
Acquisition Strategy Lead
Bedford, MAJob$178–190K/yrSeen 1w agoSeen in employer's feed 3 days ago
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At a glance
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Requirements
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Job overview
Applied Research Solutions seeks an Acquisition Strategy Lead at Hanscom AFB in Bedford, Massachusetts. The role supports DoD and Air Force acquisition and program management, including acquisition reporting, program reviews, senior-leader briefings, and division processes. The lead also oversees team performance and day-to-day customer interactions. The posting requires an active Top Secret clearance and U.S. citizenship, and lists an annual salary range of $178,000–$190,000.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Description
Applied Research Solutions is seeking an Acquisition Strategy Lead located at Hanscom AFB, in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Why Work with us?
Applied Research Solutions (ARS) is respected as a world-class provider of technically integrated solutions as we deliver premier talent and technology across our focused markets for unparalleled, continuous mission support. Awarded a Best Places to Work nominee since 2020, ARS recognizes that without our career- driven, loyal professionals, we would not be able to deliver state-of-the-art results for our mission partners. We firmly believe that prioritizing our employees is of the upmost importance. We provide a culture where our employees are challenged to meet their career goals and aspirations, while still obtaining a work/life balance. ARS employees are motivated through our industry competitive benefits package, our awards and recognition program, and personalized attention from ARS Senior Managers.
Responsibilities Will Include:
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The selected candidate will have comprehensive knowledge of principles, policies, and practices of systems acquisition and program management, as defined in DoDI 5000.02, as well as knowledge of roles and relationships within the DoD and the Air Force.
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Must have knowledge of qualitative and quantitative techniques for gathering, analyzing, and measuring the effectiveness, efficiency and productivity of acquisition programs.
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Knowledge of support activities that assist the program manager in assessing what programs are within schedule and cost baselines, be able to recommend viable solutions to problems, and pursue alternative courses of action.
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Must be able to effectively communicate orally and in writing, providing quality acquisition and program documentation (briefings, documents, plans, etc.).
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Individual shall be able to plan, research, analyze, and assess system acquisition in terms of development, production, and deployment of weapons systems and associated equipment; formulate plans, and recommend effective strategies in meeting cost, schedule, and performance objectives.
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Shall be able to support and develop acquisition reports, including statutory and regulatory reports (i.e. DAES, MAR, etc.).
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Support program management reviews, senior level meeting/reviews and IMP/IMS reviews.
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Support and develop various briefings/schedules of program status and acquisition tasks to senior management. Support program management reviews, senior level meeting/reviews, and IMP/IMS reviews.
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Possess the advanced knowledge, experience and recognized ability to be considered an expert in their technical/professional field, possesses the ability to perform tasks, and oversees the efforts of junior and mid-level personnel within the technical/professional discipline.
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Will demonstrate advanced knowledge of their technical/professional discipline as well as possess a comprehensive understanding and ability to apply associated standards, procedures, and practices in their area of expertise (Program Office, Enterprise and Staff Level Support interface).
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Individual must be able to establish and implement division processes to ensure efficient review, coordination, and approval of all division tasks, briefings, acquisition documentation, acquisition reporting, and organizational management.
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Individual must be able to interpret complex requests/tasks from higher level organizations (including PEO Staff, Air Staff, DoD Staff, and Congressional Staff) and construct, organize, and implement data calls across multiple functional disciplines within the division to efficiently/timely develop an appropriate response for senior leader review.
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Individual must have demonstrated capacity to consolidate/synthesize data inputs from multiple programs, data inputs from multiple functional disciplines, and independent research into coherent products to support senior leadership decision processes and products.
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Individual must be able to effectively delegate and manage multiple individuals to accomplish the responsibilities outlined above.
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Individual will perform other duties as assigned.
Task/Team Lead Responsibilities will include:
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Provide support and leadership to your team, be available and approachable. Oversees employee well-being, manages employee performance. Works with PM on disciplinary actions.
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Completes annual employee performance reviews as the Evaluator. Meets with the employees to discuss review.
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Works equipment, badges, accesses ahead of hire date. On day of hire-meets new hire, introduces them to the team, shows them to their workstation, helps get new hire settled and teaches them processes. Helps to acclimate new hire. Is available to assist with new hire tasks-timecards, etc.
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Ensuring timesheets are submitted on time. Using delegated authority as needed to submit timesheets on time. Responsible for ensuring timesheets are accurate and ensuring all Pay types/charge codes are used correctly. Approves PTO, consults HR with bereavement, jury duty, military leave and LWOP as it arises.
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Compile and edit MSR
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Prepare slides and present to Gov't if requested.
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Represents ARS on the day-to-day interactions with customer, receives customer feedback, communicates with customer on employee performance. If customer issue-notify PM immediately and work to solve issue.
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Whether new position or backfill, work with PM on new opportunity responsibilities and qualifications. Review resumes of candidates. Conduct/attend interviews (if applicable)
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Understand program/project finances, approve invoices, manage billable hours (if applicable)
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Oversee tasks related to contract execution
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Keep eye out for new opportunities, understand emerging customer requirements, sell the team and capabilities.
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Collaborate with ARS Proposal team on efforts related to your expertise (if applicable)
Job Experience:
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Must have extensive experience interacting with PEO Staff, Air Force and/or DoD Headquarter Staff.
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Highly desired to have held a position on Air Force Headquarter Staff, preferably at SAF/AQ and/or PEO Staff.
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Must have direct experience with acquisition reporting, including but not limited to DAES, MAR, Selective Acquisition Review (SAR), and GAO audits.
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Desirable to have experience in more than one acquisition discipline, especially program management and financial management.
Minimum Education/Experience Requirements:
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Advanced Degree (MA/MS) 15 years of experience in the respective technical/professional discipline being performed, 10 years of which must be in the DoD
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or a BA/BS degree and 20 years of experience in the respective technical/professional discipline being performed, 10 of which must be in the DoD
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or 25 years of directly related experience with proper certifications as described in the Functionally Aligned Job Descriptions, 10 of which must be in the DoD
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Active Top Secret Security Clearance
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Must be a US citizen
The annual salary range: $178k - $190k. Salary is dependent upon the role and associated responsibilities, candidate's experience, and qualifications to include education/training, and key skills.
All positions at Applied Research Solutions are subject to background investigations. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation including criminal history and identity check.
The contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.
This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans and requires affirmative action by covered contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.
How this job compares
Set against the 10,557 open Program Management jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 27, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$178–190K/yr
- Massachusetts median$126–200K/yr262 salary ranges
- US median$126–201K/yr7,615 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $184K, is 12% above the Massachusetts median midpoint ($164K) — in the middle half of Program Management salary ranges in Massachusetts.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 342 open Program Management jobs in Massachusetts and 10,557 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Massachusetts
- RTX Corporation39 open
- Amazon27 open
- Oracle18 open
- Experience
- This posting asks for at least 15 years of experience — more than three in four Program Management postings that state a minimum ask for (median 7 years, across 9,101 postings).
- Education
- 4,232 of the 10,557 open Program Management jobs (40%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 27, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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