Qualitative Mission Analysis Expert

Harkcon; Virginia (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Harkcon is seeking a Qualitative Mission Analysis Expert to lead stakeholder research and qualitative analysis supporting Coast Guard operations. The role requires an active Secret clearance and the ability to work across boundaries, translating insights into defensible mission-performance findings.

Location is National Capital Region (Virginia, Maryland, DC) with performance at US Coast Guard Headquarters. Prior federal experience and strong written communication are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, or related field with qualitative mission analysis training.
• At least five years of experience developing, conducting, and documenting qualitative mission analysis (case studies, interviews, surveys, program evaluation).
• Active Secret clearance at contract award and ability to maintain it.
• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with strong English reading/writing skills.
• Strong research design, facilitation, synthesis, and evidence-based reasoning abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct interviews, workshops, surveys, case studies, and other qualitative research.
• Engage with mission owners, operational personnel, program offices, and subject-matter experts.
• Identify missing stakeholders, capabilities, mission drivers, and dependencies affecting analysis.
• Evaluate Coast Guard organization, training, staffing, and equipment for mission performance.
• Distinguish recurring evidence from opinions and document analytical limitations.
• Raise concerns when exclusions or scope decisions weaken the analysis.
• Keep research focused on mission requirements, capability gaps, and future performance.
• Draft clear, evidence-supported findings and integrate with quantitative analysis.
• Take ownership of assigned work with minimal directive.

Skills

Qualitative research

Research design

Technical writing

Evidence-based reasoning

Facilitation

Education

Master's degree in Political Science or related field

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Qualitative Mission Analysis Expert

Professional DC, US

4 days ago Requisition ID: 1184

Harkcon is seeking a Qualitative Mission Analysis Expert to lead stakeholder research and qualitative analysis supporting the Coast Guard’s assessment of current and future operations. This individual must be self-directed, operationally curious, and capable of translating stakeholder insights into defensible mission-performance findings. Successful candidates must be proactive contributors who are comfortable working across role boundaries, learning the mission, identifying analytical gaps, and supporting the team without requiring continuous direction.

Active Secret clearance required.

Location

National Capital Region (Virginia, Maryland, DC). The primary place of performance will be at the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Douglas A. Munro Headquarters Building, located at 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave, SE, Washington D.C. 20593.

*** This position is contingent upon award of a contract to Harkcon***

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct interviews, workshops, surveys, case studies, and other qualitative research.
• Engage directly with mission owners, operational personnel, program offices, and relevant subject-matter experts.
• Identify missing stakeholders, capabilities, mission drivers, and operational dependencies that could affect the analysis.
• Evaluate how the Coast Guard is organized, trained, staffed, and equipped to perform the mission.
• Distinguish recurring evidence from individual opinion and clearly document analytical limitations.
• Professionally raise concerns when exclusions, assumptions, or scope decisions may weaken the analysis.
• Keep research focused on mission requirements, capability gaps, operational impacts, and future performance.
• Draft clear, evidence-supported findings and integrate them with quantitative analysis.
• Take ownership of assigned work without requiring continuous task-level direction.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Political Science, Psychology, Public Administration, Sociology, or a related professional field that included training in applying qualitative mission analysis methodologies to organizations, social groups, and individuals.
• Clearly demonstrated formal training in qualitative mission analysis methodologies and the ability to apply that knowledge to acquisition projects.
• At least five years of experience developing, conducting, and documenting qualitative mission analysis, such as case studies, interviews, program evaluation, surveys, or comparable methods.
• Active Secret clearance at the time of contract award and ability to maintain the required access throughout performance.
• U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, with the ability to read, write, speak, and understand English; must satisfy all applicable background investigation and credentialing requirements.
• Strong research design, facilitation, synthesis, technical writing, and evidence-based reasoning skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, DHS, DoD, or another federal acquisition, operational analysis, or mission-analysis organization.
• Experience developing analysis reports, capability analyses, operational assessments, program evaluations, or other products used by senior government decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to triangulate interviews, workshops, policy and operational documents, case evidence, and quantitative findings.
• Knowledge of Coast Guard Major Systems Acquisition Management, COMDTINST 5000.10H, and the role of analysis findings in downstream acquisition documentation.
• Experience handling classified or sensitive information while producing clear, unclassified analytical products.
• Work is performed at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC, and at the employer's facilities.
• Travel may be required and must be approved in advance by the Government.

Harkcon, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer – Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age