Careers

Ascension LLC is seeking a Senior Data Scientist to support mission-critical logistics integration and operations research initiatives for the U.S. Coast Guard Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC). This role is essential to enabling data-driven decision-making across fleet logistics, asset readiness, and supply chain operations.

The ideal candidate is a high-performing data professional who thrives at the intersection of data engineering, analytics, and applied AI/ML, with the ability to translate complex logistics data into actionable insights that directly impact operational readiness.

This role is critical to the success of the engagement as it supports the Coast Guard’s ability to integrate logistics systems, improve data quality, and optimize asset lifecycle management, directly contributing to national security and mission readiness.

Position Summary

The Senior Data Scientist will design, develop, and maintain data-driven solutions that support logistics integration, asset management, and operational optimization. This includes building ETL pipelines, developing predictive models, and delivering dashboards that inform leadership decisions.

The ideal candidate will be:

• A detail-oriented and analytical problem solver who can work independently in a fast-paced federal environment
• Self-driven and adaptable, capable of navigating ambiguity with minimal oversight
• Skilled at anticipating data challenges, designing scalable solutions, and managing competing priorities
• Comfortable working across data engineering, data science, and stakeholder engagement functions

This role will directly support:

• Data integration across logistics systems
• Predictive analytics for readiness and inventory forecasting
• Data quality improvement and governance
• Executive-level reporting and visualization

Tools and environments may include: Python, R, SQL, Power BI, Tableau, Azure, AWS, ETL frameworks, and Coast Guard data systems

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain ETL pipelines to integrate data from logistics, supply chain, and external systems
• Design and implement data models and predictive analytics solutions for asset readiness and inventory forecasting
• Analyze large datasets to identify trends, inefficiencies, and optimization opportunities
• Build and maintain interactive dashboards and visualizations for leadership decision support
• Automate data workflows to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent data availability
• Perform data cleansing, validation, and transformation to improve data quality
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define data requirements and analytical use cases
• Translate complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights for non-technical audiences
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through data-driven recommendations
• Document data processes, models, and methodologies in accordance with federal standards

Ascension LLC is seeking a mission-driven Program Support Analyst (Mid-Level) to support the Defense Health Agency (DHA), Armed Services Blood Program Division (ASBPD) in advancing critical business operations, data analysis, and program performance initiatives.

This role is essential to ensuring the availability, efficiency, and performance of a globally distributed military blood supply system, directly impacting readiness and care for service members and their families. As part of a high-visibility federal program, the selected candidate will contribute to data-driven decision-making, stakeholder coordination, reporting, and operational improvement efforts supporting ASBPD’s mission to deliver safe, reliable blood products worldwide.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented analyst, structured thinker, and proactive communicator who thrives in a mission-focused environment and can translate complex data into actionable insights.

Position Summary

The Program Support Analyst provides analytical, coordination, and reporting support across multiple functional areas including data analysis, stakeholder engagement, meeting facilitation, program reporting, and consulting support.

This role supports ASBPD’s business operations by enabling performance tracking, data integrity, operational visibility, and decision support. The analyst will work across program management, data analysis, and process improvement efforts to ensure that leadership has accurate, timely, and actionable information.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work in ambiguous, fast-paced federal environments
• Experience supporting program operations, reporting, and stakeholder coordination
• Comfort using tools such as Excel, Power BI, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams
• A proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate issues, synthesize data, and communicate insights clearly

This role directly supports contract deliverables such as monthly progress reporting, program tracking, and performance monitoring, ensuring alignment with DHA reporting and oversight expectations.

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Analyze program data to identify trends, gaps, and performance insights
• Develop reports, dashboards, and visualizations to support leadership decision-making
• Coordinate with stakeholders across DHA, ASBPD, and partner organizations
• Facilitate meetings, working groups, and stakeholder sessions
• Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and executive summaries
• Track program activities, milestones, risks, and action items
• Support development and delivery of monthly progress reports and ad hoc reporting
• Maintain data integrity across systems and reporting tools
• Assist in process improvement and business workflow optimization initiatives
• Support knowledge management, documentation, and information organization efforts
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable recommendations
• Monitor program performance metrics and support KPI development
• Provide consulting-style support to improve operational efficiency and outcomes

Ascension LLC is seeking a senior-level Enterprise Learning Program Manager (PMO & Governance Lead) to lead the design, execution, and governance of an enterprise-wide learning and development ecosystem supporting WMATA.

