Program Manager for Operational SOF

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The MITRE Special Operations Department (N552) seeks a strategic-minded, technically skilled, and operationally focused Program Manager to drive impact within the Special Operations Forces (SOF) work program. The selected candidate will play a lead role in shaping an expanding work program that reinforces MITRE’s position as a trusted partner in advancing SOF success and aligns MITRE’s technical expertise with mission-critical technologies and solutions that enable SOF operations.

MITRE’s support to the National Mission Force (NMF), Service Components Special Operations Commands (SOCs), and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) has grown substantially in size and impact, encompassing a diverse range of sponsors with varied technical needs, maturity levels, and operational missions. The work program encompasses emerging initiatives in AI/Autonomy, Robotics, Data Analytics, PNT/Alt-PNT, Cyber/EW, and Communications, particularly contested, resilient, and special communications. The selected candidate will lead major initiatives in these areas, while expanding and elevating sponsor trusted advisor relationships. In addition, the position requires a leader who will identify and nurture internal and external research areas towards NMF mission needs, and bridge operations to acquisition opportunities with SOCOM AT&L and other organizations.

Key responsibilities for the Program Manager include:

• Connect operators, force suppliers, and SOF acquisition base to enhance insight and decision-making across the SOF enterprise, amplifying MITRE’s impact within the SOF community.
• Foster collaboration and identify growth opportunities across the Combatant Commands and with the Theatre Special Operations Commands (TSOC).
• Lead efforts to rapidly advance both internal- and direct-funded capabilities, focusing on experimentation, operational use, and potential transition to Programs of Record (PoRs). Enhance MITRE’s role in supporting experimentation within SOF to accelerate Independent Research and Development (IR&D) programs.
• Support the SOF Department Manager to develop and implement overall SOF work program strategy and direction.

The N552 Department operates across a globally integrated team supporting USSOCOM Headquarters, JSOC, the Service Component SOCs, and the TSOCs. The department’s work is critical to reducing risk, advancing mission success, and ensuring the safe return of operators.

Roles and Responsibilities:

The selected candidate will elevate our operational impact within the Special Operations community by leading and overseeing MITRE’s support to the NMF, Service Component SOCs, and JSOC. Qualified candidates should have extensive familiarity with SOF and demonstrated leadership and technical experience supporting the special operations, defense, and intelligence communities. This experience includes advancing operational capabilities and integrating new technologies to enable SOF to compete and win against urgent and emergent threats. This position’s success will be measured on delivery of outcomes and capabilities that enhance both SOF capabilities, and SOF’s ability to deliver mission impact to Joint and Service operations.

The selected candidate will serve as a thought leader, applying expertise to develop strategies that resolve complex problems affecting the SOF Enterprise. Collaborating closely with the Special Operations Department leadership team and other strategic elements within MITRE, the candidate will work as part of a unified team to deliver tactical, operational, and strategic technological solutions tailored to the needs of the SOF community, as the SOF Enterprise prepares for competition, conflict or crisis.

The selected candidate will be expected to work across MITRE projects, MITRE’s research community, the United States Government (USG), academia, and industry partners to amplify MITRE’s impact across the SOF Enterprise, focusing on achieving operational mission outcomes. As a technical expert and thought leader, the selected candidate will create and sustain external partnerships to advance research, technology adoption, and impact in critical national security domains, including electronic systems, communication systems, cyber operations, and data analytics.

The selected candidate must also have demonstrated experience with project leadership, with a thorough understanding of MITRE’s business processes, federal government policies, and regulations. Effective communication and interpersonal skills will be critical as the selected candidate works closely with military and civilian experts across SOF and other USG sectors to address critical mission needs and identify emerging methods that address SOF mission challenges.

