VP/Director Strategic Planning & Operations Improvement

Clearance Required: Secret

Job Code: 5032

Location: CHANTILLY, VA N/A US

Travel Involved: 20-30%

Job Type: Full Time

Education: Masters Degree or Equivalent 

Skills: Administrative Support -> Executive Level

Category: Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical,Computers, Software,Consulting Services,Education, Training, and Library,Government and Policy,Information Technology,Law Enforcement, and Security,Military,Sales

Position Summary:

A.   Position Summary

The VP/Director Strategic Planning is responsible for AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement line of business across all geographic areas where AMERICAN SYSTEMS goes to market. This position has profit and loss responsibility for the line of business and other management responsibilities including, but not limited to, preparation of budgets; providing engagement project management and direct professional services to clients; establishing go-to-market strategies for the Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement offerings in collaboration with other AMERICAN SYSTEMS service offerings; establishing and managing strategic relationships with business partners; monitoring and providing management reporting on the consulting and business development activities of the various AMERICAN SYSTEMS offices or business units; actively identifying and procuring business opportunities; preparing proposals; participating in oral presentations and subsequent engagement monitoring and customer service activities; developing the line of business methodologies and AMERICAN SYSTEM’s consulting capabilities in Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement; and, assisting in the development of appropriate levels of business and consultant performance metrics, including chargeability, utilization targets and consultant professional development. 

B.   Go-to-Market Strategy Development and Execution

A critical element of the VP/Director Strategic Planning position is to collaborate with: Government Consulting VP/Directors, Commercial counterparts, and the Strategic Business Area (SBA) Leaders accountable to develop and execute a go-to-market strategy that implements AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ business strategy. 

This position is intended to operate across both Government and Commercial sectors. The initial focus will be to collaborate with our Commercial business to develop a revenue stream that will off-set start-up costs.  Expansion into our Government business will require high degrees of collaboration with AMERICAN SYSTEMS’s market directors, key client and business development leads. It will also require  acquisition of talent in the local market-place of individual(s) that are well respected SME’s in the domain and agency areas of Government targeted.  These individuals should have relationships that will provide for initial contract acquisition.

This strategy has several distinct thrusts requiring unique expertise and relationships in the following areas:

·         Provide leadership in strategic business planning

·         Provide leadership in Six Sigma operational improvement implementations

·         Provide leadership in supporting government ERP implementations

·         Collaborate with Government Consulting VP/Directors in the areas of Information Technology Optimization (CMMI, ITIL, and other models)  and Identity Management and Information Assurance

·         Collaborate with our Commercial process improvement practices. Work with AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ Commercial current project management on-site to define new Strategic Planning projects to meet customer needs.

·         Communicate brand awareness through appropriate media for Strategic Offerings as an integral part of AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ vision, mission, and purpose.

·         Create and execute plans and approach to sell new Strategic Planning projects that leverage relationships with AMERICAN SYSTEMS’ existing client base in the Strategic Business Areas of C4ISR, Acquisition & Logistics, Readiness, National Security, Citizen Safety, and Other Government. 

·         Create and execute plans and approach to leverage both personal and individual relationships both within government and the integrator community to open new doors to new customers and integrator relationships in the Strategic Business Areas (above).

·         Act as a resource base and support local office managers across AMERICAN SYSTEMS in identifying Strategic Planning consulting opportunities, developing new relationships, responding to RFP’s, and working with integrators.

C.   Responsibilities

The VP/Director Strategic Planning responsibilities are listed below.  Additional specific responsibilities for the position are detailed in the AMERICAN SYSTEMS Delegation of Authority Matrix contained in SPP-1 and in approved Program Management Plans.

1.    Assist with the branding, and promotion of all AMERICAN SYSTEMS Service Offerings.

2.    Lead in the development of Strategic Planning and Performance Improvement related service methodologies, targeted marketing and sales materials.

3.    Apply knowledge of Strategic Planning, business strategy, business operations, process analysis, design, improvement, and to solve client needs.

4.    Manage and lead clients through complex programs utilizing effective management of business value, business processes, risk, customer issues, communication, knowledge, and resources.

5.    Manage business development activities, the sales cycle of each engagement as well as existing client follow-on work potential.

6.    Establish and manage strategic relationships with business partners.

7.    Contribute to and manage to AMERICAN SYSTEMS strategic plan and budget.

8.    Participate in Government Consulting Services strategic planning processes and implementation.

9.    Assist in the preparation of customer project budgets and work plans utilizing all attendant tools for effective project management.

