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Front Office SETA Lead - BTO

EcsArlington, VAMay 21st, 2026
ECS is seeking a Front Office SETA Lead - 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 successful candidate will serve as a functional lead for all Front Office SETAs under this contract. The Front Office SETA will also provide 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.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.