Job Description

ECS is seeking a Front Office SETA - BTO to work in our Arlington, VA (hybrid work schedule) office. Please Note: This position is contingent upon contract award.

ECS seeks a Science, Engineering, and Technical Advisory (SETA) candidate to provide support to the leadership within DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office (BTO) The Front Office SETA provides technical and/or programmatic assistance to the Office Director (OD), Deputy Director (ODD), and/or Assistant Director for Program Management (ADPM). The role involves coordinating office-wide strategic and/or administrative initiatives to ensure alignment with DARPA BTO’s core mission of developing breakthrough technologies for the Department of War (DOW)

Essential responsibilities may include:

• Strategic Planning: Assist leadership in the development and update of the annual BTO Strategic Plan, identifying national security challenges and emerging research opportunities.
• New Program Assessment: Conduct technology and military needs analyses to evaluate the technical merit, feasibility, and military potential of new program concepts.
• Budgetary Coordination: Support the development of Research and Development Descriptive Summaries (R-Docs), Program Objective Memorandum (POM) submissions, and Budget Estimate Submissions (BES).
• Regulatory Oversight: Assist in the execution of Human Subjects Research (HSR) and Animal Use (ASR) activities in accordance with DOW policies and procedures.
• Business Process Management: Identify process inefficiencies and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to optimize internal office functions and program tracking.
• Acquisition Support: Maintain the office-wide Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) and monitor the acquisition lifecycle from solicitation through contract award.
• Technical Outreach: Coordinate technical workshops, senior advisory panels, and site visits to support office-wide research goals and recruitment of program manager candidates.
• Briefing Development: Prepare technical briefings, point papers, and reports for the DARPA Director’s Office (DIRO), senior DOW leadership, and Congressional staff.

Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a DoD Secret clearance.
• 3+ years of experience in technical research, program management, or high-level technical advisory services.
• Exceptional ability to translate complex biological concepts into clear, actionable briefings for non-technical senior leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and respond to urgent "Front Office taskers" and data calls within short timelines.