Assistant to the Chief Strategist – Materials and Manufacturing Directorate

Job Overview

The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate seeks to hire a motivated and experienced mid-level scientist or engineer to serve as Assistant to the Chief Strategist in our Plans and Programs Branch of the Integration and Operations Division.  This position will be filled laterally at the DR-II or DR-III level as an 0801 (General Engineer), 1301 (General Scientist), or other related series and is located at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.  Relocation candidates will not be considered. This posting closes on 15 December 2023.

Position duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assists in managing and administering strategic planning and programming for the organization. 
• Provides direction and expertise in formulation of key functions and processes including (a) the planning, programming, and budgeting processes, (b) technology portfolio management processes, and (c) operational and mission communications. 
• With the RX Chief Strategist and Planning & Programming Team Lead, facilitates corporate investment strategic planning and science and technology portfolio management. 
• Supports AFRL planning processes, to include integration and capability groups. 
• Assesses external drivers of RX program decisions, including special studies and analyses, and focused external scans. 
• Works with RX program managers, financial offices, other directorates, HQ AFRL, Major Commands, OSD Offices, SAF/AQR, other Government agencies, and industry as applicable. 
• Initiates, prepares, and presents budgetary and program status briefings, technical reports, and major presentations to RX Director and staff, other managers, and research personnel. 
• Supports maintenance of the Enterprise Data Management System ensuring accurate and up-to-date reporting of RX programs to enable timely/informed decision-making by senior leaders. 
• Serves as liaison to research community to bring key perspectives to various planning initiatives and programs such as joint service and international collaborations. 
• Performs scans to establish situational awareness with other government agencies, academia, and industry to help evaluate strategic positions with potential partnering research organizations. 
• Works with RX Chief Strategist and Director’s Action Group to develop internal and external operational and mission communications and messaging.
• Work with the Chief Strategist to identify key mission areas within the Office of the Chief Strategist that the Assistant would like to take leading roles – “Divide and Conquer.”

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities; as determined by agency policy

Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship
• Possess a professional science or engineering (S&E) degree, in a relevant technical field, from an accredited (or ABET accredited for engineering) academic institution
• Must have met requirements for Level 2 (Practitioner) APDP certification in Engineering & Technical Management, or be capable of meeting the requirements within 5 years. 

Desired Qualifications

Additional desired characteristics and qualities of potential applicants include (in no particular order):

• Independent, energetic, proactive
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Strong analytical / problem solving skills including the ability to manage/direct complex projects
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders to solve problems and achieve shared objectives
• Experience with and willingness to tackle issues across a wide spectrum

When uploading documents, please utilize the naming convention listed below.  The Requisition Number for this announcement is 37103:

• Resume:  Req No_Last Name_First Name_Resume
• Transcript:  Req No_Last Name_First Name_Transcript

Acceptable file types:  .docx, .pdf

Series

0801

1301

Other