Adjunct Research Analyst - Logistics Capabilities And Program Planner

Overview:

IDA's Strategy, Forces and Resources Division (SFRD) in our Systems and Analyses Center performs integrated, interdisciplinary studies of plans and policies related to national security strategy, the structure and capabilities of U.S., allied, and adversary forces and supporting infrastructure. In addition, the Division assists U.S. and partner nations in development, implementation, and assessment of the management processes necessary to sustain efficient and effective national security establishments.

Challenging career opportunities now exist in SFRD. IDA takes great pride in the high caliber and timeliness of its analyses, which are produced in an atmosphere that encourages independent thinking and objective results.

Work at IDA is conducted in a team environment and often involves a multi-disciplinary approach. Researchers work closely with, and are in frequent contact with, government sponsors. Consequently, strong communications skills will be greatly valued.

Responsibilities:

SFRD is seeking candidates for the research staff to contribute to DOD's defense institution building programs. The work involves assisting ministries of defense of U.S. security partners in design, development, and implementation of force sustainment processes that leverage logistics planning and management and are linked to capability-based planning, and the introduction of multi-year program planning into that ministry's defense resource and acquisition decision making.

This work is largely performed overseas in the ministry of the US security partner being supported. Frequent overseas travel (on average, roughly 1- to 2-week deployments 8 to 9 times per year) is an essential and necessary component of the work. Contributions to other SFRD research program areas (such as joint capability analyses; risk identification and management; organizational design and assessment; and analysis of the efficacy of particular programs or operational concepts) are possible.

Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in national or international security, operations research, economics, engineering, logistics, quantitative political science, or methodologically similar disciplines; or, a bachelor's degree plus a record of progressive professional education and certification in logistics disciplines.

• Highly qualified individuals are sought, particularly self-starting professionals. Successful candidates need to exhibit strong analytical and communication skills, a capacity for independent thought and sound judgment. Candidates will need to exhibit excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrate the ability to contribute effectively to a team approach to problem solving.

• We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated sustained professional accomplishment in the field of logistics planning and management during civilian or military service within the DOD or defense ministry of a foreign nation. We seek candidates who are familiar with and able to guide foreign militaries to re-conceptualize enterprise force sustainment and logistics concepts for support, supply, readiness, training, maintenance, and more. Experience with defense institutional capacity building, including work with foreign militaries in logistics and force sustainment matters at the highest levels, is preferred and desired, as is experience with OSD, Joint Staff, Service headquarters, and Geographic Combatant Commands.

Additional qualifications may include:

• A pattern of civil service or military assignments, or participation in or leadership of research and analysis in a research institution, involving some or all of these areas: definition and analysis of logistics capability requirements; development or analysis of multi-year program plans for logistics and force sustainment capabilities within a resource decision making process; comparative quantitative analyses of logistics programs or sustainment capabilities; cost and/or cost-effectiveness analyses of logistics programs or capabilities; affordability or portfolio analyses; development of vertically-integrated concepts in logistics domains (e.g., supply-chain management, maintenance and repair, transportation and distribution); management and oversight of program management processes that maximize the sustainment of complex weapons systems by optimizing force generation and operational readiness while synchronizing maintenance, training, logistics and supply support.

Candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter outlining how their skill set, experiences, and education align with the defined responsibilities. Upload as one document with resume.

• Candidates must be prepared to provide a writing sample.

• Candidates must identify three references capable of attesting to the candidate's skills in relation to the job qualifications described above.

• Ability and willingness to accept a robust schedule of overseas travel is essential.