Senior Resident Fellow, Spacepower Studies

Job Description

Job Description

The Mitchell Institute, an affiliate of the Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) is the only aerospace power-focused think tank in the nation’s capital. The Institute informs the national security debate, educates about the essential role of aerospace power, and cultivates aerospace-minded talent.

JOB SUMMARY:

As a member of the Mitchell Institute Spacepower Advantage Center of Excellence (MI-SPACE), the Senior Resident Fellow, Spacepower Studies is responsible for leading and developing areas of research specific to spacepower strategy, operational concepts, and technologies. The position also provides executive leadership regarding Mitchell Institute strategy, priorities, and events, as well as maintaining a constructive relationship with external partners and stakeholders. Through executing these functions, this position should strive to enhance spacepower strategy, operational concepts, policy, and budget outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Oversee and assess research initiatives for the Mitchell Institute (MI-SPACE) (approximately 65% of effort):

• Provide executive input on strategy and assist in developing resources to support Mitchell Institute research priorities.

• Lead and manage the requisite research to facilitate bodies of work developed by Mitchell Institute.

• Draft reports, opinion pieces, and issue briefings regarding space and national security topics; contribute to those written by colleagues in Mitchell Institute.

• Author and publish in relevant and prestigious journals, websites, and other mediums.

• Engage defense officials, Congress, the broader policy and budget community, and reporters to advance research objectives and findings.

• Provide data to facilitate broader Mitchell Institute and Air & Space Force Association strategic planning, event coordination, budget planning, communications efforts, and general enterprise cooperation.

Business Development for Mitchell Institute programs (approximately 25% of effort):

• Seek business opportunities for broader Mitchell Institute program portfolio.

• Develop and promote the profile and contacts of Mitchell Institute, AFA, and specific research bodies of work to further revenue and growth.

• Maintain necessary professional networks to facilitate issue expertise, subject matter currency, subject matter expert access, fundraising capability, and general mission execution.

• Share network access with Mitchell Institute staff to facilitate broader enterprise goals.

Support Mitchell Institute program events (approximately 5% of effort):

• Partner with the Mitchell Institute Operations Team and AFA Communications Team to facilitate event logistical arrangements (book event venue, catering arrangements, on-site coordination, media coordination, necessary speaker coordination, serve as official event host, etc.).

• Assist in developing event strategy and tactics; support individual event goals and overall standards of quality are met.

• Serve as a key point of contact during events to support speakers and attendees.

• Participate and assist in executing workshops, tabletop exercises tied to research projects, forums, and dinners.

• Be willing to host our digital events as needed (Schriever Spacepower Series, Aerospace Advantage, etc.)

Other (approximately 5% of effort):

• Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required.

• 10 years minimum experience in national security community, with a focus on Spacepower strategy, operational concepts, tactics, and technologies.

• Experience building and marinating relationships at the highest levels of government, private industry, and relevant research and policy organizations.

Education and Experience Preferred:

• Master’s degree in a related field preferred.

• Space Force or Air Force veteran with relevant operational experience status preferred.

Certifications & Licenses Required:

• None

Department Core Competencies:

• Technical Competencies (Research)

• Strategic Planning

• Decision-Making

• Business Acumen

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge of national defense, strategic deterrence, military space issues, and spacepower.

• Experience developing and ability to grow an extensive professional network in the space sector, national security community, and strategic deterrence cadre.

• Demonstrated ability to produce and publish written work in topic areas and formats appropriate to the role.

• Experience as, and continuing ability to convey a strong leadership presence in highly hierarchical organizations, including military and government.

• Experience with budget planning and execution.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Strong adaptability to stressful situations.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office with extra focus on Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Ability to be consistently thorough and demonstrate attention to detail in completing tasks.

• Demonstrated ability to complete, organize, and appropriately document activities.

• Demonstrated ability to be honest and ethical in work.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Works out of Air & Space Forces Association’s headquarters in Arlington, VA.

• Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, subject to modification based on the needs of each program or site.

• Operates in a professional office environment with travel to local offices, community partners, and events.

• Routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, copiers, and filing cabinets.

• Must be able to travel (5%).

Physical Demands:

The position requires sedentary work (sitting most of the time with no adverse environmental exposure) and occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The position also includes the following physical requirements:

• Movement. The employee in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.

• The employee in this position needs to be able to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery such as a copy machine and printer.

• The employee is required to communicate and hold verbal conversations with others by means of the spoken word. Employee must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.