Careers
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension LLC is seeking a detail-oriented, methodical, and collaborative QA Analyst / UAT Support Analyst to support a mission-critical, enterprise-scale student information system used daily by thousands of educators and administrators across New York City.
This role is essential to ensuring that system enhancements, defect fixes, and integrations meet defined functional, non-functional, security, accessibility, and performance requirements prior to production deployment. The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in manual and automated testing, UAT coordination, defect management, and cross-functional collaboration within Agile or hybrid delivery environments.
This position is well-suited for a professional who enjoys working at the intersection of technology, process quality, and end-user experience, and who understands the importance of accuracy, compliance, and reliability when supporting systems that impact public-sector operations at scale.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The QA Analyst / UAT Support Analyst will support the planning, execution, documentation, and validation of testing activities across multiple OASIS release cycles. This includes functional testing, regression testing, integration testing, accessibility validation, performance testing coordination, and direct support of User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
The role requires close coordination with developers, business analysts, project managers, and DOE stakeholders to ensure that all enhancements and fixes meet acceptance criteria, align with DOE policies, and are ready for production release.
The ideal candidate is a self-driven problem solver who can work effectively in a fast-paced, multi-release environment, manage multiple testing priorities, and proactively identify risks, defects, and gaps before they impact users. Familiarity with enterprise systems, secure data environments, and public-sector quality standards is essential.
Position Responsibilities and Activities
The QA Analyst / UAT Support Analyst is expected to perform the following activities (not all are daily, but are governed by release cycles and contract hours):
- Develop detailed test plans, test cases, and test scripts aligned to functional and non-functional requirements
- Execute functional, regression, integration, and system testing across OASIS modules
- Coordinate and support User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with DOE stakeholders and end users
- Validate that system enhancements meet defined acceptance criteria and business requirements
- Document test results, defects, risks, and remediation status in approved tracking tools
- Log, track, and manage defects through resolution, retesting, and closure
- Collaborate with developers and technical leads to reproduce issues and validate fixes
- Support accessibility and usability testing in alignment with DOE and WCAG standards
- Participate in Agile ceremonies including sprint planning, backlog grooming, and release readiness reviews
- Review requirements and design documentation to identify test scenarios and potential risks early
- Contribute to release acceptance reports and test summary documentation
- Ensure testing activities comply with DOE security, privacy, and data protection requirements
Job Features
| Job Category | IT, Quality Assurance |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience | Demonstrated experience with manual testing and UAT coordination | Hands-on experience with defect tracking and test management tools | Experience working with large-scale, integrated systems in secure environments | Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | 5 years of experience supporting QA and testing activities for enterprise applications | Experience creating and executing test plans, test cases, and test scripts | Experience supporting public-sector or education systems |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Familiarity with Agile or hybrid SDLC environments | Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Exposure to .NET, SQL Server, Angular, or similar enterprise technology stacks | Experience with test automation tools and frameworks | Familiarity with performance testing and accessibility testing practices | Experience supporting systems with high user volumes and peak usage periods | Knowledge of DOE, state, or municipal IT standards and compliance requirements | ISTQB or other QA-related certifications |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to successfully pass NYC DOE background checks and security screening | Compliance with NYC DOE Third Party Information Security Requirements | Must be legally authorized to work in the United States | Public Trust–level suitability or equivalent DOE clearance (as required by the client) |
Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Senior Business Analyst to support a mission-critical, large-scale enterprise application environment serving thousands of users and complex stakeholder groups. This role is essential to ensuring that evolving business, policy, and operational needs are accurately translated into clear, testable, and actionable requirements that support system enhancements, operational continuity, and regulatory compliance.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience working at the intersection of business operations and technology, particularly within public sector or highly regulated environments. This individual will play a critical role in gathering, validating, and managing functional and non-functional requirements across multiple releases, ensuring alignment with stakeholder priorities, technical constraints, accessibility standards, and security requirements.
This position is well suited for a candidate who thrives in complex environments, can navigate ambiguity, and is comfortable working closely with project managers, technical leads, developers, QA teams, and government stakeholders to deliver high-quality outcomes.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Senior Business Analyst serves as a primary liaison between business stakeholders and the technical delivery team. The role focuses on understanding current-state processes, identifying gaps, defining future-state requirements, and ensuring solutions meet operational, policy, and user needs.
This role requires a detail-oriented and analytical professional who can manage competing priorities, anticipate downstream impacts of requirements decisions, and maintain traceability throughout the system development lifecycle. The Senior Business Analyst is expected to support requirements analysis across planning, design, development, testing, and deployment phases, while ensuring compliance with client standards related to accessibility, data security, and system integration.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to independently drive requirements activities with minimal supervision.
Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities
The Senior Business Analyst will:
- Elicit functional and non-functional requirements through stakeholder interviews, workshops, document reviews, and system analysis
- Analyze existing business processes, workflows, and system functionality to identify gaps, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
- Document clear, concise, and testable requirements including business requirements, functional specifications, user stories, use cases, and acceptance criteria
- Validate requirements with business owners, product stakeholders, and technical teams to ensure shared understanding and approval
- Maintain requirements traceability matrices linking business needs to design, development, and testing artifacts
- Collaborate with project managers to support release planning, scope management, and change control activities
- Support solution design discussions by clarifying business rules, data requirements, and integration needs
- Assist QA teams by reviewing test plans, validating test cases, and supporting user acceptance testing activities
- Ensure requirements align with accessibility standards, security policies, and regulatory obligations
- Prepare and deliver briefing materials, status updates, and documentation for client leadership and governance forums
- Contribute to knowledge transfer activities and the development of standardized templates, processes, and documentation
Job Features
| Job Category | Business and Management, Project Management |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, Computer Science, or a related field | Demonstrated experience supporting large-scale enterprise applications with multiple stakeholders and integrations | Experience supporting public sector, education, or other regulated environments is strongly preferred | CBAP, CCBA, PMI-PBA, or Agile BA certification |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum of 8 years of experience performing business analysis in IT or systems implementation environments | Proven ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong experience with requirements elicitation, documentation, validation, and traceability | Familiarity with SDLC and Agile methodologies | Experience working with tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Azure DevOps, Jira, or similar platforms |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Master’s degree in a related discipline | Experience with accessibility requirements (e.g., WCAG, Section 508) | Familiarity with identity management, data privacy, and information security considerations | Experience supporting modernization or enhancement of legacy systems | Prior experience working in hybrid or distributed delivery teams |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to successfully pass a client background investigation | Public Trust–level suitability or equivalent client-mandated clearance | U.S. work authorization required |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension is seeking a detail-oriented Research & Project Support Analyst to provide targeted analytical and documentation support to the Strategic Planning & Stakeholder Engagement Lead. This role is designed for a professional who excels at research, synthesis, and document production and can operate efficiently in a fast-paced, milestone-driven environment.
