Position Overview

Advanced Decision Vectors, LLC (ADV) is seeking an experienced Maritime Technical Acquisition and Program Management Specialist to support the United States Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) Counter-Narcotics/Counter-Transnational Criminal Organization (CN/C-TCO) mission.

This position supports USSOUTHCOM SCJ8's Counternarcotics Planning, Programming & Resourcing Division (SCJ84) in the development, acquisition, integration, fielding, sustainment, modernization, and evaluation of maritime capabilities supporting CN/C-TCO missions.

The Specialist will serve as a senior operational and technical advisor to the Government Program Manager, applying maritime operational experience, acquisition and program management expertise, strategic thinking, and knowledge of commercial and U.S. Government maritime standards to translate military and mission requirements into executable capability solutions.

This position requires the ability to assess operational, technical, programmatic, financial, and performance information and develop actionable recommendations related to capability development, acquisition strategy, resource prioritization, risk, sustainment, and future investment.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of acquisition strategies for maritime vessels, equipment, mission systems, and services supporting USSOUTHCOM CN/C-TCO operations.
• Assist with defining, developing, validating, and refining military and technical requirements associated with vessel procurement, modification, modernization, service-life extension, mission-system integration, and critical subsystem upgrades.
• Develop and refine technical specifications, Statements of Work (SOWs), Performance Work Statements (PWSs), acquisition packages, schedules, cost-estimate supporting information, and performance requirements.
• Translate military and operational requirements into measurable technical and performance characteristics appropriate for Government acquisition actions.
• Evaluate maritime platforms, vessels, mission systems, sensors, communications systems, C4ISR capabilities, and autonomous/unmanned systems.
• Evaluate capability alternatives based on technical maturity, operational effectiveness, cost, schedule, risk, interoperability, commercial availability, logistics, sustainment, and lifecycle considerations.
• Support maritime capabilities throughout the full lifecycle, including requirements identification, acquisition strategy, technical evaluation, integration, testing, acceptance, fielding, sustainment, modernization, recapitalization, and disposition.
• Provide technical and operational support during design and production reviews, shipyard activities, integration events, sea trials, acceptance testing, operational demonstrations, and other program milestones.
• Support financial and resource management activities, including maritime program financial plans, funding execution, acquisition schedules, Government-approved spending plans, and resource prioritization.
• Track program schedules and milestones and identify technical, operational, financial, contractual, industrial-base, supply-chain, integration, resource, and schedule risks.
• Analyze program data and develop mitigation strategies and actionable recommendations for Government leadership.
• Assess interoperability, capability gaps, duplication, and opportunities to leverage existing DoD, DHS, Interagency, Partner Nation, and commercial capabilities.
• Prepare technical assessments, executive summaries, decision-support products, resource analyses, program updates, and senior-leader briefings.
• Support USSOUTHCOM and DoD program reviews, including CN/C-TCO planning, programming, budgeting, and execution activities.
• Maintain and analyze programmatic, financial, acquisition, operational, schedule, milestone, and risk information in Government-directed systems and tools.
• Provide post-award technical and program management support, including review of contractor technical submissions, Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), configuration changes, production/modification activities, and technical and schedule performance.
• Assess fielded maritime capabilities and recommend sustainment, maintenance, training, modernization, and lifecycle improvements.
• Coordinate across DoD, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Navy (USN), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S), Security Cooperation Organizations (SCOs), Partner Nations, commercial maritime organizations, and other Government stakeholders.
• Build and maintain coalitions across diverse organizations, integrate stakeholder requirements, and develop recommendations supporting broader USSOUTHCOM strategic priorities.
• Identify and assess emerging technologies, acquisition approaches, partnerships, and innovative capability solutions, including maritime sensors, communications systems, unmanned/autonomous systems, and other technologies supporting CN/C-TCO missions.

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI (TS/SCI) security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree, with the following approved substitutions:
  • Associate degree plus eight (8) years of relevant experience, or
  • Ten (10) years of relevant experience with no degree.
• Minimum of five (5) years of operational experience aboard U.S. military, U.S. Coast Guard, Government, or commercial vessels.
• Demonstrated knowledge of vessel operations, including HM&E systems, navigation, C4ISR, sensors, maintenance, logistics, and maritime safety.
• Experience translating military requirements into technical specifications, SOWs/PWSs, acquisition packages, or comparable acquisition documentation.
• Experience supporting vessel acquisition, shipbuilding, refit, modernization, systems integration, or lifecycle sustainment.
• Working knowledge of DoD/Federal acquisition and resource management processes.
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate platforms, technologies, and capability solutions from operational, technical, cost, schedule, risk, and sustainment perspectives.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize operational, financial, technical, programmatic, and performance data and develop actionable recommendations for Government decision-makers.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, negotiate complex issues, and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to gather and analyze facts, draw conclusions, develop recommended solutions, and present findings through briefings, papers, reports, and other senior-level decision-support products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Interagency coordination involving organizations such as USCG, USN, CBP, and JIATF-S.
• Familiarity with bilateral cooperation agreements and maritime detection and monitoring operations.
• Experience supporting maritime detection and monitoring, counterdrug, law enforcement, ISR, interdiction, or unmanned/autonomous systems.
• USSOUTHCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR) experience.
• Spanish-language proficiency.

What We Offer

Advanced Decision Vectors offers a comprehensive, total rewards package that includes competitive compensation and a flexible benefits package that reflects our commitment to creating a diverse and supportive workplace. Compensation decisions are based on various factors, including but not limited to labor category, skill set, experience, training, security clearances, licensure, certifications, and other business and organizational needs.

Benefits include:

• Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with matching
• Basic Life & Supplemental Life
• Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
• Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
• Skills Development & Certifications
• Employee Referral Program
• Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach