Chief Operating Officer

SOSi•Reston, VA

About The Position

Overview SOS International LLC is seeking an Operations Chief to to lead day‑to‑day operational planning, coordination, and execution for federal public health emergency response missions. This role ensures SOSi teams, assets, and capabilities are ready, integrated, and able to rapidly support national‑level incidents. The Operations Chief is a central leader in mission execution—driving readiness, coordinating multi‑disciplinary teams, and ensuring smooth, effective operations during high‑tempo response activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, business, public administration, logistics, or related field.
7 years experience in emergency management, public health response, or operational leadership.
Strong understanding of federal response frameworks (ICS, NIMS).
Demonstrated ability to lead complex operations in high‑tempo or high‑risk environments.
Experience coordinating with subcontractors and vendors and federal, state, and local emergency response partners.
Excellent communication, planning, and decision‑making skills.
U.S. citizenship required.
May have to obtain and maintain a Public Trust or Secret clearance (depending on customer).

Nice To Haves

10 years experience supporting HHS/ASPR, FEMA, DoD, or similar federal response programs.
Background in medical operations, deployable teams, or field response environments.
Professional certifications such as CEM, CHS, or PMP.
Experience with operational planning, mission management systems, or emergency operations centers.

Responsibilities

Operational Leadership: Directs daily operations supporting SOSi readiness, deployment, sustainment, and demobilization activities.
Leads operational planning for public health emergencies, disasters, and national‑level response missions.
Oversees the development and execution of operational plans, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and mission workflows.
Incident Response & Coordination: Serves in operational leadership roles during activations, supporting Incident Command or Unified Command structures.
Coordinates with subcontractors, vendors, federal partners (HHS, FEMA, DoD), state/local agencies, and contracted response teams.
Ensures operational integration across logistics, medical, communications, and administrative functions.
Readiness & Capability Management: Maintains operational readiness of ERSS teams, equipment, and mission packages.
Oversees training, exercises, and readiness assessments to ensure deployable capability.
Identifies operational gaps and lead improvement initiatives.
Program Execution & Oversight: Manages operational schedules, staffing plans, and resource allocation for response missions.
Monitors mission performance, operational metrics, and compliance with ASPR requirements.
Leads after‑action reviews and implements corrective actions to strengthen future operations.
Team Leadership: Supervises operations personnel, including planners, coordinators, and field operations staff.
Establishes performance expectations and ensures staff maintain required qualifications and readiness.
Fosters a culture of safety, accountability, and mission focus.