SPSS Senior Operations Manager

ARA Career • Washington, DC

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mission Concepts and Capabilities (MCC) Division of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking to contingently hire a motivated, energetic, and experienced SPSS Senior Operations Manager to support the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) under the Specialized Program Support Services (SPSS) contract. The successful candidate will support OUSW(R&E) in its oversight of science and technology to solve current and future technological challenges for the Department of War (DoW). This on-site position is in the National Capital Region. This position will support the Assistant Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OASW(R&E)) Business Operations Office. OASW(RE) serves as the primary advisor to DoW leadership on all matters pertaining to the Department's R&E enterprise, technology development and transition, developmental prototyping, experimentation, and administration of testing ranges and activities. USW(R&E) has the lead responsibility within the Department for synchronizing Science & Technology (S&T) efforts across the DoW, the Joint Staff, and the Services. R&E serves as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Department and is tasked with the imperative mission of ensuring continuous advancement of technology and innovation within the DoW enterprise. The Senior Operations Manager will oversee and manage the daily operations, focusing on improving overall performance and achieving strategic goals. This position is contingent upon winning the SPSS contract, customer acceptance of the successful candidate’s resume, and security clearance verification. We expect contract award in late 2025 or early 2026.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited college or university in a management or technical discipline
• Seven (7) years of operations manager experience
• Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility
• Ability to execute effectively in DoD staff environment, and communicate effectively to audience across functional disciplines, and at senior levels of Government

Nice To Haves

• Ten+ (10+) years of relevant Program or Project Management experience
• Master’s degree in a technical or management discipline from an accredited college or university
• Strong technical foundation with the ability to grasp diverse DoW technologies and communicate effectively with stakeholders
• Experience working with task management software systems such as CATMS or the Task Management Tool (TMT)
• Recent OASW(R&E) experience as Government employee or contractor

Responsibilities

• Analyze existing operational workflows, identify areas for improvement, and recommend strategies to enhance efficiency and productivity
• Develop and implement quality assurance programs, monitor product or service quality, and ensure adherence to established standards
• Provide guidance, training, and performance feedback to enhance team effectiveness and engagement
• Contribute to the development and execution of long-term operational strategies aligned with broader OUSW(R&E) goals
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track operational performance, analyze data, and generate reports for senior management
• Identify potential operational risks, develop mitigation strategies, and ensure business continuity
• Ensure operations comply with relevant laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies

Benefits

• Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees