The Department of State’s Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) funds, manages, and implements programs that seek to mitigate the threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) being developed and used by proliferator states and non-state actors against the United States or our allies. Among the efforts CTR oversees are counter-proliferation programs that address evolving national security threats, including the threats posed by proliferator states, such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, DPRK, Iran, and others.
GDIT seeks a candidate to serve as a Program Advisor in CTR at the Department of State headquarters to assist with developing, implementing, supporting, and coordinating non-proliferation capacity-building efforts. CTR seeks to counter the PRC’s efforts to acquire advanced and emerging WMD-applicable technologies through licit and illicit channels for military advantage through the PRC’s Military Civil Fusion (MCF) strategy. In particular, CTR focuses on preventing the PRC’s acquisition of advanced technologies of proliferation concern that are a priority for the PRC including artificial intelligence (AI), aerospace and space technologies, - biotechnology, cloud services, neuroscience, quantum computing and quantum sensing, and semiconductors. CTR engages a wide array of international partners from over 40 countries both directly and through expert implementing partners to conduct activities to build foreign partner capacity on topics such as: research security, including public-private sector research collaborations; Intellectual Property (IP) protection for academic, private sector, and financial institutions s; and cybersecurity to secure, detect, and defend their systems and WMD-enabling information and technology against malicious cyber activity.
The candidate must have outstanding written and oral communication skills, a strong interest in science diplomacy, significant experience in project management, and thrive in a fast-paced, small-team environment. Demonstrated success in both independent and team-driven efforts is required. Knowledge and experience in international security, program management, emerging technologies, or the PRC’s MCF strategy and methodology to acquire technologies is strongly preferred.
The candidate will be responsible for programmatic and technical oversight of assigned activities in several priority countries and will work closely with other Department of State and interagency entities, counterparts in foreign governments, technical experts, and other stakeholders to develop and execute program activities. The candidate will also be responsible for developing programmatic tools to support relevant U.S. foreign policy objectives and project implementation, and coordinating with other U.S. Government departments and agencies, as needed.
CTR’s programmatic efforts to counter the PRC’s MCF strategy have a global impact, with current activities in Africa, Central Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. CTR’s C-MCF programmatic efforts continue to evolve in response to the international security environment and seek to reinforce U.S. national security objectives in this dynamic environment. To this end, we welcome candidates who can develop and implement innovative strategies to address some of the most pressing nonproliferation and related national security challenges facing the U.S., including advanced and emerging biosecurity threats from both state and nonstate actors.
Duties and responsibilities under this opportunity include, but are not limited to:
· Coordinate closely with a cadre of technical experts and government stakeholders to implement threat-reduction projects (e.g., trainings, workshops, etc.) that build international partner capacity to protect advanced and emerging technologies from PRC acquisition and advance U.S. policies pertaining to countering WMD and other proliferation threats;
· Manage a diverse portfolio comprised of capacity building projects and policy issues focused on mitigating threats posed by the PRC’s pursuit of WMD-relevant and emerging technologies (at the interagency and/or international level) and oversee execution of a related foreign assistance budget;
· Identify and execute innovative approaches that improve CTR's threat reduction programs;
· Provide written and oral briefings to leadership in the Department of State, or across the U.S. Government on ISN/CTR programmatic activities;
· Develop and enact engagement strategies to counter proliferation of WMD;
· Lead annual strategy development for the portfolio, review threat reduction proposals, and provide funding recommendations to decision makers;
· Participate in domestic and foreign meetings as required, and additional tasks in support of CTR at home or abroad as assigned; and
· Cooperate with partners in the U.S. interagency to align CTR engagements with other U.S. Government nonproliferation programs.
Requirements:
· The ability to acquire and maintain a Secret-level U.S. Government security clearance is required. A current active clearance is helpful, but not a requirement.
· Experience in international security, program management, emerging technologies, or the PRC’s MCF strategy and methodology to acquire technologies is strongly preferred.
· Bachelor’s degree (Graduate-level education strongly preferred) with a minimum of 8 years of experience (6 years with a graduate degree) in the areas of nonproliferation, emerging technologies, and related programmatic efforts are preferred.
· The candidate must possess and demonstrate outstanding communication, diplomacy, teamwork, and project management skills.
· International travel is required.
· Foreign language skills (including but not limited to Mandarin and/or Cantonese) are a plus.
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