This role is critical for ensuring that background materials, stakeholder inputs, and data sources are accurately reflected in the final Strategic Plan while allowing the Lead to remain focused on facilitation and strategy development.
Role Summary
The Research & Project Support Analyst provides analytical, writing, and formatting support across the strategic planning lifecycle. The analyst reviews planning documents, supports data synthesis, assists with metric development, and contributes to drafting and polishing report sections and presentation materials.
The ideal candidate is highly organized, responsive, and capable of producing clean, professional deliverables with minimal supervision.
Expected Activities
- Review and summarize background materials, including the Consolidated Plan, Plan 2040, and Impact Reports
- Support synthesis of stakeholder interview notes and engagement findings
- Conduct limited desk research related to funding trends and best practices
- Assist with drafting and editing sections of the Strategic Plan
- Support development and refinement of performance metrics
- Format and proofread the final Strategic Plan and executive presentation
- Track action items and support internal project coordination
Job Features
| Job Category | Data Analysis and Analytics, Research and Analysis |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Planning, Social Sciences, or a related field | bility to work independently and meet deadlines |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | 3–5 years of experience in research, analysis, or project support roles | Strong writing, editing, and document formatting skills |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting strategic planning or program evaluation efforts | Familiarity with nonprofit or local government environments | Experience synthesizing qualitative stakeholder input |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension LLC is seeking a senior-level Strategic Planning Lead / Principal Consultant to serve as the single accountable lead and primary point of contact for the development of Arundel Community Development Services, Inc.’s (ACDS) five-year Strategic Plan.
This role is mission-critical to the success of the engagement. The selected individual will lead the end-to-end strategic planning process, including stakeholder engagement, mission and vision refinement, strategic priority development, performance metric definition, and executive-level facilitation with ACDS leadership and Board members.
The ideal candidate brings deep experience supporting nonprofit, quasi-governmental, or public-sector organizations, with demonstrated success translating complex stakeholder input into clear, actionable strategic direction. This role is best suited for a candidate who is equally strong in strategy formulation, facilitation, synthesis, and executive communication.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Strategic Planning Lead is responsible for owning and delivering all core outputs of the ACDS Strategic Plan effort. This includes designing and facilitating a targeted stakeholder engagement process (approximately 15 stakeholders plus Board engagement), reviewing and incorporating insights from the County’s recently completed 5-Year Consolidated Plan, and producing a concise, implementation-ready Strategic Plan and executive presentation.
The ideal candidate is:
- Highly organized and self-directed
- Comfortable operating in an ambiguous, strategy-driven environment
- Skilled at anticipating issues, structuring solutions, and managing competing priorities
- Experienced in facilitating discussions with senior leadership and Boards
- Able to translate qualitative input into measurable goals and performance metrics
This role requires strong judgment, discretion, and the ability to represent Ascension professionally as the face of the engagement with ACDS.
Tools and processes used include: Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Teams), structured interview and facilitation guides, strategic planning frameworks, and performance measurement methodologies.
Position Day-to-Day / Period-of-Performance Activities
- Lead development of the overall strategic planning approach, workplan, and timeline
- Design and facilitate stakeholder interviews, working sessions, and Board discussions
- Review and synthesize existing planning documents, including the Anne Arundel County 5-Year Consolidated Plan
- Develop updated mission and vision statements aligned with organizational priorities and funding realities
- Define strategic goals and priorities for the five-year planning horizon
- Design and document performance metrics to measure organizational progress and success
- Author and synthesize all written deliverables, including the Strategic Plan and one-page executive summary
- Prepare and deliver executive-level presentations to ACDS Board and staff
- Serve as primary liaison with ACDS leadership, ensuring alignment, responsiveness, and quality
- Manage scope, schedule, and quality to ensure on-time and on-budget delivery
Job Features
| Job Category | Project Management |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or a related field | Demonstrated experience facilitating executive leadership and Board-level discussions | Professional certifications such as PMP, Prosci, or strategic planning credentials |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 10 years of experience leading strategic planning efforts for nonprofit, public-sector, or quasi-governmental organizations | Proven ability to develop mission, vision, strategic priorities, and performance metrics |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Exceptional written and verbal communication skills | Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and virtual facilitation tools |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Master’s degree in a related discipline | Experience supporting housing, community development, or social services organizations | Familiarity with HUD-funded programs or community development planning | Experience incorporating DEI considerations into strategic planning |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Must be able to pass a standard background check consistent with nonprofit client requirements |
Ascension is seeking an experienced Training & Transition Lead to plan, design, and execute user training and operational transition activities for a municipal website replacement initiative. This role is critical to ensuring City staff are confident, capable, and self-sufficient in managing the new website and content management system (CMS) at project closeout.
The ideal candidate brings demonstrated experience leading training and transition efforts for government or public-sector digital platforms, with a strong understanding of adult learning principles, change enablement, and technology adoption. This individual will play a pivotal role in translating a newly delivered website into a sustainable, day-to-day operational asset for City staff.
This position is well-suited for candidates with expertise in CMS training, knowledge transfer, and operational readiness who thrive in environments that require clarity, empathy, and structured communication. The role directly supports the project’s success by minimizing post-launch disruption, reducing reliance on vendors, and enabling long-term ownership by City stakeholders.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Training & Transition Lead is responsible for designing and delivering a comprehensive training and transition program that prepares City staff to effectively manage, update, and govern the new website following launch. This includes CMS user training, administrator training, documentation development, and structured handoff from the implementation team to City ownership.
