Senior Advisor - Industrial Workforce Mission Readiness

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. Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The AUKUS, Submarines, and Industrial Base Group (ASIG), within the Sea, Land, Air Division, provides timely, objective, analytic assessments that integrate technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis to Director Submarine Program directorates and key stakeholders surrounding submarine platform construction. Director Submarine Program unifies submarine platform procurement activities, which includes the Columbia-class SSBN program (a Major Defense Acquisition Program and the Navy's top acquisition priority), the Virginia-class SSN program, the new SSN-X program (developing the next generation attack submarine), and the AUKUS Integration and Acquisition Office, to bring improved capabilities to our undersea forces. Analysts and Engineers supporting Director Submarine Program will continue SPA's decades of support to the SSBN force, as well as supporting oversight of cutting-edge attack submarine construction, assisting in developing the design requirements for the SSN platform of the future, and helping plan and execute new and innovative strategies to strengthen the critical submarine shipbuilding industrial base. These are high-profile, major acquisition and manufacturing programs of significant importance to the future capabilities of the US Navy in an era of renewed strategic competition. #MC

MC

The Senior Advisor - Industrial Workforce Mission Readiness serves as the primary advisor to the Direct Reporting Program Manager Submarines (DRPM) on industrial workforce readiness. This individual will lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategy to expand and strengthen the submarine industrial base workforce. This includes identifying and mitigating workforce-related risks, fostering strategic partnerships with industry and educational institutions, and ensuring the long-term health and readiness of the skilled trades and technical workforce. They will also champion the Integrated Navy Plan for Execution, with a particular focus on advocating for the industrial base capabilities required to support submarine construction, maintenance, and modernization. Additional responsibilities include:

• Serve as the principal advisor to Senior Leaders at all levels including but not limited to the Secretary of the Navy, Under Secretary of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), the Secretary of War, Senior Leaders relevant staff members, and DRPM SUBS leadership on all industrial workforce matters, framing human capital as a criticalcomponentof national security infrastructure.

• Lead the development of analytical frameworks and metrics to assess the health and readiness of the workforce across the DIB, including public (e.g., naval shipyards, depots) and private sectors.

• Identifycritical workforce choke points, single points of failure, and at-risk skill sets within critical defense sectors (e.g., submarine construction, microelectronics,hypersonics).

• Provide data-driven risk assessments to leadership on how workforce deficits directlyimpactmajor acquisition program schedules and fleet/force readiness.

• Build and promote innovative partnerships between the DRPM SUBS, defense contractors, organized labor, community colleges, and vocational schools to build a robust, next-generation talent pipeline.

• Coordinate workforce initiatives across the military services and PEOs to deconflict efforts and share best practices.

Required Experience:

• Nationally recognized authority in industrial workforce development, large-scale human capital strategy, or manufacturing operations management, with a minimum of 15 years of senior-level executive experience.
• Demonstrated success leading workforce strategy for a large, complex industrial organization (e.g., a Fortune 500 manufacturing company, a major defense prime, or a national labor organization).
• Deep expertise in diagnosing workforce challenges and implementing successful, at-scale solutions for talent acquisition, technical training, and retention in a high-tech industrial environment.
• Proven ability to provide strategic counsel and influence decision-making at the C-suite, SES, or equivalent executive level.

Desired Experience:

• Executive leadership experience (e.g., COO, Head of Manufacturing, Chief Human Resources Officer) in the defense or shipbuilding.
• Experience negotiating and managing complex labor relations.
• Deep familiarity with the "Manufacturing USA" institutes, the National Skills Coalition, or similar public-private workforce development initiatives.
• An advanced degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, Human Resources, Business Administration, or Engineering.

Clearance:

• Must be able to maintain a DoW Top Secret security clearance, with potential to upgrade to Top Secret SCI.