Research Portfolio Manager (RPM)

Barrios Technology•Houston, TX

About The Position

Barrios Technology is an engineering solutions partner with more than 45 years of experience supporting NASA and the commercial space industry. We deliver innovative engineering, software, and technology integration services across NASA centers nationwide. Barrios prides itself on a people-focused culture that values creativity, diversity, professional growth, and a healthy work–life balance. We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. Bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA’s pursuits in deep space exploration. Currently there is an exciting opportunity for a Research Portfolio Manager (RPM) to join the team with Barrios, a teammate company. The ISS Research Integration Office manages all NASA, commercial, and International Partner research on the International Space Station. The Natural Sciences Client Support Office is responsible for supporting natural science clients (life sciences, physical sciences, human research) and International Partner science investigations throughout each investigation’s life cycle, from cradle to grave. These responsibilities include payload/investigation feasibility, development/testing/acceptance, mission integration, on-orbit execution, and communication of scientific results. Clients include the NASA HQ-based Biology & Physical Science Division of the Science Mission Directorate and their work across multiple NASA centers, the ISS National Lab, the Human Exploration Mission Directorate’s Human Research Program, and partner space agencies CSA, ESA, and JAXA. Responsibilities Research Portfolio Manager will: Work with client team leads and the office manager to ensure client needs are met. Be assigned any or all of the following tasks/responsibilities found within Natural Sciences Client Office: Exercise leadership (organizational and technical) in all aspects of ISS research integration work. Establish and maintain relationships with clients both within and outside of NASA in order to maximize the use of the ISS. Serve as the main NASA Point of Contact for payload developer/principal investigator teams throughout the entire payload lifecycle. Review, from a science and integration perspective, and modify, as appropriate, the requests for proposals and statements of work, and integrate between contracting officer, implementation partners, and center representatives on financial activities regarding investigations within the portfolio. Ensure feasibility of newly identified and/or proposed client investigations and/or technology implementations. Collaborate across OZ and the ISS program to ensure safe and successful execution of client’s scientific and/or technology implementation efforts on the ISS. Work with contractor payload integration teams to ensure the effective progression of the investigations through the ISS ST&E integration flow. Provide inputs for planning and execution of on-orbit science. Interface as appropriate with Increment Management and MSFC’s Payload Operations teams. Exhibit understanding of contract processes and management of the funding of the investigations within the portfolio. Participate regularly in the weekly Payload Integration Panel (PIP) to ensure consistency in processes and effective horizontal integration across all payloads. Coordinate with ISS Program Offices, stakeholder community, International Partners, the contractor Payload Integration Manager Office, and the payload developers/principal investigators to integrate ISS payloads Participate in formal and informal ISS forums, as needed, to perform successful program-level integration and to advocate on behalf of the Payload Developers. Perform analyses and trade studies, as identified or directed, to support the continuous improvement of the: 1. Degree of utilization aboard ISS 2. Efficiency in payload integration, deployment, activation, operation, and disposal or return 3. Time required to integrate and deploy payloads 4. Satisfaction of the payload customer community. Author, develop, or modify RPM processes, schedules, payload community resources, and reference material. Lead or participate in payload definition and feasibility assessment activities with other ISS Research Integration Office entities. Ensure that NASA Senior Managers are regularly informed about the overall progress of the integration of science and technology research onto the ISS via regular statuses, open issue briefings, and schedule assessments. Provide advocacy for and insight into ISS technology demonstration payloads at various agency and program boards and forums. Work with clients (payload sponsors, principal investigators, payload developers) to ensure that their needs are met throughout the lifecycle of each science investigation. RPMs lead multiple teams to: Manage a portfolio of multiple payloads throughout their individual lifecycles Review proposals and statements of work from both science and integration perspectives Assess feasibility of newly identified and/or proposed client investigations Manage portfolio financial activities with contracting officers, implementation partners, and center representatives Ensure the effective progression of the investigations through the ISS ST&E integration flow. Advocate for client investigation use of critical ISS resources such as accommodation on cargo vehicle launches, use of on-orbit facilities, and on-orbit crew time Collaborate across OZ and the ISS program to ensure safe and successful execution of client’s investigations while onboard the ISS. Establish and maintain relationships with clients both within and outside of NASA in order to maximize the use of the ISS for research.