The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented planner with the ability to anticipate user needs, translate technical concepts into clear guidance, and tailor training to multiple audiences with varying levels of technical proficiency. This role requires a self-driven professional who can operate with minimal supervision, manage competing priorities, and proactively identify transition risks before they impact adoption.
The Training & Transition Lead is expected to solve challenges related to user readiness, institutional knowledge transfer, and operational continuity. The role supports City staff by providing practical tools, job aids, and repeatable processes that enable them to confidently maintain content quality, accessibility compliance, and system integrity post-launch.
Tools and processes commonly leveraged include CMS training environments, Microsoft Teams or Zoom for virtual training delivery, learning documentation tools (Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint), screen recording software, and structured transition checklists.
Position Day-to-Day Activities
The Training & Transition Lead will:
- Assess City staff roles, responsibilities, and training needs related to website content and administration
- Develop a role-based training plan for CMS users, editors, and administrators
- Design and deliver live and recorded CMS training sessions tailored to non-technical users
- Create clear, accessible training materials including user guides, job aids, and quick-reference documentation
- Coordinate training schedules and logistics with the Project Manager and City stakeholders
- Facilitate knowledge transfer sessions between the development team and City technical staff
- Document standard operating procedures for content updates, workflows, and governance processes
- Support transition planning to ensure smooth handoff at project closeout
- Validate user readiness through training feedback, Q&A sessions, and follow-up support
- Provide post-launch transition support during the stabilization period, as needed
- Ensure training materials and workflows align with accessibility and usability best practices
Job Features
| Job Category | Learning & Development |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Communications, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience | Experience supporting public-sector, government, or higher education clients | Experience developing user documentation, training guides, and SOPs |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum of 5 years of experience supporting training, transition, or knowledge transfer for digital platforms or enterprise systems |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Demonstrated experience training non-technical users on CMS platforms such as WordPress, Drupal, or similar systems | Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts clearly | Proficiency with virtual training tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or similar platforms |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting website replacement or digital modernization initiatives | Familiarity with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.1 AA and accessible content workflows | Experience with adult learning principles and instructional design best practices | Prior experience supporting municipal or government communications teams | Familiarity with content governance models and editorial workflows | Experience working in agile or iterative project environments |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to successfully pass a municipal or public-sector background check, if required |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Content Strategist / Information Architecture Lead to guide the organization, structure, and optimization of content for a municipal website redesign initiative. This role is critical to ensuring the City’s new website is intuitive, user-centered, accessible, and aligned with best practices for public-sector digital services.
The ideal candidate brings demonstrated experience designing information architectures for government or higher-education websites and excels at translating complex service information into clear, task-oriented structures that meet resident needs. This individual will serve as the primary authority on site structure, navigation, content hierarchy, and content governance recommendations, working closely with City stakeholders, UX designers, and technical leads.
This role is well-suited for a professional who combines content strategy expertise, information architecture discipline, and strong facilitation skills, and who is comfortable operating independently while collaborating in a cross-functional, remote project environment.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Content Strategist / Information Architecture Lead is responsible for shaping the overall content framework and navigational structure of the City’s redesigned website. While the City will provide final content for pages, this role ensures that content is logically organized, consolidated where appropriate, and aligned with user journeys, accessibility standards, and municipal best practices.
The contractor will evaluate the City’s existing content inventory, recommend content consolidation and retirement strategies, and design a streamlined site architecture that supports residents, businesses, and internal stakeholders. The role also supports multilingual content considerations, accessible content workflows, and SEO-informed structuring.
The ideal candidate is analytical, methodical, and user-focused, with the ability to balance stakeholder preferences with usability and compliance requirements. They are expected to solve challenges related to content sprawl, inconsistent navigation, and service discoverability, and to provide clear documentation that enables long-term content governance by City staff.
Tools and processes commonly used in this role include:
- Content inventories and audits
- Sitemap and taxonomy development
- User journey mapping and task-based navigation models
- Card sorting and IA validation techniques
- WCAG-informed content structuring practices
- Collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and cloud-based documentation platforms
Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities
- Lead analysis of the City’s existing website content inventory to assess relevance, redundancy, and usability
- Develop a user-centered information architecture aligned to resident tasks and City service delivery
- Design and document site maps, navigation models, and content hierarchies
- Recommend content consolidation, retirement, and reorganization strategies
- Collaborate with UX, accessibility, and technical team members to ensure IA alignment with design and CMS capabilities
- Advise on multilingual content structure and translation workflow considerations
- Ensure content structure supports WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
- Support SEO-informed content organization and page structuring
- Facilitate virtual working sessions with City stakeholders to validate IA decisions
- Produce clear IA documentation and guidance to support long-term content governance
Job Features
| Job Category | Technology & Digital Solutions |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Information Science, Communications, UX Design, Digital Media, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience | Demonstrated experience supporting government, municipal, or higher-education websites | Excellent written, verbal, and facilitation skills |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum of 5 years of experience in content strategy and information architecture for large-scale websites | Proven expertise in sitemap development, taxonomy design, and content modeling | Experience working in remote, cross-functional project teams |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong understanding of WCAG 2.1 AA principles as they apply to content structure |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting municipal or public-sector digital service websites | Familiarity with CMS platforms such as WordPress or Drupal | Experience supporting multilingual websites and translation tools | Knowledge of SEO best practices as they relate to content organization | Experience contributing to content governance frameworks or editorial models | UX certification or formal training in information architecture or usability |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to successfully pass a basic background check if required by the client |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension LLC is seeking an Accessibility & QA Lead to serve as the authoritative expert responsible for ensuring that the City of Lancaster’s new public-facing website meets or exceeds WCAG accessibility standards and delivers a high-quality, defect-free user experience across devices, browsers, and assistive technologies.