This role is critical to ensuring end-to-end program alignment, governance discipline, and performance transparency across all learning workstreams. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in program governance, enterprise training transformation, stakeholder engagement, and performance measurement, with the ability to translate strategic workforce development goals into scalable, measurable learning solutions.

This individual will serve as the central integrator across program delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement, ensuring alignment with WMATA’s operational priorities and workforce capability needs.

Position Summary

The Enterprise Learning Program Manager will lead program governance, integrated delivery, and performance management for a complex, multi-workstream learning and development initiative.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented leader with demonstrated experience managing enterprise programs, facilitating governance structures, and driving accountability across cross-functional teams. This individual must be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment, proactively identifying risks, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring program success.

This role requires the ability to:

• Establish and manage PMO governance frameworks (RACI, RAID logs, KPIs)
• Oversee learning program delivery across ILT, VILT, and digital platforms
• Drive data-informed decision-making using dashboards and reporting tools
• Lead stakeholder engagement at executive and operational levels
• Ensure continuous improvement through evaluation and feedback loops

Tools and platforms include MS Project, Jira/Agile tools, Power BI, PowerPoint dashboards, and Microsoft 365 ecosystem tools.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead program governance activities including development and enforcement of RACI matrices, RAID logs, and decision frameworks
• Manage integrated program delivery across multiple learning workstreams and vendors
• Facilitate recurring governance meetings (weekly, monthly, executive briefings)
• Develop and maintain program performance dashboards and KPIs using Power BI and related tools
• Oversee schedule, cost, scope, and risk management across the program lifecycle
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including instructional designers, facilitators, analysts, and client stakeholders
• Track program progress and proactively identify risks, issues, and mitigation strategies
• Prepare executive-level briefings, reports, and decision-support materials
• Ensure alignment between program activities and WMATA strategic workforce goals
• Drive continuous improvement through program evaluations, lessons learned, and process optimization
• Support change management and adoption strategies to ensure successful implementation of learning initiatives

The Technical Writer / Editor will serve as a quality control and refinement layer across all RFI response sections. This is a light support role focused on editing, not authoring from scratch.

The ideal candidate is:

• A strong editor and communicator who can quickly understand technical content
• Highly organized and detail-driven
• Skilled at working in fast-paced, deadline-driven proposal environments
• Able to enforce consistency, structure, and compliance across multiple contributors

You will work closely with proposal leads, solution architects, and SMEs to:

• Improve readability and flow
• Ensure alignment to RFI requirements and structure
• Standardize terminology and formatting
• Eliminate ambiguity, redundancy, and inconsistencies

This role directly supports the development of a response addressing CLM capabilities such as centralized repositories, workflow automation, reporting, governance, and system integration .

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Edit draft RFI responses for clarity, grammar, tone, and readability
• Refine technical and functional content to ensure alignment with RFI requirements and structure
• Standardize terminology, voice, and formatting across all sections
• Ensure consistency in messaging across contributors and sections
• Align responses to evaluation criteria and question intent
• Condense overly verbose content while preserving meaning and accuracy
• Identify gaps, redundancies, or unclear language and recommend improvements
• Format documents to ensure professional presentation and compliance
• Collaborate with SMEs and proposal leads to clarify technical content as needed
• Validate that responses are cohesive, structured, and easy for evaluators to follow
• Apply light compliance checks to ensure responses directly address RFI prompts

Ascension LLC is seeking a Security, Compliance & Implementation Lead who will serve as a dual-hatted subject matter expert responsible for ensuring that the Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solution is secure, compliant, and successfully implemented across the enterprise.

This role is critical to the success of the WSSC Water CLM initiative, where centralized contract visibility, role-based access, auditability, and compliance oversight are core objectives .

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with deep experience in information security, governance frameworks, and enterprise system implementation, coupled with the ability to lead organizational change management (OCM) activities. This individual will help define and operationalize RBAC models, audit controls, compliance frameworks, and user adoption strategies, ensuring the system meets public sector standards while enabling business users.

