Project Leader, OSD CAPE

The MITRE Corporation; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 150,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a proactive project leader to drive advanced modeling and analysis for the Department of Defense. This role involves managing a team to address critical analytical needs, ensuring high-quality deliverables, and fostering relationships with key stakeholders. With a commitment to public service and impactful work, this position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to national security efforts while enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance. Join a team dedicated to making a difference in the world through innovative solutions and collaborative efforts.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of DoD roles and functions.
• Expertise in military operations research and modeling.

Responsibilities

• Lead project execution and manage team performance.
• Build relationships with government leaders and stakeholders.
• Ensure high quality of project deliverables and outcomes.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Project Management

Technical Communication

Problem-Solving

Team Leadership

Military Operations Research

Statistical Modeling

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

PhD

Tools

Modeling and Simulation Software

Job description

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values.

MITRE’s Acquisition Studies & Analysis (ASA) Department seeks an accomplished, proactive staff member capable of serving as project leader and technical contributor for our work supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense – Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (OSD-CAPE). This is a part-time position overseeing a 3-5 staff year project providing advanced modeling, simulation, and analysis (MS&A) to the lead agency for analytics within the Department of Defense.

Your primarily role will be to engage with OSD CAPE Cross Portfolio Analysis Division will filling their analytical capability and capacity shortfalls in addressing their most pressing analytical needs, central to which is the execution of the Strategic Portfolio Review process. In the main, this will consist of shaping, staffing, and managing a team of MITRE colleagues performing cutting edge MS&A), but can also include pulling in other types of expertise from across MITRE to address SME needs within the CAPE studies. Work is performed at a minimum at the TS/SCI level.

This is an exciting opportunity to directly inform Department senior leadership on optimal allocation of future resources.

This position requires significant (40% or more) time in-person in classified spaces, on site at MITRE and/or at government facilities in the Washington DC area.

Responsibilities include:

• Being the primary MITRE interface to the project’s sponsors: build/maintain trusted relationships with key government leaders and stakeholders.
• Being accountable for the overall execution of the project’s work program: negotiate entry/exit of major tasks; onboarding of new staff; select Task Leaders, serve as their mentor/advisor, and provide performance feedback; maintain staff plans and budgets to ensure delivery within allocated resources; and ensure major milestones are met on time, within resources, and to sponsor expectations.
• Leading by example: personally contribute to (or lead the development of) one or more high impact project deliverables; long-term professional self-development to become/remain a credible MITRE voice on CWMD topics; and support continuity of operations, when necessary, as a Task Leader of last resort.
• Establishing high quality of project deliverables, in consultation with the Department Chief Engineer: ensure delivered products lead to successful, impactful sponsor outcomes; ensure Task Leaders follow corporate quality norms; review project deliverables and ensure appropriate peer review; and archive and appropriately share key deliverables.
• Bringing MITRE to bear for the project’s sponsors: Support relevant strategic initiatives of MITRE and the Division/Department; and build partnerships between the project and other MITRE work programs, including our internal research & development program.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience. Active TS/SCI.
• Ability to internally recruit, organize, supervise, and motivate teams of technical staff to execute task objectives.
• Consistent track record of generating relevant, impactful product deliverables (including definition, completion, and technical quality), in both an individual contributor and team setting.
• Strong understanding of the roles and functions of the various Title 10 components of DoD, the structure of OSD, of Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution, the spectrum of conflict, National Strategy, and joint warfighting.
• Established expertise in military operations research, combat modeling and simulation, mathematical optimization, probabilistic reasoning, and statistical modeling, and in particular the communication of the results of this kind of work.
• Strong critical thinking, analytic, and problem-solving skills – comfortable working in dynamic settings where task objectives may evolve or need to be shaped, or creative solutions to task impediments must be identified.
• Excellent interpersonal and technical communication skills, with the ability to write technical reports, present briefings, and persuasively speak to audiences of all backgrounds, including executives or senior customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work in an interdisciplinary team environment, establish and leverage a diverse professional network, and integrate contributions from a variety of resources (people, tools, organizations).
• This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Recent experience with successful technical studies management or technical leadership with Service impact.
• Prior FFRDC experience leading prototyping or analytical efforts and yielding impactful results at high levels of government.
• Demonstrated record of technical publications.
• Senior military or government civilian experience.
• Strong grasp of the relevant capabilities, processes, missions, and challenges of one or more of the following domain areas:
• Joint warfare
• Electronic warfare
• Campaign Analysis
• Nuclear warfare
• Counter-Drone

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law. For further information please visit the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website Know Your Rights Poster.

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