This role is critical to the success of the overall website replacement effort. The Accessibility & QA Lead acts as both a compliance guardian and quality advocate, embedding accessibility and quality assurance practices throughout design, development, content migration, and pre-launch validation phases.
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented accessibility professional with deep knowledge of WCAG success criteria, Section 508 alignment, and hands-on experience testing modern CMS-based websites. This individual must be confident advising designers, developers, and content contributors while independently identifying issues, recommending solutions, and validating fixes in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
This role is well-suited for a professional who values public-sector mission impact and understands the importance of equitable access to digital government services.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Accessibility & QA Lead is responsible for planning, executing, and governing accessibility compliance and quality assurance activities for the City’s new website. The role ensures that accessibility is not treated as a final checklist item, but rather as an integrated, continuous practice across the project lifecycle.
The candidate will evaluate designs, templates, components, and content against WCAG criteria, conduct both automated and manual accessibility testing, and lead remediation validation prior to launch. In parallel, the role oversees functional QA testing to confirm that the website performs reliably across supported browsers, devices, and user scenarios.
The successful candidate brings a strong sense of ownership, the ability to work with minimal supervision, and the judgment to prioritize issues based on user impact and compliance risk. They will help the City reduce long-term accessibility risk by recommending sustainable workflows, tooling, and governance practices that City staff can maintain post-launch.
Tools and processes commonly used in this role include accessibility testing platforms, browser-based developer tools, screen readers, structured defect tracking systems, and collaborative review workflows.
Position Day-to-Day Activities
The Accessibility & QA Lead will:
- Define and maintain the accessibility and QA strategy aligned to WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 standards
- Review UX/UI designs, wireframes, and prototypes for accessibility risks prior to development
- Conduct automated accessibility scans using industry-standard tools
- Perform manual accessibility testing using screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, and assistive technologies
- Validate color contrast, heading structure, form labeling, focus order, and ARIA usage
- Test multilingual functionality to ensure accessibility is preserved across translated content
- Execute cross-browser and cross-device QA testing to validate functionality and responsiveness
- Document accessibility and QA defects with clear reproduction steps and remediation guidance
- Collaborate with developers and designers to resolve accessibility and functional issues efficiently
- Re-test and validate fixes to confirm compliance and quality closure
- Support CMS workflow testing to ensure accessible content authoring practices
- Contribute to accessibility documentation and training materials for City staff
- Support pre-launch and post-launch validation efforts to ensure ongoing compliance readiness
Job Features
| Job Category | Quality Assurance, Technology & Digital Solutions |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Human-Centered Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience | Demonstrated hands-on experience with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 requirements | Professional accessibility certification such as IAAP CPACC, WAS, or CPWA |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 5 years of experience supporting accessibility compliance and QA for websites or digital applications | Experience conducting manual accessibility testing, including screen reader and keyboard-only testing | Experience documenting defects and working within structured QA or issue-tracking workflows |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Familiarity with modern CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal, or similar) | Strong written communication skills with the ability to explain technical issues to non-technical stakeholders |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting government or higher-education websites | Familiarity with accessibility testing tools such as Axe, WAVE, Lighthouse, or Siteimprove | Experience testing multilingual or translated websites | Knowledge of accessible content authoring practices for CMS users | Experience supporting accessibility governance or post-launch compliance monitoring | Comfort working in agile or iterative development environments |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust suitability determination, if required | Must comply with City and Ascension information security and confidentiality requirements |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension is seeking an experienced Solutions Architect / Technical Lead to serve as the senior technical authority for a municipal website replacement initiative. This role is critical to ensuring the City’s new website is secure, accessible, scalable, and aligned with best practices for public-sector digital services.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in modern web architectures, content management systems, accessibility compliance, and third-party integrations, combined with the ability to translate business and user needs into clear technical solutions. This individual will guide platform selection, define the technical architecture, oversee implementation decisions, and ensure quality and compliance throughout the project lifecycle.
This role is essential to achieving the City’s goals of launching a modern, multilingual, WCAG-compliant website that is intuitive for residents, maintainable by City staff, and capable of supporting future growth and integrations.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Solutions Architect / Technical Lead is responsible for designing and governing the overall technical solution for the City of Lancaster’s website replacement. The role requires a hands-on yet strategic technologist who can balance architectural rigor with pragmatic delivery.
The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and analytical problem solver who thrives in environments where requirements evolve and stakeholder input is iterative. They are self-directed, comfortable working with minimal supervision, and skilled at anticipating risks before they become issues. This role is expected to resolve complex technical decisions related to CMS selection, multilingual support, accessibility, integrations, analytics, and security while supporting the broader project team.
The candidate will work closely with Ascension’s Project Manager, UX designers, developers, and City stakeholders to ensure the technical solution fully supports user experience goals, content workflows, and long-term maintainability.
Key tools and processes include modern CMS platforms (open source or proprietary), cloud-based collaboration tools, accessibility testing utilities, version control, analytics platforms, and structured technical documentation practices.
