Management and Program Specialist 2

Location: North Charleston, South Carolina

Date of Availability:  March – April 2023

Overview:  Catalyst Solutions is looking for management and program specialists with experience in project coordination and planning in support of defense acquisition programs. This position requires a person who is driven to excel in a fast-paced, dynamic, project-oriented environment collaborating with a team of multi-disciplinary professionals.

Security Clearance Requirement:  Must be able to obtain and maintain a secret security clearance.

Education Requirements:

• High School diploma or GED.

Experience Requirements:  Experience requirements may be fulfilled simultaneously.

• Six (6) years of direct work experience with the use of information technology to develop and/or integrate complex data to support of three (3) of the following five (5) areas:
  • Requirements analysis;
  • Knowledge analysis;
  • Project management procedures including out year budgeting for programs involving OMN, FMS, OPN, SCN, and RDT&E monies;
  • Development of contract schedules, out year planning and POM budgets, compliance planning and program planning;
  • Knowledge of DoD standards and regulations like the FAR, DFAR, OPM requirements, and other business related regulations.

Specific Performance Requirements:

• Assist with project planning and management support, to include: financial planning and milestones for tracking research and development program requirements.
• Provide support for the development of project plans, milestones, budgets, schedules, risk management, and program reviews, to include: the organization, finalization and distribution of monthly status reports, business unit analytics, customized reporting and any pertinent meeting minutes and action items that are originated.
• Assist project manager in financial support to include planning, projecting, tracking, maintaining, and reporting of financial issues.
• Participate in program meetings such as integrated product team (IPT) meetings and working groups. Evaluate the information presented. Formulate and prepare narrative observations and recommendations.
• Provide meeting support to include coordination, preparation, hosting, minutes, and action item tracking.
• Prepare responses to program taskers and send draft responses to the Government client for approval.

General Performance Requirements:

• Develop budget spreadsheets and financial planning documentation.
• Track and update the status of commitments, obligations, and expenditures of prior and current year funds.
• Identify financial status by comparing and analyzing actual results with plans and forecasts.
• Reconcile transactions by comparing and correcting data.
• Maintain database by entering, verifying, and backing up data.
• Recommend actions by analyzing and interpreting data and making comparative analyses.
• Report on financial performance and prepare for regular leadership reviews.
• Participate in meetings, assess meeting topics, contribute technical expertise, document relevant meeting content, formulate recommendations, and demonstrate initiative recording, performing, and/or tracking action items.
• Formulate concepts and plans into professional documents with narrative, clear visual graphics, PowerPoint slides, and compliant formatting for presentations.
• Identify mission goals on projects, and review practices to ensure appropriate goals are prioritized and met.
• Review, understand, and implement organizational policies and guidelines on projects and deliverables.
• Facilitate meetings among stakeholders to achieve meeting objectives.
• Observe, receive, and otherwise obtain information from all relevant sources.

 Professional Requirements:

• Be technically proficient and stay relevant in your work and technical domain through continuous learning.
• Be professional, to include but not limited to courtesy, attire, behavior, speech, tone, and attitude.
• Be productive and responsible with information-based work. Identify, review, develop, collect, organize, synthesize, share, report, and maintain information relevant to assigned tasks.
• Deliver quality products and services that exceed the defined acceptable quality levels (AQLs).
• Communicate effectively to include narrative, correspondence, conversation, and presentations.
• Anticipate work requirements and take the initiative to accomplish them.
• Actively identify ways to help others in our client and corporate community (service orientation).
• Strengthen client relationships and confidence by applying best practices for consulting.
• Work cheerfully, collaborate effectively, and be productive as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• As a Catalyst Solutions team member, represent the company in alignment with corporate values and policies, participate in corporate community, and support corporate objectives.

Skills and Abilities:

• Critical Thinking: Apply logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches.
• Problem Solving: Identify problems, collect information, develop/evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Time Management: Manage your own time, the time of others, and the expectations of others.
• Exhibit strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to read, synthesize, and apply a high volume of information in a short period of time.
• Ability to adapt and learn something new in a rapid, independent manner.
• Ability to listen to and assimilate with client and team needs.
• Ability to manage multiple, concurrent assignments.
• Ability to learn from constructive feedback in a quality focused environment.
• Ability to manage work/track deadlines.
• Ability to work successfully in both independent and team environments.
• Ability to type/keyboard (40+ words per minute) and take detailed meeting notes.

Tools and Technology:

• Be proficient in the daily use of the following applications and features:
  • MS Excel (data tabulation/organization/presentation, pivot tables, charts)
  • MS Word (formal narrative documentation)
  • MS PowerPoint (slide presentations)
  • MS One Note (meeting minutes and note-taking)
  • MS SharePoint (content sharing, collaborative workspace)
  • MS Teams (communication, virtual meetings, collaborative workspace)
• Ability to rapidly learn and produce work in a new software or web-based tool or application.

Qualifications and Certifications:

• DAWIA Certification for Financial Management is an asset.
• Defense Acquisition University (DAU) courses are an asset, especially in the FM domain.