Senior Program/Portfolio Manager

Overview

AVIAN is seeking a Senior Program/Portfolio Manager to support the Office of Naval Research in Arlington, VA.  The Senior Portfolio Manager will ensure effective execution of program/project objectives and leadership priorities in the management of a large-scale Navy S&T portfolio.   An ideal candidate for this role is a critical thinker with the ability to apply analytical techniques to the evaluation of research and anticipate and adapt to changing technology trends. This individual should have strong leadership and communication skills to effectively collaborate with senior leaders and multidisciplinary teams. A results-oriented and solution-driven candidate with a strong commitment to achieving goals and making an impact is likely to achieve success in this role.

At AVIAN (pronounced *a-v-yin*) we believe in the extraordinary potential of every individual. As an employee owner at AVIAN, you will find that we have cultivated an employee-first mentality. By prioritizing talent over experience, we ensure that every hire we make is as unique as the position that they will be filling.

Here on our team, we embrace new challenges and focus on continuous learning which fosters growth mindsets in all our employee owners; whether you are joining the workforce for the very first time or if you’re a seasoned professionals who has their eyes set on retirement.

Our commitment to providing our customers and employees with an unmatched experience sets us apart. We believe that every team member has a stake in the success of AVIAN, and we strive to ensure that each member of our team knows that their contributions matter. You can be sure as an employee owner you will celebrate both your individual and our collective triumphs.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of the AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn’t stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

We believe that employee investment shouldn’t be a one-way street, so we offer benefits that normalize balancing mental wellness and family time with work responsibilities. From Flexible Time Off to Wellness Reimbursements we want all our team members to achieve the highest levels of life/work balance.

AVIAN - where creative, talented minds flourish, and where proactive, productive, proficient professionals feel valued.

Responsibilities

• Portfolio Management: Manage a basic and applied research portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and objectives. Monitor project progress, budgets, and timelines.
• Research Analysis and Strategy: Conduct in-depth research and analysis of emerging science and technology trends relevant to naval operations and strategic planning.
• Technology Assessment: Evaluate the feasibility, relevance, and potential impact of new technologies on naval operations. Provide recommendations to senior leadership.
• Collaboration: Foster collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, including scientists, engineers, government agencies, and industry partners, to build strategic alliances and leverage expertise.
• Budget Management: Manage project budgets, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks, challenges, and opportunities associated with research projects and/or S&T portfolio planning and implementation.
• Reporting and Documentation: Prepare detailed reports, presentations, and documentation as necessary to effectively communicate research findings, portfolio status, and/or strategic plans to leadership and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• A PhD from an accredited college or university in a science/technology field and 3 years of experience managing large and complex research/S&T programs or portfolios in an academic or military research setting OR a Masters from an accredited college or university in a science/technology field and 6 years of experience managing large and complex research/S&T programs or portfolios in an academic or military research setting.
• Knowledge of the Navy S&T process.
• Experience quickly and effectively managing and executing leadership priorities.
• Experience collaborating with senior leadership in academic, industry, government, and/or military environments.
• Proficiency analyzing data and managing/manipulating spreadsheets.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively and address complex issues verbally and in writing. 
• Experience in answering data calls from senior Navy leadership and/or Congress.
• Proficiency with commercial software packages, to include at a minimum Microsoft Office (specifically, Word, Power Point, Project, Outlook and Excel) and SharePoint.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• This position operates in a hybrid environment with 2x a week being performed onsite and 3x a week being performed via telework. Fully remote candidates are not being considered at this time. 

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran’s status.