Position Day-to-Day Activities (Expected / Anticipated)
- Define and document the overall website technical architecture and solution design
- Evaluate and recommend the most appropriate CMS platform based on City needs, security, scalability, and usability
- Lead technical decision-making related to hosting compatibility, performance, and maintainability
- Establish standards for code quality, accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1 AA), and security best practices
- Oversee implementation of multilingual functionality and translation workflows
- Design and guide integrations with third-party platforms such as Everbridge, CivicClerk, Mailchimp, and SeeClickFix
- Support setup and migration of analytics and SEO tools, including Google Analytics
- Review technical deliverables for quality, compliance, and alignment with approved architecture
- Collaborate with UX and content teams to ensure technical feasibility of design concepts
- Identify technical risks and develop mitigation strategies early in the project lifecycle
- Support CMS user training planning and development of technical documentation
- Participate in technical discussions with City stakeholders and respond to technical questions
- Provide guidance during testing, launch readiness, and post-launch stabilization
Job Features
| Job Category | Technology & Digital Solutions |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Web Development, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience | Demonstrated experience serving as a technical lead or solutions architect on complex website or digital platform projects | Experience with multilingual website architectures and translation tools | Familiarity with web security best practices, performance optimization, and scalability considerations |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | 8+ years of experience designing and leading web-based solutions, including CMS-driven websites | Proven experience implementing or overseeing WCAG or Section 508–compliant digital solutions | Experience integrating third-party SaaS platforms via APIs or embedded services |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong knowledge of modern CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, or comparable enterprise/proprietary systems) | Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting municipal, state, or other public-sector website initiatives | Familiarity with accessibility monitoring and testing tools | Experience working in Agile or iterative delivery environments | Knowledge of cloud hosting environments commonly used for CMS platforms | Experience supporting Google Analytics migration or configuration | Professional certifications related to web architecture, cloud platforms, or accessibility (e.g., AWS, Azure, IAAP) |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to pass a background check if required by the client | Public Trust–level suitability may be required depending on City policies | Must be authorized to work in the United States |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Contract Project Manager to lead and coordinate a municipal website replacement initiative for a city government client. This role is critical to ensuring the successful planning, execution, and delivery of a modern, accessible, multilingual municipal website that meets stakeholder expectations, accessibility standards, and project timeline goals.
The ideal candidate is a disciplined, detail-oriented project leader with demonstrated experience managing website development projects for government or public-sector organizations. This individual will serve as the primary point of coordination between the client, Ascension leadership, designers, developers, and content stakeholders. The Project Manager plays a central role in aligning technical execution with business goals, maintaining schedule and budget discipline, managing risk, and ensuring high-quality deliverables through launch and post-launch transition.
This position is well-suited for candidates with strong project management fundamentals, stakeholder engagement skills, and familiarity with CMS-based website implementations (WordPress, Drupal, or comparable platforms), particularly in environments requiring accessibility compliance and cross-departmental coordination.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Contract Project Manager is responsible for end-to-end project oversight of a municipal website replacement effort, from kickoff through launch and closeout. This includes managing scope, schedule, communications, risk, and quality across all phases of the project lifecycle.
The successful candidate will bring a structured yet flexible management approach, capable of operating effectively in a largely remote, collaborative environment with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities. The Project Manager is expected to anticipate issues, proactively resolve risks, and keep both Ascension leadership and the client informed of progress, dependencies, and decisions.
This role requires an individual who is self-driven, highly organized, and comfortable working with minimal supervision, while maintaining strong accountability for outcomes. Familiarity with tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, cloud-based project management platforms, and document collaboration environments is essential.
Position Day-to-Day Activities (Expected / Anticipated)
The Contract Project Manager will:
- Lead project kickoff activities, including scope confirmation, stakeholder alignment, and communications planning
- Develop, maintain, and manage the integrated project schedule aligned to client milestones and launch goals
- Coordinate day-to-day activities across designers, developers, accessibility specialists, and client stakeholders
- Facilitate regular status meetings, working sessions, and stakeholder briefings
- Track project risks, issues, dependencies, and mitigation strategies
- Manage scope control and change requests, ensuring alignment with contract requirements and timeline
- Oversee quality assurance checkpoints, including accessibility (WCAG 2.1 AA) and usability validation
- Ensure alignment with CMS selection, configuration, and content migration activities
- Coordinate integration planning for third-party tools such as Everbridge, CivicClerk, Mailchimp, and SeeClickFix
- Monitor progress against budget, schedule, and performance expectations
- Prepare and deliver clear project status reports and decision-ready briefings
- Support launch readiness, transition activities, documentation, and knowledge transfer
- Serve as the primary point of accountability for project delivery and client satisfaction
Job Features
| Job Category | Project Management |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Information Technology, Communications, Business, or a related field | Demonstrated experience managing projects for government, municipal, or public-sector clients | Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), or equivalent certification |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 7 years of project management experience, including at least 3 years managing website or digital platform implementations| Strong understanding of website development lifecycles, CMS platforms (WordPress, Drupal, or similar), and digital accessibility requirements | Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and deliver projects on schedule |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Proficiency with project management and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, SharePoint, cloud-based PM tools) | Excellent written and verbal communication skills |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting WCAG 2.1 AA or Section 508–compliant digital initiatives | Familiarity with multilingual website implementations and content governance models | Experience working with municipal communications teams, executive leadership, or public-facing digital services | Background coordinating integrations with third-party SaaS platforms | Strong risk management and change control experience |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to pass a local or municipal background check, as required by the client | No federal clearance required |
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Ascension is seeking a highly skilled Technical Writer with demonstrated experience supporting public-sector, policy-driven initiatives to translate complex socio-economic program concepts, regulatory language, and stakeholder-informed inputs into clear, defensible, and submission-ready written deliverables.
This role is essential to the success of the engagement because the Commission’s deliverables must be legally precise, operationally clear, and accessible to multiple audiences, including procurement leadership, legal counsel, internal staff, vendors, and community stakeholders. The Technical Writer ensures that all written outputs accurately reflect approved policy intent, comply with Maryland regulatory expectations, and maintain consistency across documents developed by multiple subject matter experts.
The ideal candidate brings strong experience working in government, procurement, policy, or compliance-heavy environments, understands how to structure formal reports and regulations, and can work independently with minimal supervision while coordinating closely with SMEs, analysts, and project leadership.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Technical Writer supports both Local and Small Business Preference Program and MBE Preference Program by developing, editing, and finalizing core written deliverables required under the Scope of Work. This includes program documentation, draft and final regulatory language, stakeholder-facing materials, executive summaries, implementation guidance, and supporting reports.
This role is not a marketing or communications writer. It requires a disciplined technical writer who can:
- Synthesize complex inputs from legal, policy, data, and stakeholder sources
- Preserve accuracy and intent while improving clarity, structure, and readability
- Ensure consistency across multiple documents and versions
- Apply strong version control and document management practices
The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, structured, and methodical, with the ability to anticipate gaps, resolve ambiguities in source material, and ask precise clarification questions when needed. The Technical Writer is expected to support tight review cycles, respond quickly to feedback, and ensure all deliverables are review-ready and defensible.