10.  Mentor, evaluate and train consultants on proper methodology and best practices related to Strategic Planning, Process Improvement and general consulting skills.

11.  Attend bidders’ conferences, participate in oral presentations and prepare proposals.

12.  Prepare for and participate in planned trade show meetings and conferences.

13.  Initiate Program Management Plans prepared in accordance with company policy, contract agreements and proposals in support of AMERICAN SYSTEMS business execution model.  Ensure plan updates in accordance with contract or proposal modifications.  Ensure GOVWIN information in initiate and kept current as required.

14.  Ensure that the right solution is developed to meet or exceed contract requirements and AMERICAN SYSTEMNS quality standards as stated in SPP-16, and is delivered on time.

15.  Provide program status against plans (revenue, profit, direct labor, indirect loadings, etc.)  Establish and track the program against schedule, budget, and profit objectives using Work Breakdown Structure, Cost Breakdown Structure, ETC/EAC estimates, Earned Value and other tools to monitor and report work progress.

16.   Promote the AMERICAN SYSTEMS work ethic and business practices

17.   Other duties as assigned.

D.   Knowledge and Skills Required:

The VP/Director Strategic Planning is expected to be a subject matter expert (SME) with demonstrated experience in facilitating how federal government agencies respond to new mandates and evolutionary influences. These include: The President's Management Agenda; Government Performance and Results Act; OMB Program Assessment Rating (PART); Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act; OMB Circular A-76; and other Government reinvention initiatives such as benchmarking and streamlining.

Additionally, the candidate should also have expertise in consulting services, approaches, methodologies best practices and tools related to the following knowledge areas:

Strategic Planning & Operations Improvement

Required Knowledge Areas

•  Strategic Planning Workshops

•  Modernization Programs

•  Situational Analysis

•  Lean Six Sigma Operation Improvement

•  Organization Process Management

•  Program Office Development & Planning

•  Organization and Process Innovation

•  Strategic Decision Support Facilitation

•  Environmental Analysis

•  ERP Program Implementations

•  Mission, Vision, Values

•  Supporting Master Planning

•  Goals, Objectives, Targets

•  Developing Concepts of Operations

•  Organization Design

•  Organization &  Mission  Alignment

•  Workforce Capacity Planning

•  Change Management

The VP/Director Strategic Planning is expected to become a recognized leader in the Federal marketplace with a reputation for consulting at the highest levels of government.  Additional knowledge and skills include:

·         Superior executive presence and presentation skills

·         Superior oral and written communication skills

·         Demonstrated leadership skills in building a consulting practice (planning, organizing, leading and controlling) and mentoring staff.

·         Proven experience in business development within professional services industry indicative of large-scale consulting experience.

·         Adept at designing and implementing Information Technology enabled business solutions.

·         Proven resource in defining systems strategy, developing systems requirements and implementing practical business solutions under multiple deadlines;

·         Ability to understand the big picture of a business situation.

·         Ability to collaborate with clients, identifies follow-on opportunities, and has a strong desire to excel.

·         Ability to drive innovation within the organization.

·         Excellent knowledge of people management skills, particularly influence management and conflict resolution

·         Very high attention to detail and follow-through skills.

·         Strong organizational skills and the ability to work on multiple, complex projects in diverse areas.

·         Understanding in the implementation and execution of AMERICAN SYSTEMS quality standards in accordance with SPP-16 and ISO 9001.

·         Demonstrated application skills with the tools required to manage and operate a business entity (computers and software applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, MS Project), communication devices, accounting systems, CRM, etc.

·         Ability to assess, interpret and apply government and industry standards, law, and corporate policy & procedures to the management and execution of engagements and in the management and discipline of employees

·         Stellar work ethic, passion for excellence.

E.    Education and Experience

1.    Bachelors or Masters in Government Policy, Change Management or other area of technical expertise

2.    Masters in Business Administration preferred

3.    15 years+ of progressive professional responsibility within consulting industry

4.    Big 5 experience preferred

F.    Performance Measurements for VP/Director Strategic Planning

Increase shareholder value by predictably growing identified AMERICAN SYSTEMS value drivers to include: 

·         Revenue greater than 15% CAGR

·         Profit EBIT Margin (%) greater than 15%

·         DSO less than 60 days

·         Chargeability of Strategic Planning service line consultants

·         Project quality and customer satisfaction

·         Cross-Selling with Other AMERICAN SYSTEMS service lines

·         Discretionary