AI and contract requirements.
• Occasional travel or extended hours may be required to support operational reviews, customer engagements, or time-sensitive mission requirements.
• The position routinely handles sensitive program, personnel, contractual and Government information.

Measures of Success

• Program and Government leaders receive timely, candid and decision-ready assessments of performance, risk, tradeoffs and required actions.
• Strategic priorities are translated into disciplined execution with clear authorities, owners, resources, dates, dependencies, and measurable outcomes.
• Cross-workstream conflicts and delivery risks are resolved at the appropriate level before materially affecting mission outcomes.
• Schedules, staffing data, status reports, performance measures and deliverables remain current, accurate, integrated, and executive ready.
• Functional teams operate as a unified program with leadership continuity, accountability, quality and trusted customer relationships.

Forward Edge-AI is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in accordance with applicable law. Employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Reasonable accommodations will be considered for qualified individuals as required by applicable law.