What This Role Is Expected to Solve / Support
- Reduces risk of misinterpretation or inconsistency across policy and regulatory documents
- Ensures stakeholder-facing materials accurately reflect approved program decisions
- Supports legal defensibility through precise language and structured documentation
- Improves readability and usability of complex socio-economic program materials
Tools and Processes Used
- Microsoft Word (advanced formatting, tracked changes, styles, tables of contents)
- Microsoft Excel (light review of referenced data tables and exhibits)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (editing and structuring executive briefings and summaries)
- Version control and document review workflows (SharePoint or similar)
- Style guides, regulatory drafting conventions, and QA/QC checklists
Position Day-to-Day Activities (or Deliverable-Driven Activities)
- Draft, edit, and finalize program documentation for Local/Small and MBE Preference Programs
- Translate policy decisions, regulatory analysis, and stakeholder inputs into clear written narratives
- Edit and format draft and final procurement regulation amendments, including clean and redlined versions
- Ensure consistency of terminology, definitions, and program concepts across all deliverables
- Incorporate reviewer comments from Ascension leadership, legal reviewers, and client stakeholders
- Prepare executive summaries, implementation guidance, and supporting appendices
- Apply version control, document naming conventions, and review tracking protocols
- Coordinate with Program Manager, Policy Analysts, and SMEs to resolve content gaps
- Ensure all written deliverables are submission-ready and professionally formatted
Job Features
| Job Category | Public Administration |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in English, Technical Writing, Public Policy, Communications, or a related field | Demonstrated experience drafting or editing formal reports, policies, regulations, or compliance documentation |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 5 years of experience as a Technical Writer supporting government, public-sector, or policy-driven initiatives | Experience working with SMEs and incorporating technical feedback into final documents |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong command of written English with proven attention to detail and accuracy | Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word with advanced formatting skills |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting socio-economic programs, supplier diversity initiatives, or procurement-related efforts | Familiarity with state or local government regulatory drafting processes | Experience supporting multi-phase or multi-stakeholder consulting engagements | Prior experience supporting Maryland or other state/local government clients | Comfort working independently in a remote, deadline-driven environment |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Must be able to handle sensitive but unclassified procurement and policy information | Must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) |
Ascension is seeking a Business Process Analyst with demonstrated experience analyzing, documenting, and improving public-sector procurement and administrative processes to support the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Office of Supplier Diversity and Inclusion. This role is critical to translating policy and program design decisions into operationally feasible workflows, procedures, and implementation guidance that M-NCPPC staff can execute consistently across departments and counties.
The ideal candidate brings a strong understanding of how government procurement organizations function in practice, including internal controls, approval chains, documentation requirements, and system touchpoints. This position is well suited for a professional who excels at working behind the scenes to identify inefficiencies, clarify roles and responsibilities, and ensure that newly designed Local/Small Business and MBE Preference Programs are implementable, auditable, and sustainable.
This role is important to the overall success of the effort because it reduces implementation risk by ensuring that preference program requirements do not remain theoretical, but are instead embedded into clear, defensible business processes aligned with existing Commission operations.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Business Process Analyst supports both Local/Small Business Preference Program and MBE Preference Program by analyzing current-state procurement and administrative workflows and documenting future-state processes needed to support new preference program requirements.
Working under the direction of the Prime Contractor and in coordination with Ascension’s policy, data, and stakeholder engagement staff, the Analyst evaluates how vendor eligibility, preference application, compliance monitoring, and reporting activities are currently performed and identifies where changes, controls, or new steps are required.
The ideal candidate is methodical, detail-oriented, and comfortable operating in complex, regulated environments where processes vary across units and documentation quality is inconsistent. The Analyst must be able to work with partial information, reconcile differences between written procedures and actual practice, and clearly document assumptions and constraints.
This role is expected to solve and support the following:
- Reduce implementation risk by aligning new preference programs with existing procurement operations
- Prevent process breakdowns caused by unclear roles, undocumented steps, or inconsistent application
- Support legally defensible implementation through documented workflows and controls
- Provide M-NCPPC staff with clear process guidance they can operationalize and sustain
Tools and processes commonly used in this role include:
- Process mapping tools (Visio, Lucidchart, or equivalent)
- Microsoft Excel and Word for workflow documentation
- Structured interviews and working sessions with procurement and OSDI staff
- Review of procurement regulations, SOPs, and forms
- Change-impact analysis techniques
Position Day-to-Day Activities
- Analyze current-state procurement, vendor management, and compliance workflows related to socio-economic programs
- Conduct structured working sessions with OSDI and procurement staff to validate how processes operate in practice
- Document end-to-end workflows supporting Local/Small and MBE Preference Program activities
- Identify process gaps, redundancies, control weaknesses, and implementation risks
- Develop future-state process maps aligned with approved program designs and regulatory revisions
- Define roles, responsibilities, handoffs, and approval points within revised workflows
- Support development of SOPs, process narratives, and implementation guidance materials
- Coordinate with policy, data, and technical staff to ensure workflows align with reporting and compliance needs
- Support change management by documenting process impacts and transition considerations
Job Features
| Job Category | Business and Management |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Information Systems, or a related field | Demonstrated experience supporting government procurement, contracting, or compliance-driven programs |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 5 years of experience performing business process analysis or business process improvement in the public sector | Experience documenting workflows, SOPs, or operational procedures |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong analytical and documentation skills with attention to detail | Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting supplier diversity, small business, or socio-economic preference programs | Familiarity with Maryland or local government procurement environments | Experience supporting regulatory or policy-driven process changes | Exposure to change management or implementation planning efforts | Certification such as CBAP, CCBA, Lean Six Sigma, or similar (preferred, not required) |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to pass a basic background check | Must be able to handle sensitive but unclassified procurement and vendor data |
Ascension is seeking a detail-oriented, analytically disciplined Data & Utilization Analyst to support the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) in the development of a Local and Small Business Preference Program.
