Job Description
Job Description
Pop- Base and 4 option years
The Senior Technical Consultant will act as the primary Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) authority, driving system integrity, regulatory compliance, and high performance across critical (Division Of Information Systems (DIS) technology systems and processes within the Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC). This role requires strategic leadership in monitoring and assessment, deep expertise in resolving complex programmatic and technical issues, and the ability to proactively shape the performance framework. Strong proficiency in Agile development methodologies and federal IT governance is essential.
II. Key Responsibilities and Deliverables
1. Strategic IV&V Leadership
- Verification Strategy: Define, plan, and lead all comprehensive system verification activities, including the strategic oversight and sign-off on evaluation, analysis, demonstration, inspection, and testing protocols.
- Complex Test Architecture: Design and oversee the development and execution of advanced verification tests, including cross-sprint integration testing, performance stress testing, and complex regression scenarios.
- Compliance Assurance: Act as the final reviewer of all Test Plans, test cases, and Defect Reports. Independently verify and validate that all system deliverables throughout the SDLC meet production and security requirements.
- Documentation Assessment: Strategically evaluate system documentation (operations guides, user guides, release notes) for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to operational standards.
2. Programmatic Monitoring and Performance Management
- Contractual Oversight: Strategically monitor project progress, resource allocation, and schedules, ensuring strict compliance with all executed DIS contract performance work statements.
- Performance Framework Design: Lead the effort to assess all available performance data. Define, recommend, and collaborate with DIS to select and implement quantifiable, strategic performance metrics (KPIs) that align with stakeholder interests (e.g., system capacity, external data sharing, and regulatory compliance).
- Baseline and Calibration: Establish the system's performance and usage baseline and utilize these measures to strategically calibrate the effectiveness of DIS systems.
- Stakeholder Reporting: Develop and present executive-level reports and recommendations to internal and external stakeholders (including the COR) on program performance, risks, and strategic improvements.
3. Governance and Compliance Authority
- Programmatic Issue Resolution: Investigate and provide final, expert recommendations on the most complex technical and programmatic issues affecting DIS Systems.
- Federal Policy and Governance: Ensure robust compliance with all federal and departmental requirements for IT systems and investments. This includes leading the accurate review and tracking of cost allocation methodologies and ensuring rigorous Capital Planning and Investment Control (CPIC) reporting.
- Future-State Planning: Review emerging federal policy (e.g., from OMB) to proactively assess long-term impacts to DIS systems. Identify and propose integration strategies for emerging technologies and concepts that would benefit DIS.
- Change Control Authority: Lead the presentation of complex change requests to the Configuration Control Board (CCB), providing the necessary technical and programmatic justification, and ensuring the proper disposition tracking of approved changes.
III. Required Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum of 8-12 years of progressive experience in Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC), IT consulting, or Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) roles, with significant time spent in a senior or leadership capacity within a government environment.
- Methodology: Expert-level proficiency in the Agile development methodology and the ability to mentor and guide teams on best practices.
- Verification & Testing: Demonstrated experience in architecting and leading complex test strategies (functional, performance, integration, security), and providing final quality assurance sign-off.
- Governance Expertise: Deep, practical knowledge of federal IT system requirements, investment governance, and mandatory reporting, including the ability to audit and advise on CPIC compliance.
- Communication & Leadership: Superior written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting complex, high-stakes analysis and recommendations to executive-level federal clients (e.g., COR, Program Director).
IV. Desired Skills
- Prior experience supporting a federal Configuration Control Board (CCB) at a strategic level.
- Proven track record of rapidly deploying resources and defining initial verification frameworks for new business opportunities.
- Formal certifications related to testing, quality assurance, or project management (e.g., PMP, CSM, ISTQB Advanced).