This role is best suited for professionals who:

• Thrive in cross-functional environments (IT, procurement, legal, operations)
• Understand public sector compliance and audit expectations
• Can bridge technical security requirements with business usability and adoption

Position Summary

The Security, Compliance & Implementation Lead will oversee all aspects of security design, compliance alignment, and implementation planning for the CLM system. This includes defining access controls, ensuring auditability, supporting regulatory compliance, and guiding secure system deployment.

In addition, this role will lead change management and user onboarding efforts, ensuring that departments adopt the CLM system effectively while maintaining governance standards.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Strong expertise in security frameworks (NIST, ISO, FedRAMP-aligned practices)
• Experience implementing RBAC and audit logging mechanisms
• Ability to develop implementation roadmaps and resource plans
• Proven success leading training, onboarding, and change adoption initiatives

This individual must be:

• Detail-oriented and risk-aware
• Self-directed and capable of operating with minimal oversight
• Skilled at translating complex security concepts into actionable guidance
• Proactive in identifying compliance risks and mitigation strategies

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Define role-based access control (RBAC) models aligned to organizational roles and contract governance needs
• Design security architecture ensuring data protection, integrity, and controlled access
• Establish audit logging, monitoring, and user activity tracking mechanisms
• Assess compliance requirements against public sector standards and recommend controls
• Develop implementation roadmap including timeline, milestones, and required client resources
• Lead system security configuration during CLM deployment (in coordination with technical teams)
• Conduct risk assessments and identify vulnerabilities within system workflows
• Collaborate with procurement and IT stakeholders to align governance and access policies
• Develop and execute training programs for end users and administrators
• Facilitate onboarding sessions and user adoption workshops
• Create change management strategy to support enterprise-wide CLM adoption
• Document security policies, SOPs, and compliance procedures
• Support integration security considerations with external systems (ERP, procurement platforms)
• Provide ongoing advisory support on compliance, governance, and system enhancements

Ascension is seeking a senior-level Business Process, Governance & Analytics Lead who will serve as a dual-hatted functional leader across business process reengineering, governance design, and enterprise analytics in support of a Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) initiative.

This role is critical to helping WSSC Water transition from decentralized contract management practices to a centralized, governed, and data-driven CLM environment. The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of business analysis, data strategy, governance frameworks, and reporting/BI leadership, enabling both departmental flexibility and enterprise-wide oversight.

This position is best suited for professionals who:

• Thrive in complex, cross-functional environments
• Can translate business needs into structured governance and data models
• Have experience supporting enterprise systems such as CLM, ERP, or workflow automation platforms
• Are passionate about enabling data-driven decision-making and operational transparency

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Business Process, Governance & Analytics Lead will play a central role in defining how WSSC Water structures, governs, and leverages contract data within a future CLM system.

WSSC currently faces challenges with decentralized contract data, limited visibility, and inconsistent reporting, which impacts compliance, oversight, and operational efficiency.

This role is responsible for:

• Designing a governance model that balances departmental ownership with centralized Procurement oversight
• Establishing role-based access controls and data integrity frameworks
• Defining contract data structures, taxonomy, tagging, and searchability
• Leading development of enterprise dashboards and reporting frameworks

The ideal candidate will be:

• A structured thinker who can organize ambiguity into scalable frameworks
• Detail-oriented and analytical, with strong data modeling and reporting experience
• Self-directed, capable of working with minimal oversight
• Skilled at anticipating downstream impacts of governance and data decisions

This role directly supports CLM capabilities such as:

• Centralized contract repository design
• Role-based access and governance
• Reporting, dashboards, and analytics
• Workflow visibility and lifecycle tracking

Day-to-Day / Expected Activities

• Lead business process reengineering (BPR) efforts for contract lifecycle processes
• Define and document governance frameworks for contract data ownership and oversight
• Develop role-based access control (RBAC) models aligned to organizational structure
• Design contract data models, metadata schemas, and tagging frameworks
• Establish data standards, validation rules, and data quality controls
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define reporting requirements and KPIs
• Design and prototype dashboards (e.g., contract status, expirations, departmental metrics)
• Facilitate stakeholder workshops to align on governance and reporting needs
• Support configuration requirements for CLM tools or platforms
• Translate business needs into functional requirements and user stories
• Develop documentation, SOPs, and governance playbooks
• Partner with technical teams to ensure alignment between data architecture and system design

Ascension LLC is seeking a high-performing CLM Functional Lead & Solution Architect to serve as the central technical authority and product leader for the design, configuration, and implementation of an enterprise Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system.