This role is critical to establishing a credible, defensible baseline of current vendor participation across M-NCPPC procurement activities. The analyst’s work directly informs program design decisions, stakeholder discussions, regulatory drafting, and implementation planning. Candidates should be motivated by applied public-sector analysis, not abstract research, and should be comfortable working with real-world procurement datasets that may be incomplete, inconsistently coded, or decentralized.
This position is ideal for professionals with experience in public procurement data, supplier diversity analytics, utilization reporting, or government program evaluation who want to contribute to policy-shaping work without serving in a policy-setting role.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Data & Utilization Analyst supports Local/Small Business Preference Program by analyzing Commission-provided procurement, contract, and vendor datasets to assess current participation levels of local and small businesses.
Working under the direction of Ascension’s Project Lead, the analyst focuses on data execution, validation, interpretation, and documentation, not stakeholder facilitation or regulatory drafting. The role requires strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to clearly explain assumptions, limitations, and trends so that findings can withstand internal, legal, and public scrutiny.
The ideal candidate is methodical, self-directed, and comfortable translating raw procurement data into clear findings that support implementation-ready decisions, rather than aspirational targets.
This role is expected to solve/support the following:
- Establish a factual baseline of current local and small business participation
- Identify participation gaps and concentration trends across vendor categories
- Reduce program risk by ensuring data-supported, defensible findings
- Support benchmarking and program design without overstating data precision
Tools and Processes Commonly Used
- Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, structured analysis)
- Data normalization and validation techniques
- Procurement and vendor classification review
- Written analytical summaries and data exhibits
Position Day-to-Day Activities (As Needed Based on LOE)
The contractor will:
- Analyze Commission-provided procurement, contract award, and vendor datasets to assess current utilization patterns
- Validate data for completeness, consistency, and usability, documenting limitations and assumptions
- Categorize vendors by size, locality, and other attributes relevant to Phase I program design
- Develop summary tables, charts, and baseline metrics for internal review and stakeholder discussion
- Identify participation trends, gaps, and concentration risks affecting local and small businesses
- Document analytical methodology in plain language suitable for inclusion in reports and briefings
- Coordinate with the project team to align analysis with stakeholder engagement and program design timelines
- Revise findings based on feedback from project leadership and legal considerations
Job Features
| Job Category | Data Analysis and Analytics |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Data Analytics, Business, Statistics, or a related field | Demonstrated experience analyzing procurement, vendor, contract, or utilization data | Ability to clearly document analytical assumptions and limitations |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum of 5 years of experience performing applied data analysis in a public-sector, quasi-governmental, or regulated environment| Strong written communication skills for non-technical audiences |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Experience supporting supplier diversity, small business, or preference programs | Familiarity with public procurement systems or vendor reporting structures | Experience working with imperfect or legacy datasets | Knowledge of Maryland or local government procurement environments | Experience supporting program design or policy development initiatives |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to handle sensitive procurement and vendor information | Must comply with client confidentiality and data-handling requirements |
Protect our Land, Ascend with us!
Ascension is seeking a senior-level Socio-Economic Subject Matter Expert (SME) with deep, practical experience designing, evaluating, and advising on local, small business, and Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) preference programs in public-sector procurement environments.
This role is critical to ensuring that M-NCPPC’s socio-economic business preference programs are legally defensible, data-informed, operationally feasible, and aligned with Maryland procurement law and best practices. The SME will serve as a trusted advisor to the project team, providing expert judgment, validation of analytical findings, and applied insight throughout both phases of the work.
The ideal candidate brings:
- Demonstrated expertise in supplier diversity, small business programs, and MBE frameworks
- Experience translating disparity studies, utilization data, and benchmarking into actionable program structures
- Credibility with procurement professionals, legal reviewers, and community stakeholders
- The ability to operate effectively in an advisory capacity without assuming day-to-day project management responsibility
This position is well-suited for an experienced practitioner who prefers focused, high-impact advisory work and is comfortable operating in a part-time, milestone-driven consulting role.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Socio-Economic SME provides subject-matter leadership and expert advisory support across the design and implementation planning of M-NCPPC’s two-phase socio-economic business preference program:
- Phase I: Local and Small Business Preference Program
- Phase II: Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Preference Program
Working under the direction of Ascension’s Project Lead and in coordination with the Prime Contractor, the SME will review analyses, validate assumptions, advise on policy and regulatory considerations, and support stakeholder-facing activities where senior expertise is required.
The role is not responsible for drafting all deliverables but is accountable for ensuring technical accuracy, legal defensibility, and alignment with proven socio-economic program models. The SME is expected to anticipate risks, identify gaps, and recommend practical solutions grounded in real-world implementation experience.
The ideal candidate is:
- Highly analytical yet pragmatic
- Comfortable working with incomplete or evolving information
- Confident providing constructive challenge and expert recommendations
- Self-directed and able to manage time effectively with minimal supervision
What This Role Is Expected to Solve, Resolve, or Support
- Reduces program risk by ensuring preference program designs are grounded in precedent and law
- Strengthens defensibility of program recommendations prior to legal and executive review
- Bridges the gap between analytical findings and implementable policy decisions
- Ensures stakeholder engagement outputs reflect best practices and equity principles
- Supports the translation of disparity study findings into compliant, actionable program elements
Tools and Processes Used
- Review of procurement and vendor utilization datasets (summary-level)
- Benchmarking matrices and comparative jurisdictional analyses
- Draft program frameworks, eligibility criteria, and compliance models
- Regulatory redlines and policy concept papers (review and advisory input)
- Virtual collaboration tools (Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, document review platforms)
Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities
The SME’s activities are milestone-driven and may include, but are not limited to:
- Advise on the design of Local/Small Business and MBE preference program structures
- Review and validate utilization analyses, benchmarking results, and needs assessments
- Interpret disparity study findings and advise on appropriate remedial program elements
- Evaluate proposed eligibility criteria, thresholds, and compliance mechanisms
- Assess alignment of program concepts with Maryland procurement law and Title 14 requirements
- Provide expert input on certification pathways, reciprocity considerations, and reporting models
- Participate in select internal and external stakeholder sessions as a senior technical resource
- Support executive briefings by reviewing key messages and recommendations
- Identify risks related to implementation, enforcement, or stakeholder acceptance
- Recommend refinements to improve clarity, feasibility, and long-term sustainability
Job Features
| Job Category | Public Administration |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Business, Law, Economics, or a related field | Demonstrated experience advising on or supporting preference or reserve programs for public agencies | Excellent written and verbal communication skills | Graduate degree (Master’s or Juris Doctor) in a relevant discipline |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in one or more of the following areas; Supplier diversity or socio-economic program design; Public-sector procurement policy and compliance; Small business or MBE program administration | Proven ability to provide expert advisory input to senior leaders and project teams | Experience working with Maryland state or local government entities |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Strong familiarity with disparity studies and their application to program design |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Familiarity with MBE certification programs and reciprocity models (e.g., MDOT or comparable systems) | Experience supporting regulatory or policy drafting efforts (review or advisory role) | Background participating in or facilitating stakeholder engagement related to equity or procurement reform | Professional affiliations related to supplier diversity, procurement, or public administration |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to pass a background check as required by M-NCPPC |
Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!