Requirements

BS Degree in STEM degree plus fifteen (15) years of experience in NASA Human Spaceflight Payload Integration and Operations
Must be a U.S. Citizen and successfully complete a U.S. government background investigation.
Applicant selected may be subject to government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
Work may involve sitting for extended periods.
May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lb.
Must have sufficient mobility to enter areas of test facilities where necessary.
Generally, an office environment but can involve inside or outside work depending on task.
Standard office equipment (PC, telephone, fax, etc.)
Regular attendance in accordance with established work schedule is critical.
Ability to work outside normal schedule and adjust schedule to meet peak periods and surge requirements when required.
Must be able to work in a team atmosphere.
Must put forward a professional behavior that enhances productivity and promotes teamwork and cooperation.
Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others.
This position may require some commuting and traveling to other installations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Project management
Systems engineering
Physical or life sciences
Business development & Acumen
Partnership development/customer relations
Flight hardware/software development
Flight integration
Flight operations

Responsibilities

Work with client team leads and the office manager to ensure client needs are met.
Exercise leadership (organizational and technical) in all aspects of ISS research integration work.
Establish and maintain relationships with clients both within and outside of NASA in order to maximize the use of the ISS.
Serve as the main NASA Point of Contact for payload developer/principal investigator teams throughout the entire payload lifecycle.
Review, from a science and integration perspective, and modify, as appropriate, the requests for proposals and statements of work, and integrate between contracting officer, implementation partners, and center representatives on financial activities regarding investigations within the portfolio.
Ensure feasibility of newly identified and/or proposed client investigations and/or technology implementations.
Collaborate across OZ and the ISS program to ensure safe and successful execution of client’s scientific and/or technology implementation efforts on the ISS.
Work with contractor payload integration teams to ensure the effective progression of the investigations through the ISS ST&E integration flow.
Provide inputs for planning and execution of on-orbit science.
Interface as appropriate with Increment Management and MSFC’s Payload Operations teams.
Exhibit understanding of contract processes and management of the funding of the investigations within the portfolio.
Participate regularly in the weekly Payload Integration Panel (PIP) to ensure consistency in processes and effective horizontal integration across all payloads.
Coordinate with ISS Program Offices, stakeholder community, International Partners, the contractor Payload Integration Manager Office, and the payload developers/principal investigators to integrate ISS payloads
Participate in formal and informal ISS forums, as needed, to perform successful program-level integration and to advocate on behalf of the Payload Developers.
Perform analyses and trade studies, as identified or directed, to support the continuous improvement of the: 1. Degree of utilization aboard ISS 2. Efficiency in payload integration, deployment, activation, operation, and disposal or return 3. Time required to integrate and deploy payloads 4. Satisfaction of the payload customer community.
Author, develop, or modify RPM processes, schedules, payload community resources, and reference material.
Lead or participate in payload definition and feasibility assessment activities with other ISS Research Integration Office entities.
Ensure that NASA Senior Managers are regularly informed about the overall progress of the integration of science and technology research onto the ISS via regular statuses, open issue briefings, and schedule assessments.
Provide advocacy for and insight into ISS technology demonstration payloads at various agency and program boards and forums.
Work with clients (payload sponsors, principal investigators, payload developers) to ensure that their needs are met throughout the lifecycle of each science investigation.
Manage a portfolio of multiple payloads throughout their individual lifecycles
Review proposals and statements of work from both science and integration perspectives
Assess feasibility of newly identified and/or proposed client investigations
Manage portfolio financial activities with contracting officers, implementation partners, and center representatives
Ensure the effective progression of the investigations through the ISS ST&E integration flow.
Advocate for client investigation use of critical ISS resources such as accommodation on cargo vehicle launches, use of on-orbit facilities, and on-orbit crew time
Collaborate across OZ and the ISS program to ensure safe and successful execution of client’s investigations while onboard the ISS.
Establish and maintain relationships with clients both within and outside of NASA in order to maximize the use of the ISS for research.