Department Manager, Science, & Technology

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MITRE works with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure the Nation is safe from terrorism, secure from cyber threats, and resilient against natural disasters. We help DHS improve its performance in critical functions, such as research and development, analytics, acquisition processes, risk and program management, information technology engineering, and decision-making capabilities. We also apply systems engineering expertise to areas that range from cybersecurity, to immigration reform, to transportation security. MITRE supports DHS through the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute™, or the HSSEDI FFRDC. HSSEDI is DHS's primary systems engineering institute, providing agency-wide access to deep technical expertise.

We seek a Department Manager (DM) to lead a diverse team focused on delivering operationally relevant solutions in support of the DHS Science & Technology Directorate (S&T). S&T serves as the research and development arm of DHS as it fulfills its national security mission. The broad span of engineering capabilities that MITRE applies to this work includes domain specialists in areas such as unmanned vehicles, data analytics (including AI/ML), space, biometrics, PNT, quantum, 5G, mobility, cybersecurity, sensors, space, test and evaluation, and emerging technologies. The DM will be responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining an outstanding workforce; refining the department's mission, vision, and goals; and forging partnerships with MITRE portfolios, MITRE Innovation Labs, and academic and commercial partners. The DH will report directly to the Managing Director of the Mission Enablers Division and serve as a member of the Center for Security the Homeland (CSH) Leadership Team, helping steer the Division's expertise and innovation to support sponsor operational missions. This individual will be responsible for attracting, developing, and incentivizing staff; developing trusted sponsor relationships to grow the work that align to DHS mission priorities; and the ensuring high quality and timely execution of projects across S&T.

Job Responsibilities:

The S&T DM will lead the continued maturation of the department staff to support the growing and changing needs of the DHS S&T sponsor mission. People leadership responsibilities include:

• Attract, retain and develop the people within the S&T Department, P722
• Define and drive strategic center and division capability goals and investments that align with DHS S&T priorities
• Cultivate an environment of innovation, technical leadership, team-work, camaraderie, and technical quality across a diverse mission and capabilities landscape
• Ensure delivery of regular, constructive feedback and developmental support to Group Leaders, Project Leaders, and to staff
• Develop and mentor future MITRE leaders

In addition, the S&T DM will lead MITRE's work program across DHS S&T to successfully deliver capabilities and solutions to their operational stakeholders which includes every DHS component and office. Success is defined as operational adoption. Responsibilities include:

• Identify and propose new opportunities to expand the division work program to new and existing sponsors/customers
• Maintain awareness of emerging technologies and the research challenges and opportunities associated with them
• Maintain day-to-day interface with sponsors or internal customers to develop trusted working relationships
• Establish and shape the project work to achieve the MITRE Good Growth strategy.
• Oversee all aspects of project or department performance, including project staff selection, technical quality, programmatic support, and budgetary development/execution
• Partner with other MITRE leaders in Innovation Labs or managing other FFRDCs to connect and demonstrate solutions to increase mission impact
• Ensure high technical quality of products or programs

Required Qualifications:

• BS degree in a technical field, e.g., engineering, mathematics, computer science, cybersecurity, etc.
• 3-5 years of experience as a first-line supervisor, with proven success hiring and developing others, particularly in competitive disciplines
• 3-5 years of related S&T or R&D job experience
• 2 years of MITRE PL experience or other leadership position
• Demonstrated speed, agility, risk taking, with highest standards of behavior
• Proven ability to apply emerging technology or adapt technology developed for other purposes to operational priorities
• Proven record of servant leadership with demonstrated experience leading programs and mentoring people
• Experience with DHS, their R&D environment, challenges, and priorities.
• Familiarity with national R&D priorities, including those for DHS
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree(s) in technical fields, e.g., engineering, mathematics, computer science, cybersecurity, etc.
• Strong personal networking connections within S&T or with other federal R&D organizations.
• Familiarity with MIP program and content, and leading research areas within MITRE

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Fitness - DHS

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Work Location Type:

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