Key functions:

• Strategic Leadership and Collaboration. Provide guidance as a trusted advisor to SOF leaders, aligning MITRE’s technical capabilities with SOF priorities. Build strong partnerships across SOF, USG, and external stakeholders to enhance collaboration and amplify MITRE’s impact.
• Work Shaping and Innovation. Define and develop tasks and program and project outcomes in alignment with NSEC priorities in support of MNS- and Corporate-level initiatives. Lead efforts to rapidly advance IRAD-funded capabilities, integrating experimentation and operational use to transition technologies to direct-funded work.
• Project Leadership. Lead project teams, oversee project staffing and resources, and collaborate across MITRE to deliver high impact solutions for SOF.
• Mission Impact. Deliver high quality, time-critical products to address SOF’s most critical needs. Shape the work program, making strategic decisions to maximize impact and eliminate less critical efforts.
• Stakeholder Engagement. Engage with senior military leaders and action officers to understand mission requirements and deliver effective solutions. Must be able to communicate program goals clearly and effectively.

• Flexibility and Adaptability. Adjust strategies and approaches as the environment and sponsor priorities shift. Understand the power of reach-back within MITRE and bring the talent forward to execute at the right time. Operate within SOF culture and sensitive activities boundary conditions.
• Domain/Technical Competence. Strong familiarity in two or more of the following areas: (1) SIGINT/Electronic Warfare, (2) Special Communications, (3) Signature Management, (4) Operational Cyber, (5) Sensitive Activities, (6) Information Operations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, such as Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Computer), Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related fields and 12 years of related experience; or 10 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Extensive experience with SOF and demonstrated leadership and technical experience supporting the special operations, defense, and intelligence communities
• Active TS/SCI with Poly clearance and ability to maintain sponsor network access.
• Experience with NMF, JSOC, the Service Component SOCs, and the TSOCs emerging initiatives in AI/Autonomy, Robotics, Data Analytics, PNT/Alt-PNT, Cyber/EW, and Communications, particularly contested, resilient, and special communications.
• Demonstrated previous team leadership experience and project (or equivalent) leader experience.
• Effective and influential oral communications skills
• Strong written communications skills
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field
  • Experience as a large-scale Project Lead or Program Manager for USG sponsors, including experience with internal business systems, property management procedures, and unique security constraints.
  • Demonstrated experience and understanding of the specialized mission needs and relevant technical solutions in highly constrained operational environments
  • Demonstrated experience with project leadership, with a thorough understanding of MITRE’s business processes, federal government policies, and regulations
• Demonstrated experience identifying and closing capability gaps between sponsor Agencies
  • Five years’ experience in Special Operations Forces
  • Demonstrated capability for strategic planning and ability to provide actionable plans to government sponsors.
• Demonstrated success leading capability development projects and transitioning operational prototypes to the SOF community.

Our culture is a tangible asset that endures through our people and leaders. At MITRE, our leaders must also demonstrate and continually develop a consistent set of shared Leadership Competencies:

• Lead with a Strategic Mindset: Drives alignment across MITRE to achieve our mission by engaging across and beyond the enterprise, making and executing decisions, and activating the Good Growth Strategy.

• Create Value: Takes a broad approach to solving complex problems using a national and global lens. Unleashes the full capabilities of our people in a relentless pursuit of innovative solutions that are scalable, equitable, transferable, and sustainable.

• Cultivate Inclusion: Creates an environment and opportunities, built on trust, where people can be their whole authentic self, feeling welcomed, supported, engaged, and respected for who they are and what they contribute to the organization. Embraces and engages all dimensions of diversity to exponentially expand MITRE’s impact in solving problems for a safer world.

• Communicate for Impact: Conveys powerful messages tailored to the unique needs of stakeholders—and desired outcomes—in a style that engages and inspires action. Exemplifies active listening to foster collaboration, understanding, and alignment.

• Commit to Action and Outcomes: Holds self and others accountable for acting on and achieving established objectives. Exemplifies cultural attributes while executing and delivering impactful outcomes.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Work Location Type:

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