Senior Advisor - Strategic Initiatives

Overview:

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.

Our team of experienced military, technical, and operations research analysts is skilled exploring cutting-edge technology and helping government program managers evaluate, select, and manage research programs to transition promising technologies and ensure U.S. military forces retain technological superiority in the future.

SPA has an immediate need for a Senior Advisor to provide onsite support in Arlington, VA.

Responsibilities:

The Biological Technologies Office (BTO) at DARPA is seeking a highly motivated and skilled candidate for the position of Senior Advisor - Strategic Initiatives. This role provides leadership and support to the Office Director (OD) and Deputy Director (DD), focusing on long-term strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement. They will play a critical role in developing and executing the multi-year strategic plan for the BTO, ensuring alignment with DARPA’s mission and goals. Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning and Execution:

• Collaborate with the OD, DD, Lead Technical SETA, and other senior leaders to develop and implement the BTO's long-term strategic plan. Specifically, focus on initiatives related to the design of infrastructure (digital, physical, and social/cultural) enabling foundational biotechnology research and development capabilities and U.S. security and competitiveness, including biological data as a strategic asset, ensuring alignment with DARPA's overall mission and objectives.
• Identify and analyze emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges in the biological and technological domains related to the focus above to inform strategic decision-making; translate relevant elements of BTO's strategic vision related to the focus above into actionable plans and initiatives.

Strategic Analysis and Advising:

• Provide strategic advice and thought leadership to the OD, DD, and other senior leaders on a wide range of topics related to BTO's mission and objectives.
• Conduct analyses of relevant complex scientific, technological, and programmatic issues in conjunction with the front office’s science team and Intelligence Analyst to inform strategic decision-making and provide recommendations to BTO leadership.
• Stay abreast of relevant policies, regulations, and governance frameworks that impact BTO's operations and research activities, and advise leadership on compliance and risk management strategies.
• Provide guidance on BTO's portfolio of projects ensuring they align with the office's long-term objectives and priorities.
• Coordination and Liaison
• Serve as a key liaison between BTO and external stakeholders, prioritizing interactions with:
• DoD services and agencies (Priority 1); Industrial and academic partners (Priority 2); Interagency partners (e.g., HHS, IC, others) (Priority 3).
• Facilitate collaboration and partnerships to advance strategic initiatives with the legislative branch as needed.
• Strategic Partnerships and Outreach
• Identify, cultivate, and manage strategic partnerships and collaborations with key external stakeholders, including other government agencies, academic institutions, industry partners, and international entities.
• Develop and implement outreach and engagement strategies to enhance the BTO's visibility, reputation, and influence within the scientific and technological communities.
• Strategic Resource Allocation and Management
• Advise the OD and DD on the strategic allocation of BTO's resources, including budget, personnel, and infrastructure, to ensure alignment with long-term objectives and priorities.
• Collaborate with the Tactical Action Officer to develop and implement resource optimization and efficiency improvement strategies.
• Monitor and assess the performance and impact of BTO's investments and make recommendations for adjustments as needed.
• Strategic Communications and Reporting
• Advise the design and implementation of BTO's strategic communications plan, ensuring effective and consistent messaging across all channels and audiences.
• Collaborate with the Tactical Action Officer and other staff to help prepare high-level strategic documents, such as annual reports, strategic plans, and project summaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Engage with DARPA's Public Affairs Office to manage BTO's media relations and external communications, ensuring alignment with the office's strategic objectives and messaging.
• Qualifications:

Required:

• Published academic with PhD in biology, chemistry, or a related scientific field.
• Able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in strategy development and stakeholder engagement across academic, commercial Science and Technology (S&T) sector, and U.S. Government.
• Experience working on Research and Development (R&D) or Science and Technology (S&T) portfolios.
• Expertise in policy and broader governance topics related to biotechnology research and development.
• Exceptional team player with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task and reprioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to provide surge support to achieve mission requirements.
• Willing to travel (estimated 10-20%).
• Willing to be onsite at DARPA HQ most of the time.

Desired:

• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a strong sense of ownership and responsibility.