This role is critical to supporting WSSC Water’s objective to transition from decentralized contract management practices to a centralized, governed CLM ecosystem that enhances visibility, compliance, and operational efficiency across departments.

We are looking for a candidate who can bridge business and technology, lead system architecture decisions, and translate procurement, legal, and operational requirements into a scalable CLM solution. The ideal candidate thrives in complex, cross-functional environments, understands contract lifecycle processes end-to-end, and has the ability to design solutions that integrate with enterprise systems (ERP, procurement platforms, APIs).

Position Summary

The CLM Functional Lead & Solution Architect will be responsible for defining the end-to-end CLM system architecture, including repository design, workflow automation, role-based access, alerts, reporting, and integrations.

This role directly supports WSSC Water’s need to:

• Centralize contract storage and governance
• Enable department-level participation with enterprise oversight
• Automate lifecycle workflows (creation, approval, renewal, closeout)
• Provide reporting, dashboards, and compliance tracking
• Integrate with procurement and financial systems

The ideal candidate is:

• A strategic thinker who understands procurement and contract operations
• A hands-on architect capable of designing scalable, secure systems
• A self-driven leader who can operate with minimal oversight
• A problem-solver who anticipates risks and designs proactive solutions
• Comfortable working in ambiguous environments with evolving requirements

Tools & Technologies May Include:
CLM platforms (e.g., Icertis, Conga, Agiloft, SAP Ariba), Microsoft Power Platform, SharePoint, ServiceNow, REST APIs, ERP systems, BI tools (Power BI/Tableau)

Day-to-Day Activities

• Define CLM system architecture, deployment model, and technical framework
• Design centralized contract repository structure, metadata, and taxonomy (department, contract type, status)
• Lead mapping of contract lifecycle workflows (creation, approval, modification, renewal, closeout)
• Configure automated alerts and notifications (expiration, compliance deadlines, renewals)
• Develop role-based access controls ensuring governance and data integrity
• Translate business requirements into system configurations and technical specifications
• Integrate CLM solution with procurement systems, ERP platforms, and APIs
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Procurement, Legal, IT, and Operations
• Oversee data migration, validation, and repository standardization
• Support reporting and dashboard development for enterprise visibility
• Provide technical leadership during implementation, testing, and deployment
• Guide product ownership decisions, backlog prioritization, and feature roadmap
• Ensure compliance with security, audit, and regulatory requirements

Ascension is seeking a high-performing Capture & Program Lead to drive the development, integration, and delivery of enterprise-wide Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions in support of WSSC Water’s modernization initiative.

This role is critical to shaping and delivering a centralized CLM capability that addresses decentralized contract management challenges, improves visibility, and strengthens governance and compliance oversight across departments .

The ideal candidate is a strategic program leader and technical integrator who can bridge business, acquisition, and technology domains. This individual will lead cross-functional teams to design and implement solutions that support:

• Centralized contract repositories
• Role-based governance and access controls
• Workflow automation and lifecycle management
• Reporting, dashboards, and audit readiness

This position is essential to ensuring solution alignment with enterprise objectives, regulatory expectations, and operational efficiency goals.

Position Summary

The Capture & Program Lead serves as the single accountable lead responsible for managing the end-to-end delivery of CLM-related efforts, including response development, stakeholder engagement, solution architecture alignment, and implementation planning.

The ideal candidate is:

• A detail-oriented, highly organized program leader capable of managing complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• A self-driven professional who thrives in ambiguous environments and can operate with minimal oversight
• Skilled at anticipating risks, integrating inputs, and driving cohesive solutions
• Experienced in federal/state acquisition lifecycle management, enterprise systems, and workflow automation platforms

This role will support WSSC Water’s need to transition from fragmented contract tracking to a centralized, governed, and technology-enabled CLM ecosystem .

Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead development of CLM solution strategy aligned to client objectives and RFI requirements
• Manage and integrate inputs from SMEs across functional areas (technical, governance, data, and operations)
• Develop and maintain program plans, schedules, and deliverables
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings, workshops, and requirements sessions
• Analyze current-state contract management processes and identify gaps
• Design future-state workflows for contract creation, approval, renewal, and closeout
• Oversee development of governance models including role-based access controls
• Coordinate development of reporting frameworks, dashboards, and analytics solutions
• Ensure alignment with system integration requirements (ERP, procurement systems, APIs)
• Lead development of technical documentation, briefings, and executive presentations
• Monitor risks, issues, and dependencies and implement mitigation strategies
• Ensure compliance with applicable policies, standards, and best practices
• Support transition planning, change management, and user adoption strategies

Ascension LLC is seeking a detail-oriented Quality Assurance & Technical Editing Specialist to support a cybersecurity risk assessment engagement aligned with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0. This role is critical to ensuring that all deliverables submitted to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) are accurate, consistent, defensible, and evaluation-ready.

The ideal candidate brings a strong background in technical editing, cybersecurity documentation, and quality assurance reviews, with the ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, structured, and executive-ready deliverables.

This role plays a key quality control function across all reporting outputs, including Executive Reports, Technical Reports, and supporting artifacts. Given the evaluation emphasis on deliverable quality, this role directly contributes to client confidence, acceptance of deliverables, and overall contract success.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Quality Assurance & Technical Editing Specialist serves as the final gatekeeper for all deliverables, ensuring alignment with NIST CSF structure, clarity of findings, and professional presentation standards.

This role requires a candidate who is:

• Highly detail-oriented and structured
• Able to identify inconsistencies, gaps, and unclear narratives
• Comfortable working with technical cybersecurity content
• Skilled in editing for executive audiences and technical stakeholders
• Capable of operating independently in a low-touch, high-impact role

The specialist will review and refine deliverables to ensure:

• Alignment with NIST CSF categories (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover)
• Consistency across findings, recommendations, and supporting evidence
• Clear articulation of risks, gaps, and remediation priorities
• Compliance with non-proprietary formatting requirements (Word, Excel, PDF)

This role supports a lightweight QA model, meaning efficiency, precision, and high-value feedback are essential.

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Review draft Executive and Technical Reports for clarity, completeness, and alignment with NIST CSF structure
• Validate consistency between findings, supporting evidence, and recommendations
• Edit technical content to ensure readability for both executive and technical audiences
• Ensure all deliverables meet formatting and non-proprietary submission requirements
• Identify gaps, redundancies, or conflicting statements across documentation
• Standardize terminology, tone, and structure across all deliverables
• Support incorporation of AOC feedback into final deliverables
• Perform QA/QC checks on mapping matrices (NIST CSF → NIST 800-53 / 800-171)
• Collaborate with SMEs and analysts to clarify technical content where needed
• Ensure deliverables are submission-ready and aligned with evaluation expectations

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a highly organized, client-facing Project Manager / Stakeholder Engagement & Delivery Lead to support a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment engagement for the Maryland Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

This role is critical to ensuring successful coordination, execution, and delivery of two enterprise-level cybersecurity risk assessments aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) .

The ideal candidate is a strategic coordinator and communicator who thrives in lean, remote, and non-continuous execution environments, and can effectively manage stakeholders across Project Management, Governance Risk & Compliance (GRC), and Information Security leadership.

This position is best suited for a professional who:

• Understands cybersecurity program environments (NIST CSF, risk assessments, compliance reviews)
• Can bridge technical teams and executive stakeholders
• Excels at driving deliverables, managing risk, and maintaining momentum in part-time engagements

Position Summary

The Project Manager / Stakeholder Engagement & Delivery Lead is responsible for coordinating all aspects of project execution across two cybersecurity risk assessments, ensuring alignment with client expectations, timelines, and deliverables.

This role supports a labor-hour, not-to-exceed engagement model with approximately 70 total hours across kickoff, coordination checkpoints, and deliverable reviews, requiring precision, efficiency, and strong prioritization skills.

