Qualitative Mission Analysis Expert

Harkcon Inc • DC, US, DC

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Security and Suitability: Active Secret clearance required.

Location: National Capital Region is preferred, though telework may be acceptable if approved by the government.

This position is contingent upon award of a contract to Harkcon

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior