DTRA Biologist - Diagnostics

About the position Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted. The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division (JOID) provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of Defense, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues. JOID assists the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) in developing leading edge technologies to counter WMD in support of Combatant Commands (CCMDs) and transitioning these technologies to military services CCMDs. SPA provides expertise across the full range of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) WMD, Counter Improvised Threat and Countering Threat Network technologies to support understanding, detection, identification, characterization, denial, control, disabling, defeating, disposing, safeguarding the force, managing consequences, and test and evaluation in support of military and civilian operations. We have an immediate need for a Biologist to provide onsite support out of Lorton, VA.

Responsibilities

• Provide Assistance and Advisory Support (A&AS) to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Chemical-Biological (CB) Defense Department Medical S&T Division – Diagnostics Branch (RD CBMD).
• Serve as a technical and scientific resource on projects and programs, providing analysis and expertise to DTRA’s Research and Development (RD) CB RD-CBM, with emphasis on the development of diagnostics to detect disease or medical conditions, including evaluating an individual’s state of health to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or its complications.
• Provide scientific and technical support to maximize decision-making space for chemical and biological diagnostic technology developments.
• Provide subject matter expertise in chemical and biological science and technology advancements and assist with the identification of warfighter needs and preferences for emerging diagnostic technologies.
• Analyze and evaluate current and emerging biological medical defense technologies, review proposals submitted through Broad Agency Announcements, and ensure the technical validity of proposals, reports, experimental techniques, scientific studies, and statements of work.
• Facilitate cross-communication among teams and coordinate technical, programmatic, and strategic responses to support division initiatives, often requiring independent initiative and background research when instructions are vague.
• Provide logistical planning and execution support for meetings with government clients and their performers while monitoring funding documentation and program metrics.
• Draft presentations, papers, and other programmatic documentation to articulate scientific approaches, assumptions, conclusions, and recommendations, and delivering technical presentations to internal and external audiences.
• Serve as a key contributor to the division, supporting leadership decision-making by assessing advancements, addressing capability gaps, and setting program, project, and product-level strategies and priorities aligned with program goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Bio-Sciences, Bio-Engineering, or a related field.
• 0–2 years of professional experience applying scientific principles and directly utilizing the degree.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proficiency in Office 365 suite of applications.
• Interim or Final Secret-level Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance.

Nice-to-haves

• Master’s degree or PhD in Biology or a related field, with more than 2 years of experience in academia or an applicable professional setting.
• Successful completion of an internship at a government agency, organization, or university that involved the application of scientific principles and participation in program reviews.
• Experience with biological medical defense in the context of the DoD’s research and development enterprise.
• Familiarity with the Chemical and Biological Defense Program (CBDP) and DoD acquisition processes.
• Prior military experience.
• Possession of, or eligibility to obtain and maintain, a DoD Top Secret security clearance with Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) eligibility.

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