Operations Lead

Overview

REI Systems' mission is to deliver reliable, innovative technology solutions that advance Federal clients' missions and exceed their expectations. Our technologists and consultants are passionate about solving complex challenges that impact millions of lives. We take a Mindful Modernization® approach in delivering our services, including application modernization, grants management, case management systems, government data analytics, and advisory services. This approach, the REI Way, ensures mission impact by aligning our clients' strategic objectives with measurable outcomes through people, processes, and technology.


We offer the same commitment to our employees by providing professional development, meaningful projects, and flexibility to spend time with family and friends. We believe employees are at their best when fulfilled in both their professional careers and their personal lives. Learn more at


Employees voted REI Systems a Washington Post Top Workplace in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025!

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Program Oversight
Lead daily operations for a large federal IT program ensuring delivery excellence, timeliness, and contract compliance.
Oversee operational workflows, governance processes, performance metrics, and reporting.
Partner with Program Manager, Technical Leads, and client stakeholders to resolve issues and maintain alignment with strategic priorities.
Develop and maintain SOPs, operational dashboards, weekly/monthly reporting, and KPIs.
Coordinate resource planning, forecasting, and staffing alignment across agile teams and workstreams.
Ensure continuity of operations, risk mitigation, and escalation management.
Oversee onboarding/offboarding processes, system access requests, training plans, and compliance documentation.
Introduce AI-enhanced tools for workforce planning, capacity forecasting, and real-time operational monitoring.

Contract, Compliance, & Governance
Serve as the key point of contact supporting contract administration, SLAs, and deliverable tracking.
Ensure operational documentation meets agency standards, audit requirements, and contractual expectations.
Support financial governance: reporting, burn rate tracking, and budget alignment.
Manage risk logs, action items, compliance checklists, and audit responses.
Leverage AI tools to support compliance automation, audit readiness, document generation, and anomaly detection.

Security Operations & Compliance Requirements
Apply FISMA and NIST 800-53 frameworks to system architecture, development, evaluation, and integration.
Develop and maintain IT Security Plans and security documentation.
Provide vulnerability scan reports and assist in remediation tracking.
Deliver POA&M updates and corrective action documentation.
Review/update SSPs, Contingency Plans, user access reviews, and SoD matrices.
Provide security and role-based training documentation.
Support FISMA assessments, penetration test coordination, configuration management, and incident response documentation.
Maintain ISAs, MOAs, ROEs, and operational security policies.
Evaluate and integrate AI-based tools for security event analysis, predictive risk scoring, threat-hunting assistance, and compliance automation-consistent with federal security guidelines.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement
Lead cross-functional teams including analysts, engineers, developers, and security specialists.
Serve as primary liaison to client leadership for operational updates, issue resolution, security deliverables, and performance metrics.
Lead recurring client meetings, operational reviews, and strategy sessions.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, customer service, accountability, and operational excellence.
Champion responsible AI and automation adoption across teams, including training, upskilling, and process integration.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Strategy
Identify operational bottlenecks and implement process improvements for efficiency and quality.
Develop performance dashboards, automated reporting, and workflow optimization strategies.
Drive operational readiness for audits, assessments, and program reviews.
Design and promote AI-enabled operational enhancements such as predictive analytics, automated workflow triage, intelligent documentation, and improved decision support.

DevSecOps, Cloud, AI, and Automation
Knowledge of CI/CD, DevSecOps, and operational automation.
Understanding of Change Management processes and best practices.
Experience with cloud platforms and mixed datacenter environments.
Understanding of networking concepts and technologies.
Drive cloud enhancements and automation initiatives.
Lead efforts to identify, test, implement, and scale AI-driven capabilities to reduce cost, accelerate delivery, and increase reliability of operational processes, procedures, or assets.
Collaborate with technical teams to incorporate machine learning, generative AI, and automation into operational tooling and program workflows-while ensuring compliance with federal AI governance standards.

Qualifications

10+ years of experience in operations management, program operations, IT service delivery, or federal IT environments.
Deep understanding of FISMA, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-37, and federal security compliance frameworks.
Ability to lead cross-functional operational initiatives and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with the ability to present complex information to leadership.
Experience managing operational KPIs, performance dashboards, and process documentation.
CISSP or equivalent security certification preffered.
Experience working in Agile/Scrum environments strongly preferred.
Federal government experience is a plus.


Interest in emerging AI operational tools, responsible AI principles, and automation best practices.

Desired Competencies

Strong problem-solving skills and ability to handle escalations calmly and effectively.
Demonstrated ability to drive accountability and improve team operations.
Experience with governance boards, audit readiness, and security documentation.
Ability to translate technical information into clear operational guidance for leadership and stakeholders.


Educational Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Operations Management, or related field.


Clearance: Eligible to obtain a public trust clearance.

Location: Hybrid (2 days per week or as needed in the REI Sterling Office)

EEO Statement: REI Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In our workplace, we seek, we welcome, and respect diversity in all of its forms.

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