The selected candidate will:

• Serve as the primary coordination point between Ascension and AOC stakeholders
• Manage project schedules, risks, issues, and communications
• Ensure draft and final deliverables meet quality and client expectations
• Support executive presentations and stakeholder engagement activities

The ideal candidate is:

• A self-driven professional who can operate with minimal oversight
• A structured thinker who anticipates risks and resolves issues proactively
• A clear communicator capable of engaging both technical and executive audiences
• Comfortable working in a remote, part-time, milestone-driven environment

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Coordinate project activities with JIS Project Manager, GRC team, and Information Security Officer
• Manage project schedule, milestones, and deliverable timelines across both assessments
• Facilitate project kickoff meetings, status meetings, and stakeholder briefings
• Track risks, issues, and mitigation strategies; escalate when necessary
• Oversee development, review, and submission of draft and final deliverables
• Support iterative review cycles and ensure incorporation of client feedback
• Maintain communication cadence across all stakeholders
• Prepare executive-level briefing materials and presentation logistics
• Ensure alignment between technical assessment outputs and client expectations
• Document meeting notes, action items, and decision logs
• Coordinate cross-functional inputs to support Executive and Technical Reports
• Support virtual presentation delivery of final assessment results

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking a Cybersecurity Assessment Analyst / Controls Validation & Reporting Specialist to support a high-impact cybersecurity risk assessment engagement for a state judiciary environment. This role is critical to executing the core technical assessment work, including validating cybersecurity controls, performing detailed gap analyses, and producing executive- and technical-level reporting aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.

This position is ideal for a hands-on cybersecurity practitioner who thrives at the intersection of analysis, validation, and reporting, and who can translate complex security findings into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

The selected candidate will play a central execution role in assessing the client’s cybersecurity posture, identifying risks, and shaping remediation strategies that directly impact enterprise security maturity.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Cybersecurity Assessment Analyst will support the execution of two enterprise-level cybersecurity risk assessments focused on evaluating existing security controls and practices against the NIST CSF 2.0 framework.

This role requires a detail-oriented, analytical, and self-driven professional who can operate independently in a remote environment while collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders.

The ideal candidate will:

• Demonstrate strong critical thinking and analytical rigor
• Be comfortable working with incomplete or evolving information
• Possess the ability to validate controls using evidence-based methods, not just policy review
• Translate technical findings into clear, structured reports and recommendations
• Effectively manage multiple priorities across assessment phases

The candidate will support activities including:

• Control validation and evidence review
• NIST CSF categorization and scoring
• Gap analysis and maturity assessment
• Development of technical and executive reporting
• Contribution to remediation roadmap development

The work will rely heavily on interviews, documentation review, questionnaires, and supporting evidence validation, rather than direct system access.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Conduct stakeholder interviews and facilitate information-gathering sessions
• Analyze cybersecurity documentation, policies, and procedures
• Validate implementation of security controls through evidence-based review
• Map controls to NIST CSF, NIST SP 800-53, and NIST SP 800-171 frameworks
• Perform gap analysis comparing current vs. target cybersecurity posture
• Assess CSF Implementation Tiers and organizational maturity
• Develop and maintain assessment workbooks, scoring matrices, and tracking tools
• Document findings, risks, and observations in structured formats
• Draft technical report content, including detailed findings and recommendations
• Contribute to executive-level summaries and risk narratives
• Support development of remediation strategies and improvement roadmaps
• Participate in internal team reviews and quality assurance of deliverables
• Support preparation of materials for final presentation to stakeholders

Ascension LLC is seeking a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Lead / NIST CSF & GRC Subject Matter Expert (SME) to lead the execution of two enterprise-level cybersecurity risk assessments for the Maryland Judiciary.

This role is critical to the success of the engagement, serving as the primary technical authority responsible for assessing cybersecurity controls, identifying risks, and delivering executive-level insights aligned to NIST frameworks. The selected candidate will directly support the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) in evaluating and strengthening its cybersecurity posture across a large-scale judicial IT environment supporting approximately 5,000 users.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on cybersecurity leader with deep expertise in:

• NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0
• NIST SP 800-53 and 800-171 control mapping
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)
• Enterprise risk assessments and gap analysis

This role is best suited for a senior consultant who thrives in advisory environments, can operate independently, and can translate complex cybersecurity risks into actionable executive recommendations.

