International Program Associate (Regional Portfolio)

The Portfolio Lead (PL) works directly with client Program Managers (PM) as well as other Advisory and Assistance Services (A&AS) personnel contributing to implementation of the Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) priorities. They are responsible for ensuring that client deliverables meet quality and schedule requirements. The PLs engage and collaborate with government counterparts on a broad range of activities, including project management; financial management; quality assurance; knowledge management; partner relationship management; acquisition life-cycle support; new country engagements as well as recurring and pop-up tasks.

 

PL is primarily a project management role that supports implementation of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) priorities, acquisition plans, and facilitates collaboration across various government and A&AS teams using the Integrated Project Team (IPT) concept. The PL provides or facilitates comprehensive support to ensure the success of the assigned portfolio under the guidance of the associated PM(s). This includes planning ahead to anticipate needed actions and advice the client in advance.

This role requires a thorough understanding of the BTRP mission, nature of biological threats and biological threat reduction approaches, the international nonproliferation regime, and key stakeholders working in the domains of nonproliferation and global health security spanning public and animal health sectors.

 

The role requires excellent communication and teamwork skills, ability to support government clients achieve strategic objectives without losing sight of detail, ability to keep track of formal and informal taskers and deliver necessary advisory and assistance services in support of multiple, competing priorities. The PL is expected to partner with the government PMs as well as A&AS counterparts and be a reliable source of advice and assistance.

 

PLs report to the Division Lead. PLs’ primary client interfaces are the Country, Regional, Science and other government Managers within Integrated Project Teams (IPTs).

 

PLs work across government and A&AS teams to support the BTRP mission through:

• Project-based support advice and assistance: effective management of cost, schedule, and performance of awards as well as planning and execution of acquisitions.
• Ongoing operations advice and assistance: requirements definition/validation as well as all-encompassing support of country/region/program portfolios. Deliverables include the Weekly Activity Report (WAR)/DURC /Annual Report to Congress (ARC) actions, Program Management Reviews (PMRs), Metric Validation Workshop (MVW), Program Objective Memorandum (POM), Country Summaries, Program Budget Management comments, etc.
• Ad hoc tasks: hot taskers, congressional inquiries, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, emergent needs not associated with a specific project and associated tasks

 

PLs are responsible for building relationships with the government counterparts in order to effectively advise on and assist with matters related to the portfolio. PLs are required to understand the limitations and restrictions pertaining to the contractor’s role and authorities/responsibilities that qualify as an inherently government function.

 

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Be familiar with and leverage the full spectrum of expertise available in the A&AS community, applying the IPT construct.
• Provide project management support for the full range of BTRP activities in the assigned portfolio, using project management best practices and approved acquisition processes.
• Facilitate regular and productive coordination and communication with relevant parties in the government-A&AS community and with external stakeholders.
  • Take notes and coordinate action items resulting from meetings.
• Provide advisory and assistant services with regards to linking activities and objectives to National Strategy, Combatant Command plans, Department of Defense (DoD), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), CTR and BTRP priorities, and efforts of Interagency partners.
• Assist and advise government counterparts in defining requirements, formulating end states and plans to reach them, and defining project success factors.
• Assist and advise government PMs, and engage A&AS counterparts, throughout the acquisition lifecycle including but not limited to requirement validation, project idea development, acquisition planning, project initiation, execution and monitoring, and closeout.
  • Assist the client in drafting and finalizing materials related to acquisition (e.g., Initial Strategy Session worksheets, Acquisition Strategy Review Documents, Market Research Reports, Statements of Work, Contract Data Requirement Lists, and others as required).
  • Facilitate cross-team coordination and review of acquisition documents to leverage expertise from science, acquisition, finance, training, contracting, property, etc. teams to ensure thorough SME review. Keep relevant stakeholders apprised throughout acquisition lifecycle.
• Support the client in drafting and finalizing messaging and reports related to the portfolio.
  • Support development of project-level inputs for Program Objective Memorandum (POM), Annual Report to Congress (ARC), spend plans, and metrics review materials.
  • Support drafting of portfolio updates for the Weekly Activity Reports (WARs).
  • Support drafting of regional/country summaries for the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• Support government counterparts in Program Management Reviews (PMRs). Assist the client in review and documentation of project scope, schedule, budget status and forecast.
  • Support the client in drafting PMR materials. Prepare talking points to accompany slides and assist with action items arising following presentation of the PMR briefs.
  • Prepare the client for PMR briefs to division and department leadership by coordinating across the government-A&AS community to ensure the client is well-informed on each project within the portfolio.
• Support prompt and thorough responses to short-fuse taskers.
• Gain access to, and become proficient in various government systems to include Automated Trip Request Information Process (ATRIP), Program Budget Management Tool (PBMT), Mercury/Threat Reduction Logistics Services (TRLS), and Consolidated Acquisition Tool (CAT).
• Document best practices across all efforts, summarize and use lessons learned, and make recommendations to adapt, apply, and embed those practices throughout the project life cycle.
• Maintain an organized method of portfolio-relevant documents in coordination with government counterpart for proper record keeping of important country-specific documents pertaining to acquisitions, policies, in-country partners, implementers, metrics, travel, and more.
• Travel in support of the BTRP mission.
  • Participate in travel as needed.
  • Assist government personnel in planning travel and fulfilling pre-travel requirements (e.g., ATRIP submission, ATFP plans, logistics support requests, DTRO coordination, travel pre-brief, trip book,).
  • Support the client during meetings with partner nation stakeholders by providing talking points and taking notes during meetings.
  • Assist the client in completion of post-travel requirements (e.g., travel de-brief, trip report).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

• SECRET clearance or higher.
• Bachelors (B.A. or B.S.) Degree
• At least 3 years of project management, government acquisition or similar experience.
• Experience and successful track record building effective relationship with clients and other stakeholders, understanding client’s requirements and meeting client expectations.
• Experience applying project management best practices in support of multiple ongoing projects while delivering high-quality outputs. Ability to track multiple competing priorities and dynamic portfolio components.
• Track record working in a matrixed environment, coordinating work across large, diverse teams, and being an effective and collaborative team member.
• Ability to work collaboratively and independently
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem solving skills
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office tool suites.
• Demonstrated ability to write for senior leaders.
• Flexibility/adaptability/suitability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to travel internationally.
• Travel up to 25% of the time
• Requirement to work in the office at least 2-3 days a week.

 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Masters (M.A. or M.S.) Degree
• 10 years of project management, government acquisition or similar experience.
• Familiarity with Cooperative Threat Reduction with experience related to DTRA CTR and government acquisition processes preferable.
• International experience.
• Project Management Professional (or equivalent) certification.

· Learn about the Noblis business development lifecycle, processes, tools, and account structure
· Contribute specialized domain or technical content to proposal sections or client white papers
· Build a productive relationship with your client and understand their structure and goals

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits page on our Careers site.

 

Salary at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, and clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is provided within the posting and are based on full time status. Part time staff receive a prorated salary based on regularly scheduled hours. The estimated minimum and maximum displayed represents the broadest range for this position (inclusive of high geographic and high clearance requirements), and is just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package for employees.

 

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