Operations & Acquisitions SME

Sherpa 6•Alexandria, VA

2h•$180,000 - $210,000•Onsite

About The Position

Sherpa 6 is seeking an Operations and Acquisitions Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support Joint Interagency Task Force 401 (JIATF 401) in integrating, assessing, acquiring, and operationalizing fixed-site counter-small unmanned aircraft systems (C-sUAS). The SME will serve as a trusted advisor to the Fixed Site Capability Manager and as a member of the broader JIATF 401 support team. The position connects operational requirements to acquisition decisions and mission-ready capabilities by helping establish capability baselines, advising on requirements and vendor solutions, coordinating integrated testing and operational events, analyzing results, and driving corrective actions through the transition from initial capability to fully operational capability. The role works across government, industry, engineering, operations, and acquisition communities in a rapidly changing technology environment. The position also supports strategic planning, portfolio integration, governance, executive management, stakeholder coordination, process improvement, and executive decision support for JIATF 401 Fixed Site. This includes establishing portfolio visibility and governance processes, coordinating mission partners, supporting fixed-site surveys and assessments, and producing leadership briefings, decision documents, dashboards, and other strategic communications. The job is located in Alexandria, Virginia, and requires travel up to 50%. An active Secret security clearance is required; a Top Secret clearance is preferred.

Requirements

Active Secret security clearance.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, Organizational Leadership, Management, Public Administration, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.
At least 10 years of experience supporting DoD, Army, acquisition, modernization, program management, or strategic operations organizations.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing governance frameworks, strategic plans, and executive decision-making processes.
Experience supporting senior executive leaders, General Officers, SES personnel, or equivalent leadership teams.
Strong knowledge of Army acquisition, modernization, portfolio management, and organizational operations.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing executive-level products.
Ability to facilitate cross-functional collaboration among technical, operational, and organizational stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration, Strategic Studies, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline.
Knowledge of Joint and Service governance processes, capability development, requirements management, and portfolio management practices.
Experience supporting joint, interagency, Army, or other DoD counter-unmanned systems organizations.
Experience with capability-based planning, requirements management, market research, source-selection support, or rapid capability acquisition.
PMP, DAWIA/Back-to-Basics certification, Lean Six Sigma, Prosci Change Management, or related professional certification.
Active Top Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

Support organizational-level strategic planning, synchronization, and integration across JIATF 401 Fixed Site, aligning portfolio activities with leadership priorities, modernization objectives, and mission requirements.
Lead capability identification, mapping, and analysis to establish portfolio visibility, identify capability gaps, and inform strategic decisions.
Integrate activities across the JIATF 401 Fixed Site Capability Manager portfolio to align priorities, initiatives, resources, and outcomes.
Coordinate with higher headquarters, external organizations, and mission partners on strategic initiatives and enterprise-wide collaboration.
Develop, implement, and institutionalize governance frameworks, decision-making processes, organizational battle rhythms, and executive oversight mechanisms.
Establish and support governance boards, councils, integrated product teams, working groups, and review forums.
Draft and maintain governance charters, strategic plans, policies, standard operating procedures, executive communications, and decision-support documentation.
Monitor strategic initiatives, executive action items, and organizational objectives to support accountability, continuity, and timely execution.
Facilitate coordination among government personnel, contractors, external stakeholders, and mission partners across the portfolio.
Translate leadership priorities into executable requirements, initiatives, milestones, and tracking mechanisms with technical, functional, and operational stakeholders.
Develop stakeholder engagement strategies and communication plans to support organizational objectives and transformation efforts.
Support fixed-site surveys and assessments, including site constraints, environmental thresholds, mounting and power considerations, coverage, zone architecture, and operator workflow impacts.
Analyze organizational processes and workflows to identify inefficiencies, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Recommend and implement process enhancements to strengthen transparency, operational effectiveness, and cross-functional integration.
Support organizational change management through governance development, implementation frameworks, and stakeholder engagement.
Develop executive-level briefings, information papers, decision papers, white papers, and strategic communications for senior leadership.
Design and maintain portfolio management dashboards, reporting tools, metrics, and visualization products covering capabilities, initiatives, dependencies, risks, and performance.
Prepare leadership for governance reviews, strategic engagements, and executive decision forums.
Help establish capability baselines, advise on requirements and vendor solutions, coordinate integrated testing and operational events, analyze results, and drive corrective actions through capability transition.