Strategic S&T Futures SME

At Noblis and Noblis ESI, we have excellent teams of smart, collaborative, proactive experts and professionals. We are actively seeking to identify personnel to join our team of talented professionals who possess the experience, vision, commitment, and integrity to successfully support the strategic goals of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Office of Science and Engineering (OSE)’s Technology Centers Division (TCD).

Technology and threats evolve rapidly in today's ever-changing environment. In response, DHS S&T was established by Congress to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions to the nation's homeland security challenges. S&T executes Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) to transition solution approaches, technologies, and knowledge products in support of DHS Component customers including U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (FSLTT) first responders, and the larger Homeland Security Enterprise (HSE).

The successful candidate for the Strategic Foresight and Futures Subject Matter Expert (SME) position will be a highly motivated self-starter, who operates well in a matrixed environment, can learn, digest, and provide technical guidance on a broad spectrum of scientific domains, and can distill and communicate complex technical concepts.

This is a new position at DHS S&T, and the successful candidate will be proactive in aiding Noblis and S&T’s Technology Centers Division the client in defining this role and optimizing its contributions to ensure successful outcomes.

Position Summary: Provide foundational support for the stand-up of a DHS S&T Strategic Foresight & Futures function. Support the design and development of scientific foresighting functions and governance that leverages the full range of DHS S&T and partner expertise, informs DHS S&T priorities and strategies, and produces knowledge products for DHS and the HSE. Responsibilities may include: developing operating models; framing and horizon scanning; trend identification and analysis; scenario planning and forecasting; facilitating ideation workshops; and backcasting and strategy development.

Specific duties may include the following:

• Strategic Foresight Analysis: Conduct research and analysis on future trends, potential disruptions, and emerging technologies relevant to DHS mission and goals. Develop trend reports for Components and HSE on emerging science and technologies and possible implications within their missions.
• Environmental Scanning and Analysis: Create systems to regularly monitor sources for early indicators of change. Gather and analyze data on social, technological, economic, environmental, and political trends that could impact the HSE’s future operational environment.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to understand perspectives and integrate them into foresight activities. Foster collaborative partnerships to broaden foresight capabilities and insights within DHS S&T. Facilitate meetings and workshops.
• Project Management: Oversee foresight projects, ensuring that they are aligned with overarching goals and timelines. Develop and communicate project scopes, work plans, timelines, and outputs as needed.
• Knowledge Translation: Transform and aggregate complex research into actionable insights and recommendations that are accessible to decision-makers. Prepare presentations, reports, and briefing materials to communicate foresight findings effectively.
• Performance Measurement: Develop and track metrics to measure the impact of foresight activities on organizational decision-making and strategic planning.

This role is expected to require limited non-local travel (10%), and some DC metro area local travel (25%).

• Advanced Degree in a field of science, engineering or other related field or such equivalent credits/certifications + 10 years of relevant experience or 15 years of relevant experience
• SECRET clearance (or Eligibility to obtain a minimum of an Interim Secret clearance)
• Eligibility to obtain DHS access and Suitability

• Self-starter with interdisciplinary background.
• Advanced degree in a scientific, engineering, or related field strongly preferred.
• 8-15 years of demonstrated analytical experience within the national security environment conducting trend identification and analysis, facilitating interdisciplinary working groups, producing high-quality science communication products, developing strategies and roadmaps, and informing decision-making.
• Specific experience in strategic foresight and futures analysis highly desired. 
• Interest in learning about and researching over-the-horizon technologies across a variety of scientific and technological domains.
• Experience providing direct or consultant scientific support to major programs or system development efforts, preferably supporting national security.
• Experience providing strategic scientific guidance, such as technology roadmaps, feasibility analysis, and market research regarding the boundaries of state-of-art technology.
• Experience supporting DHS components (e.g., TSA, CBP, FPS, NPPD, DNDO/CWMD, USCG, ICE) or ARPA-style research and development organizations.
• Demonstrated strong technical writing skills, targeting both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Candidates with a Secret clearance and DHS Suitability are strongly preferred.
• Candidates with eligibility to obtain Top Secret/SCI are strongly preferred.

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI, and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us

Why work at a Noblis company?

Our employees find greater meaning in their work and balance the other things in life that matter to them. Our people are our greatest asset. They are exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, team-oriented, and mission-driven individuals who want to do work that matters and benefits the public. Noblis has won numerous workplace awards. Noblis maintains a drug-free workplace.

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.

Compensation 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, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package.

Noblis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race (as well as because of or on the basis of traits historically associated with race, including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

Noblis is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Noblis will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact employee-relations@noblis.org.