Position Summary

The Cybersecurity Risk Assessment Lead will plan, lead, and execute cybersecurity assessments using structured methodologies involving interviews, documentation reviews, and evidence validation.

This role will:

• Evaluate cybersecurity controls against NIST CSF functions (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover)
• Perform implementation tier assessments and maturity analysis
• Conduct gap analysis and year-over-year comparison
• Map controls to NIST 800-53 and 800-171 frameworks
• Develop Executive and Technical Reports
• Deliver final presentations to senior stakeholders

The ideal candidate is:

• Detail-oriented and analytical
• Comfortable engaging both technical and executive stakeholders
• Self-driven and capable of working independently in a remote environment
• Skilled at synthesizing large amounts of information into clear findings and recommendations

This role is not tool-dependent and relies heavily on critical thinking, structured assessment methodology, and stakeholder engagement.

Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead execution of cybersecurity risk assessments aligned to NIST CSF 2.0
• Conduct stakeholder interviews with IT, security, and leadership personnel
• Review policies, procedures, and supporting documentation for control validation
• Analyze cybersecurity controls across governance, risk, and operational domains
• Perform gap analysis and identify control deficiencies
• Map controls to NIST 800-53 and 800-171 frameworks
• Evaluate CSF Implementation Tiers (Tier 1–4 maturity levels)
• Conduct year-over-year analysis using prior assessment data
• Develop and maintain assessment workbooks, matrices, and documentation
• Draft Executive Reports (risk posture, key findings, recommendations)
• Draft Technical Reports (detailed analysis, remediation roadmap)
• Present findings and recommendations to executive and technical stakeholders
• Coordinate with AOC GRC team, Project Manager, and Information Security Officer
• Track risks, issues, and mitigation strategies throughout the engagement

Ascension LLC is seeking a highly skilled Instructional Systems Designer (ISD) to support FEMA’s National Training and Education Division (NTED) in advancing national preparedness through high-quality, all-hazards training programs.

We are looking for a candidate who brings deep instructional design expertise, strong federal training experience, and the ability to translate complex emergency management concepts into effective learning solutions. This role is critical to ensuring FEMA-sponsored training programs are compliant, engaging, measurable, and aligned with national preparedness goals.

The ideal candidate will have experience working within federal training environments, curriculum review processes, and stakeholder-driven program delivery models, and will thrive in a mission-focused, fast-paced environment supporting homeland security initiatives.

Position Summary

The Instructional Systems Designer will support the design, review, evaluation, and continuous improvement of FEMA NTED training curricula under the Training Partners Program (TPP). This role directly contributes to ensuring training effectiveness, compliance, and alignment with DHS/FEMA standards.

The ISD will work across multiple task areas, including curriculum development, course recertification, webinar design, and training evaluation. The position requires a detail-oriented and analytical professional who can operate independently, collaborate with subject matter experts, and support structured review processes such as Training Review Boards.

This individual is expected to be self-driven, highly organized, and capable of managing competing priorities, while proactively identifying improvements to training content, delivery methods, and evaluation processes. The role requires strong familiarity with instructional design methodologies, Section 508 accessibility requirements, and modern learning technologies.

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Design instructional materials and curricula aligned with adult learning principles and FEMA standards
• Review all-hazards training courses for quality, compliance, and instructional effectiveness
• Support course recertification efforts, including content updates and validation against evolving requirements
• Develop webinar content and virtual learning materials in compliance with Section 508 standards
• Conduct training needs assessments and identify curriculum gaps
• Collaborate with subject matter experts, program staff, and stakeholders to refine course content
• Evaluate training effectiveness using surveys, performance metrics, and feedback analysis
• Facilitate or support Training Review Boards and curriculum approval processes
• Ensure compliance with federal accessibility and instructional standards
• Maintain documentation, version control, and knowledge repositories
• Apply instructional design methodologies (e.g., ADDIE, Agile) to develop scalable training solutions
• Recommend improvements to training delivery formats (virtual, hybrid, in-person)

Ascension LLC is seeking a Senior Program Lead / Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide strategic leadership and technical oversight in support of FEMA’s National Training and Education Division (NTED) Training Partners Program (TPP). This role is central to ensuring the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of national preparedness training programs through curriculum review, evaluation oversight, and alignment with National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced, detail-oriented leader who can operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment supporting homeland security initiatives. This individual must be capable of leading multidisciplinary review efforts, synthesizing complex data, guiding stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with federal training standards.

