Senior Acquisitions Advisor

Tecolote Research; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Tecolote Research seeks a Senior Acquisition Advisor to advise the PAE on portfolio strategy, budget, and execution for the SBST portfolio. The role requires deep acquisition and program management expertise and a high level of leadership interaction.

This on-site position in Chantilly, VA focuses on translating complex information into clear executive briefing materials, with responsibilities spanning cross‑functional collaboration and strategic resource alignment for Space Force programs.

Qualifications

• Requires at least 15 years of experience in Acquisition Management, Program Management and Portfolio Management.
• Knowledge of senior Space Force acquisition leadership requirements for complex programs.
• Understanding of Space Force acquisition, budgeting, and execution processes and their link to strategic priorities.
• Ability to translate complex technical information into concise executive-level briefing slides and papers.
• Must be able to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and provide candid, objective advice on time-sensitive issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities are required.
• Experience with Major Defense Acquisition Programs and Space Force acquisition practices is expected.
• Active TS/SCI clearance is required.

Responsibilities

• Advise the PAE to align resource allocation with priorities and optimize portfolio outcomes.
• Create briefing slides, decision-quality analysis, and leadership narratives for rapid leadership understanding.
• Support SBST portfolio management, advising on performance, strategy, and execution.
• Develop an integrated view of portfolio priorities across program elements and organizations.
• Evaluate budget strategy, expenditures, and resource allocation for portfolio impact.
• Provide independent program and project advice on cost, schedule, performance, risk, and value.
• Develop portfolio-level analyses and recommendations to align with PAE priorities.
• Assist in budgeting, investment prioritization, spend planning, and execution analysis.

Skills

Acquisition Management

Program Management

Portfolio Management

Financial Management

Systems Engineering

Executive Briefing

Communication

Analytical Skills

Security Clearance

Education

Master’s degree (MA/MS) in Business/Management/Engineering/Math/Tech/OR or related field

Job description

The Senior Acquisition Advisor serves as the right hand to the Program Acquisition Executive (PAE), providing senior-level portfolio, acquisition, budget, and program execution advice to enable informed leadership decisions across the Division’s portfolio. You will apply deep acquisition and program management expertise to connect leadership priorities, resources, and execution in support of the Space Based Surveillance and Targeting (SBST) portfolio.

Responsibilities

As the Senior Acquisition advisor to the PAE, responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Advise the PAE to ensure that resource allocation reflects stated priorities, identify where funding and execution are misaligned with strategy, and recommend adjustments to maximize portfolio outcomes.
• Translate complex technical, acquisition, programmatic, and budget information into clear briefing slides, decision-quality analysis, and leadership narratives, enabling the PAE to rapidly understand issues, assess alternatives, communicate strategy, and make informed portfolio decisions.
• Directly support the PAE in the management and execution of the SBST portfolio, serving as a trusted senior advisor on program performance, acquisition strategy, resource allocation, and emerging issues.
• Work across program elements, functional organizations, and the broader Space Force acquisition enterprise to develop an integrated understanding of portfolio priorities, budgets, schedules, risks, dependencies, and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to the PAE.
• Advise on budget strategy and execution, assessing whether planned and actual expenditures support leadership priorities and recommending where resources should be protected, accelerated, reduced, or redirected to achieve the greatest portfolio-level effect.
• Provide independent advice on programs and projects, helping the PAE evaluate proposed initiatives, acquisition approaches, execution challenges, tradeoffs, and investment decisions.
• Providing portfolio-level analysis and recommendations to align programs, resources, schedules, and acquisition strategies with PAE priorities.
• Supporting development of budget strategy, including investment prioritization, spend planning, execution analysis, and recommendations for resource allocation across the portfolio.
• Evaluating program and project proposals and providing independent advice regarding cost, schedule, performance, risk, affordability, and strategic value.
• Identifying disconnects between stated strategy and actual resource allocation and recommending corrective actions.
• Assessing portfolio execution data and identifying trends, risks, opportunities, and decisions requiring PAE attention.
• Developing decision-quality briefing materials, executive summaries, talking points, and leadership narratives that translate complex technical and acquisition concepts into clear, actionable information.
• Preparing the PAE for senior-level reviews, budget discussions, acquisition decisions, and engagements with Space Systems Command, Space Force, Department of the Air Force, and senior acquisition leadership.
• Integrating information across technical, financial, contracting, acquisition, and program management organizations to provide the PAE with a coherent portfolio-level view rather than individual program perspectives.
• Serving as a senior advisor and trusted agent for special projects, emerging priorities, and high-visibility issues requiring rapid analysis and executive-level recommendations.

Skills Required

Successful candidates for the Senior Acquisition Advisor role will have the following skills and experience:

• At least 15 equivalent years of experience performing Acquisition Management, Program Management, Portfolio Management, Financial Management, Systems Engineering, with additional experience with broader national security space enterprise, including military, civil service, federally funded research and development center, or government support/development contractor experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of senior Space Force acquisition leadership requirements for complex program, portfolio, budget, and execution matters.
• Strong understanding of Space Force acquisition, programming, budgeting, and execution processes, including the relationship between strategic priorities, acquisition strategies, funding profiles, and program execution.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative techniques used to analyze budget, cost, schedule, performance, and portfolio data, develop alternatives, assess tradeoffs, and brief senior-level Space Force leadership.
• Ability to synthesize complex technical and programmatic information and transform it into concise executive-level briefing slides, decision papers, and leadership narratives.
• Must be able to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and provide candid, objective advice on time-sensitive, high-visibility issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of acquisition management regulations and practices associated with Major Defense Acquisition Programs and other complex Space Force acquisition efforts.
• Active TS/SCI Clearance (required).

Work location

• Requires full-time, on-site support in Chantilly, Virginia, five days per week.
• The Senior Acquisition Advisor will work in direct proximity to the PAE and portfolio leadership to enable the frequent interaction, rapid-turn analysis, and day-to-day trusted-advisor relationship required by the position.
• This is an on-site position and is not structured as a remote or hybrid role.

Education

Master’s degree (MA/MS) in one of the following areas:

• Business, Management, Engineering, Mathematics, Technology, Operations Research, or related field is required.

We offer competitive salaries commensurate with education and experience. We have an excellent benefits package that includes:

• Comprehensive health, dental, life, long and short-term disability insurance
• 100% Company funded Retirement Plans
• Generous vacation, holiday and sick pay plans
• Tuition assistance

About Tecolote Research

Tecolote Research is a private, employee-owned corporation where people are our primary resource. Our investments in technology and training give our employees the tools to ensure our clients are provided the solutions they need, and our very high employee retention rate and stable workforce is an added value to our customers.