Job Description
Job Description
SUMMARY
General Description: The Strategy Associate reports to the Senior Director of Strategy (SDS) to support the formulation and management of VCSFA’s enterprise strategy, vision and associated planning activities. The candidate shall have a strong grasp on short, mid, and long-term strategy, strategic and operational planning capabilities, and cross-functional competencies (e.g., finance, operations, legal, market positioning) as well as its effective and collaborative integration into VCSFA decision-making, mission execution, standards, processes, and policies.
Responsibilities and Duties:
- Support and enable the SDS in the formulation and management of VCSFA’s vision and strategic direction as well as the translation of the long-term strategy tied to short-term operational plans and multi-year budget decisions.
- Maintain an in-depth and expert understanding of VCSFA’s technical and business operations through hands-on interactions with executive leadership, MARS staff, VCSFA’s customers, regulators, and other external partners.
- Products will include supporting the development and use of the following to advise the executive team on business and financial strategies including, but not limited to:
- Corporate strategy development
- Multi-year strategic planning
- Business process development
- Business operating models (current and forecasting)
- Budgeting forecasting and multi-year budget planning
- Financial analysis (e.g., customer pricing, cost structures)
- Revenue generation opportunities
- Cost control measures
- Cross-organizational optimization and efficiency studies
- Staffing and workforce development approaches
- Organizational risk management
- Thought pieces on topics of relevance for VCSFA consideration.
- Support and enable the SDS to lead strategic initiatives and a “strategy-informed culture” and to improve internal integration and alignment across departments, enabling business optimization and growth.
- Support internal change management integration and acceptance.
- Research and analyze domestic and international space and space-adjacent industry (commercial, public sector), regulatory landscape, developments, forthcoming opportunities, etc. and develop actionable approaches to position VCSFA for success in achieving its vision and mission.
- Analyze and assess microeconomic factors, competitive dynamics, market share changes, organizational capabilities, and government regulations (state and federal) to determine organizational and strategic risks.
- Establish and review key strategic priorities and translate into comprehensive, inclusive strategic and operational-level plans.
- Monitor the execution of strategic plans, metrics, and actionable goals, including annual reports and VCSFA’s mandated strategic plan.
- Other duties as assigned.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this title. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified. They are not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of supervisors to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under their supervision.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
General Education
- College: Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree preferred
- Major: Engineering, business, and/or financial discipline
Job-Related Experience:
- Prefer minimum five (5) years of relevant experience in the workplace providing strategic, operational, financial, and technical leadership to implement project activities successfully.
- Preferred experience in industries related to aerospace, national security, state or federal industries and/or in organizations that are technology-related, capital-intensive and/or commercially-active.
- Preferred experience in one of the following: top-tier strategy consulting firm, boutique consulting or advisory firm, strategy role at relevant commercial, state or federal organizations
- Experience developing long-term strategies for an organization.
Certifications: None required.
Licenses, etc.: Valid driver's license is necessary while operating a vehicle while on agency business. Must be able to transport themselves to VCSFA’s Norfolk office and to MARS and its facilities on Virginia’s Eastern Shore near Wallops Island, VA.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Qualification: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- A 90-day probationary period is required of all newly hired and re-hired employees.
- Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug test.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain eligibility for issuance of a federal agency credential (e.g., NASA).
- Candidate must be eligible to work in the United States.
Knowledge:
- Thorough knowledge of business management practices and the principles and practices of public administration.
- Considerable knowledge of strategic, financial, operational, business planning, market, economic, federal characteristic, techniques, methods.
- Knowledge of strategic development methods, techniques, visualizations.
- Considerable knowledge of research techniques and methods.
- Be familiar with state and federal operational norms and standards.
- General operating knowledge of office equipment.
Skills:
- Proficiency in planning, coordinating, and implementing strategic plans, approaches, and initiatives.
- Ability to understand the big picture and to balance risks in ambiguous and complex scenarios.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills within all levels of the organization.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and highly organized with attention to detail.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and/or related programs, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Good judgement and decision-making.
- Project management, problem-solving, data analytics, team development, communication, and implementation.
Abilities:
- Ability to think, develop and help guide the organization tactically, operationally, and strategically.
- Ability to connect challenges and opportunities with outcomes.
- Ability to manage the realistic & achievable with the aspirational long-term, as well as to translate long-term strategic direction into short-term goals, objectives, actions to be integrated across the organization.
- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally, quantitatively, and in writing to include delivering complex information in a clear, concise, and relevant manner.
- Ability to partner effectively with others and establish effective working relationships with senior leaders, management, co-workers, internal and external stakeholders, and the public through strong interpersonal, organizational and customer service abilities.
- Ability to address multiple projects simultaneously within established timeframes.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, to foster teamwork and to work effectively and collaboratively.
- Ability to work in a high-volume and fast-paced environment.
- Ability to collect and analyze research and data, establish and draw facts, insights and conclusions.
- Intellectually curious and habit of continuous learning.
- Ability to conduct regularly scheduled meetings with the SDS to communicate on-going work progress, issues, new developments and overall effectiveness.
Physical Demands: Work is light requiring lifting of computer equipment and involves typical office behaviors as well as field work that may expose one to various weather conditions and chemical irritants. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment: Work is performed in both an office setting and conducting field work, which may involve moderate discomforts which require special precautions, e.g., working around moving parts, carts or machinery, working with irritant chemicals, and various outdoor weather conditions.
Must be able to obtain and maintain eligibility for issuance of a NASA credential.
Must be able to pass a pre-employment background check and drug test.
Salary: A competitive salary will be offered including an annual bonus based on performance.