This role supports program areas including training review boards, curriculum validation, data analysis, program evaluation, and technical advisory services, as outlined in the Task Order supporting NTED’s all-hazards training mission .

The candidate should demonstrate:

• Strong leadership and decision-making capability
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight
• Skill in anticipating risks and developing solutions
• Experience managing multiple priorities and stakeholders
• Technical expertise in training, evaluation, or emergency management programs

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate training course reviews and evaluation processes across NTED-supported programs
• Validate curriculum against federal standards, including NIMS alignment
• Oversee and support grant-funded training evaluations and audit activities
• Provide technical direction and subject matter expertise to program stakeholders and review boards
• Coordinate and support Training Review Boards (TRBs) and associated documentation
• Analyze program data to assess training effectiveness and compliance
• Develop and present technical reports, findings, and recommendations
• Advise government leadership on program improvements, risks, and strategic direction
• Ensure alignment with all-hazards preparedness frameworks and national training priorities
• Collaborate with instructional designers, analysts, and program staff to ensure high-quality deliverables

Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead curriculum and course review sessions with stakeholders
• Evaluate training materials for compliance with federal standards
• Conduct data analysis to assess training outcomes and performance
• Prepare and present findings to NTED leadership and review boards
• Coordinate review schedules, agendas, and stakeholder participation
• Provide technical guidance to instructional design and evaluation teams
• Review and approve evaluation methodologies and tools
• Monitor program performance metrics and identify improvement areas
• Support audit activities related to training delivery and effectiveness
• Draft reports, briefings, and technical documentation

Minimum / Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Education, Data Analytics, or related field
• Minimum 10 years of relevant experience supporting federal programs, training evaluation, or emergency management
• Demonstrated experience with curriculum review, instructional systems, or training program evaluation
• Strong knowledge of NIMS and national preparedness frameworks
• Experience supporting federal agencies (DHS/FEMA preferred)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and stakeholder engagements
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and data analysis tools

Ascension LLC is seeking a Project Manager (Key Personnel) to lead delivery of mission-critical support services for the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate (NPD), National Training and Education Division (NTED), supporting the Training Partners Program (TPP).

The Project Manager will oversee the execution of a complex, multi-functional program that includes curriculum review coordination, training audits, review board facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and program performance management. This role serves as the primary interface with FEMA leadership and ensures all contractual, operational, and quality objectives are achieved.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, detail-oriented leader with demonstrated success managing federal programs in dynamic environments. This individual must be self-driven, proactive, and capable of anticipating risks, resolving issues, and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality outcomes under tight timelines.

This role supports FEMA’s mission to enhance national preparedness through effective training evaluation, governance, and continuous improvement of all-hazards training programs.

Key Responsibilities / Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead overall program execution, planning, and performance management across all SOW task areas (2.1–2.12)
• Coordinate and oversee training curriculum review cycles, audits, and NTED review boards
• Facilitate Review Board sessions, including agenda development, stakeholder coordination, and documentation of outcomes
• Manage project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and reporting requirements in alignment with contract timelines
• Serve as the primary liaison to FEMA COR and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and responsiveness
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, risk registers, and performance dashboards
• Ensure quality assurance and compliance with QASP standards and contract requirements
• Oversee data collection, analysis, and reporting efforts supporting program evaluation and improvement
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including SMEs, analysts, and instructional designers
• Monitor resource allocation and staffing performance, ensuring efficient utilization of labor hours
• Identify risks and issues early and implement mitigation strategies proactively
• Support continuous process improvement for training evaluation, delivery audits, and program operations
• Review and approve deliverables prior to submission to the Government