Ascension is seeking a Training & Communications Specialist with demonstrated experience designing and delivering public-sector training, outreach, and implementation guidance for compliance-driven programs. This role is critical to ensuring that M-NCPPC internal staff, vendors, and external stakeholders clearly understand and consistently apply the Local/Small Business Preference Program (Phase 1) and the MBE Preference Program (Phase 2).
The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of instructional design, stakeholder communications, and change enablement experience, particularly in environments where new policies, regulations, or program rules must be operationalized across diverse audiences. This role is not purely instructional; it directly supports program adoption, risk reduction, and implementation success by translating complex policy and regulatory requirements into accessible, accurate, and actionable training and communications materials.
This position is well suited for professionals with experience in supplier diversity programs, procurement training, workforce or compliance training, or government program rollout communications, who are comfortable working independently while coordinating closely with program leadership and subject matter experts.
Summary of the Contractor Role
The Training & Communications Specialist supports Training and Materials, with direct linkage to Phase 1 program adoption and Phase 2 MBE outreach and implementation readiness. The Specialist is responsible for developing, refining, and delivering training content and communications that ensure stakeholders understand program purpose, eligibility requirements, compliance expectations, and operational impacts.
This role requires a detail-oriented, organized professional who can synthesize regulatory and program design inputs from subject matter experts and convert them into clear training curricula, workshop materials, job aids, FAQs, slide decks, and written guidance. The Specialist must be capable of tailoring content for multiple audiences, including procurement staff, internal program administrators, vendors, and community stakeholders.
The ideal candidate is self-directed, responsive, and comfortable working in an evolving environment where materials are refined as program decisions are finalized. The role directly supports risk mitigation by reducing misunderstanding, inconsistent application, and implementation friction during program rollout.
What this role is expected to solve/support:
- Reduces confusion and misinterpretation of new preference program requirements
- Supports consistent application of Local/Small and MBE preference rules
- Improves staff and vendor readiness prior to program launch
- Enables effective change management through structured communications
- Ensures training materials are accurate, accessible, and aligned with adopted policies
Tools and processes commonly used:
- Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel
- Virtual training platforms (e.g., MS Teams, Zoom)
- Learning support artifacts (job aids, FAQs, checklists)
- Basic accessibility and document formatting standards (e.g., Section 508–aware practices)
Position Activities (Anticipated Responsibilities)
The following activities are representative of the work performed over the duration of the role and may vary by phase and milestone:
- Develop training curricula and session outlines aligned to approved program requirements
- Translate program policies, procedures, and regulatory language into clear instructional content
- Create training materials including slide decks, facilitator guides, participant handouts, and job aids
- Prepare written communications such as FAQs, implementation guidance, and outreach summaries
- Support delivery of internal staff workshops and vendor-facing training sessions
- Coordinate with program leads to ensure materials reflect final policy and regulatory decisions
- Adapt materials based on stakeholder feedback and evolving implementation needs
- Ensure consistency of messaging across training, outreach, and written communications
- Document training sessions and materials for reuse and reference during implementation
Job Features
| Job Category | Learning & Development |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Education, Public Administration, Business, or a related field |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 5–7 years of experience supporting training, communications, or change enablement in public-sector or regulated environments | Experience supporting multi-stakeholder audiences, including internal staff and external partners | Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools and virtual collaboration platforms | Experience supporting supplier diversity, small business, MBE/DBE, or procurement-related programs |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Demonstrated experience developing training materials for policy, compliance, procurement, or program implementation initiatives | Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complex requirements |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | Familiarity with government preference programs or compliance-driven initiatives | Experience delivering or supporting virtual and hybrid training sessions | Knowledge of adult learning principles and instructional design best practices | Experience incorporating accessibility considerations into training materials |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQUIREMENTS | Ability to pass M-NCPPC background screening requirements | No clearance required |
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Role Summary
The Systems Engineering SME provides direct technical advisory support to CG-SID-9 for Call Order 1 by supporting systems engineering policy oversight, technical reviews, and acquisition milestone activities.
This role ensures that systems engineering considerations are properly integrated into acquisition planning and decision-making, and that technical analyses produced for CG-SID-9 are rigorous, defensible, and aligned with federal acquisition standards.
Day-to-Day Responsibilities
- Review and assess systems engineering documentation
- Support acquisition reviews and milestone decisions
- Identify technical risks and gaps
- Develop technical briefings and recommendations
- Advise CG-SID-9 leadership on best practices
- Support Red Team and Senior Review activities
Job Features
| Job Category | IT |
| MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS | Master’s degree in Engineering or related field |
| REQUIRED SKILLS | Minimum 10 years of systems engineering experience |
| TECHNICAL SKILLS | Experience supporting federal acquisition programs |
| DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS | INCOSE certification | Experience with USCG, DHS, or DoD systems | Experience supporting GAO-facing reviews |
| SUITABILITY/SECURITY REQS | DHS Suitability (Tier 1 or higher) |