Principal Acquisition Strategy & Management Group Leader

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The Acquisition Strategy & Management Department (L211) provides MITRE sponsors with objective acquisition and contract design and management strategies to fulfill mission, operational, or organizational needs. Staff in this Department have broad experience in the design and implementation of procurement strategies and mechanisms for assessing contract performance. L211 applies deep analytical knowledge and understanding of all aspects of defense, intelligence, and civilian agency governing and procurement regulations. The Department focuses on the integration of federal and agency policies with a program's technical and budgetary information to shape and design an acquisition's most appropriate direction, including acquisition strategies, contract structures and language.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The GL position is critical to staff and department outcomes. We are looking for people who get excited by a challenge and are motivated to make a difference in our strategic initiatives, staff development, business development, and technical direction setting, and to help build our culture and achieve our objectives and vision. We are seeking first-line supervisors focused on staff development, management, and mentorship, and technical expertise and the delivery of high-quality technical products.

The successful candidate will be an active member of the department management team that plays a key role in staff management while operating in a high-performing organization that delivers effective mission support and outcomes for our sponsors. The Group Leader (GL) is expected to demonstrate MITRE's values and lead by example. The GL will be responsible for fostering a positive atmosphere for group members to develop realistic goals that capitalize on their strengths and interests. The GL will also provide management and leadership support to the Department Head as well as to Co-Department Heads, fellow GLs, and other department subject matter experts.

Key Functions:

The GL will serve as the first-line supervisor and technical leader, focused on staff management and the technical quality of products delivered to sponsors. The GL will also be responsible for the functions listed below.

Staff Management:

• Provide leadership and first line, day-to-day management for personnel (avg. 7-10 individuals)
• Oversee and facilitate routine administrative aspects of employment
• Support onboarding and assimilation for new employees
• Communicate regularly with Group members to ensure well-being, engagement, and job satisfaction

Career Development:

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and guidance for Group members to enable performance
• Engage in regular CLEAR Conversations to create positive atmosphere for group members to develop realistic goals that capitalize on strengths and interests
• Advocate for group members to identify opportunities for career experiences and developmental opportunities

Project Placement:

• Engage in staffing activities to match projects with staff competencies and identify stretch assignments to develop new skills
• Support development of transition plans and facilitate transitions between projects that meet the needs of projects and group members

Performance Management:

• Engage in regular discussions with Project and Team Leads about expectations, performance, and growth opportunities.
• Seek information and feedback on group members' performance and recommend corrective or development action when needed.
• Participate in annual performance management cycle activities.
• Complete performance management reviews accurately and on time
• Identify opportunities to recognize and reward group members' accomplishments.

Quality Management:

• Work with the department manager and other leadership and team members to promulgate a culture of quality, excellence, teamwork, staff development, continued learning, innovation, evaluation, and benchmarking to ensure continuous improvement within the department and on all aspects of the department's work program.
• Support the development of skills through training and experiential opportunities.
• Encourage group members to seek and provide technical reach back within their areas of capability and expertise.
• Serve as technical subject matter expert/referent to review staff work progress and artifacts as part of an enterprise approach to continuous quality improvement.
• Encourage group members to attain professional/technical prominence

Minimum Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; or 7 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 4 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Track record of leading people, thinking, and acting innovatively, and collaborating across boundaries
• Desire for personnel leadership / management roles
• Strong desire to work with people, pro-active, and "easy to do business with"
• Strong verbal and written communications skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, positive and can-do attitude
• Experience with team management in a technical environment
• Experience working in one or more of the following areas:
  • Acquisition strategy development
  • Procurement activities including developing the requisite products and supporting one or more source selections.
  • Performance of the Acquisition management role within the DoD, DHS, or other Agency that has a disciplined acquisition lifecycle.
• Remote applicants will only be considered if they currently work on projects that routinely require business travel to McLean on a regular basis (approximately every other month, barring exceptional circumstances

Preferred Qualifications:

• Broad knowledge and expertise in one or more department capabilities, e.g., Acquisition, Contracting, etc.
• Experience with team management in a dynamic and challenging environment (task or group leadership)
• 5 years of related experience as a first line supervisor

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

None

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

None

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

Subject to all federal and state laws, rules and regulations, MITRE requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Newly hired employees must be fully vaccinated prior to their employment start date. MITRE will provide reasonable accommodation to individuals who are legally entitled to an exemption under applicable laws so long as it does not create an undue hardship for MITRE and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the employee or others in the workplace.

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