Operations Officer (Senior Internet Technology Project Manager)

The Work-Life Group•Alexandria, VA

10d

About The Position

This position is in the Secretariat for Special Operations (SSO), Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict (OASW(SO/LIC)). The Operations Officer (Senior IT Project Manager) serves as the primary technical authority, acquisition advisor, and execution lead for secure systems modernization and cybersecurity governance across the SSO, reporting directly to the SSO CIO / EDS Chief. The role oversees the Enterprise Digital Services (EDS) contractor team and ensures its work aligns with the transition strategy. Its primary focus is governing decommissioning of the legacy .gov network and Data Center while directing the lifecycle management and acquisition of modern, secure, compliant cloud capabilities within DOW-approved Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online environments. The position works with resource managers, technical teams, and vendors to monitor service-level agreements, evaluate technical deliverables, and enforce Microsoft Power Platform standards. The Operations Officer leads IT project lifecycle execution and governance, cybersecurity posture and compliance activities, stakeholder and vendor coordination, and acquisition and lifecycle management. The role provides technical oversight and advice to senior leadership, supports security authorization and assessment processes, and ensures new capabilities integrate with operational workflows. Travel is up to 10%, between Washington, D.C., and U.S. Special Operations Command for limited functions and coordination. The position requires U.S. citizenship and an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility. It is benefits-eligible and offers health, dental, vision, 401(k) with match, gym membership discounts, paid volunteer time off, and a generous PTO package.

Requirements

Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility.
U.S. citizenship.
Deep expertise in enterprise IT lifecycle management, IT acquisition, and cloud governance, including evaluating, acquiring, and securing Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, and Power Platform enterprise structures.
Working knowledge of NIST SP 800-37 and 800-53, the Risk Management Framework for cloud enclaves, DoD IT/cyber directives, and federal IT acquisition regulations.
Demonstrated experience providing direct technical oversight to defense contractors, monitoring SLA metrics, and advising SES- or Flag Officer-level IT leadership.
Ability to lead multidisciplinary technical teams, manage high-stakes IT delivery schedules, translate technical risks into executive decision briefs, and exercise sound judgment in ambiguous, high-tempo mission environments.
15 to 20+ years of progressive experience in IT project management, enterprise systems integration, or information systems cybersecurity management.
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant technical field, or relevant senior experience (15–20+ years) in lieu of a degree, consistent with contract requirements.
Ability to develop clear executive briefings, decision papers, technical summaries, and performance reports for technical and nontechnical audiences.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Active Project Management Professional (PMP) or PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification.
Active CISSP, CompTIA CySA+, CISM, or DoD 8140/8570 IAM/IAT Level III qualification.
Direct experience managing IT systems within SOF operations, special access program environments, or multi-enclave classified facilities such as NIPR, SIPR, or JWICS.
Ability to evaluate system designs at tactical, operational, and strategic levels and anticipate technical interdependencies and operational friction points across complex defense networks.
Experience supporting Department of War, Joint, Special Operations Forces, federal, or other secure mission environments.
Familiarity with cybersecurity frameworks, RMF, ATO processes, security control implementation, vulnerability management, and incident-response coordination.
Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery methods, as well as IT service-management practices.
Ability to align project execution with enterprise goals, corporate roadmaps, and business outcomes and assess technical decisions in complex mission and enterprise environments.
Analytical mindset, including ability to unblock engineering bottlenecks, find creative workarounds, and manage ambiguity.
Experience managing IT modernization, cloud migration, network refresh, cybersecurity enhancement, software implementation, or digital-transformation efforts.

Responsibilities

Lead the full project management lifecycle for IT systems, infrastructure upgrades, and enterprise software deployments, from requirements elicitation and work breakdown scheduling through deployment and operational transition.
Establish technical baselines, monitor project velocity, remove delivery roadblocks, and enforce standard operating procedures and configuration control.
Provide information security governance expertise and support Information System Security Manager functions and security assessment processes.
Coordinate Risk Management Framework accreditation packages, monitor continuous diagnostic and mitigation baselines, and evaluate technical architecture against cybersecurity standards.
Conduct vulnerability reviews, oversee ATO/IATT authorization artifacts, liaise with defense authorizing officials, and ensure network enclaves and sensitive processing environments comply with applicable security directives.
Translate operational needs into engineering specifications and procurement packages in coordination with government resource managers, systems engineers, and defense contractors.
Oversee vendor performance, service-level agreements, and hardware and software asset lifecycle roadmaps.
Advise the SSO CIO on emerging technologies, lead technical working groups, document engineering decisions, and direct technical onboarding and transition activities.
Serve as the Government oversight authority and Technical Representative for EDS acquisition, procurement, and lifecycle-management activities.
Translate SSO business requirements into procurement packages, evaluate vendor technical proposals for Microsoft 365 and SharePoint suitability, and conduct lifecycle reviews of contractor deliverables.
Ensure contractor use of native Microsoft Power Platform configurations, including Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Automate, rather than non-standard custom software baselines.
Oversee decommissioning of the legacy .gov network and Data Center and direct lifecycle management and acquisition of secure cloud capabilities in Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online environments.