Operations Specialist

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA provides critical decision support to enabling and executing a strategy of technological superiority and enabling the delivery and sustainment of secure, resilient, and preeminent capabilities to the warfighter quickly and cost effectively. Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled in evaluating military problems, identifying the driving factors, devising innovative approaches, collecting applicable data, developing necessary software tools, and performing thorough and timely assessments to inform technology and acquisition governance decisions to ensure U.S. military forces retain military superiority in the future.

We have an immediate need for an Operations Specialist to provide full-time onsite support in Arlington, VA. Limited travel up to 5% is anticipated.

The candidate will assist Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office (TTO) senior leaders and program managers in managing the daily operations of a fast-paced front office. Will be expected to thrive as part of a strongly collaborative team, but also to act independently to complete time-critical tasks. Duties include but are not limited to office-wide coordination and tracking of responses to administrative tasks from higher authority, planning and execution of all aspects of events and activities ranging from weekly meetings to offsite symposia, and assisting with personnel, travel, and records management. Will also coordinate with multiple stakeholders to obtain frequent status updates for research & development program initiation and management milestones, feed this information into a tracking dashboard that provides situational awareness to leadership, and make related recommendations and meeting schedules.

Required:

Active TS/SCI clearance
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, technical, business, or humanities field
• 5 to 10 years of experience providing a wide variety of the services described above for a group of customers in a DoD office or military command
• Work experience showing the application of exceptional organizational and tracking skills in assisting senior leaders with the management of a broad portfolio of activities
• Work experience demonstrating outstanding verbal and written communication skills in an environment spanning hundreds of clients, colleagues, and contacts
• Demonstrated time management and multi-tasking skills in a relevant environment featuring responses to quick turn-around requests and showcasing the flexibility to efficiently prioritize workload
• Ability to anticipate client needs and respond proactively and accurately
• Proficiency with the Microsoft 365, Outlook, Word, Teams, and SharePoint applications
• Able to report to Arlington, VA full-time based upon client needs

Desired:

• Master's degree
• Significant experience providing similar services as a DARPA support contractor
• Experience using the Defense Travel System to book, authorize, and voucher travel for multiple individuals
• Experience with proofreading and technical editing of documents and deliverables as part of the workflow for senior leadership review, presentation, and signature