Careers

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a highly experienced Project Manager & Senior Policy Lead to serve as the primary lead and trusted advisor supporting the City of Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council under the Council Legislative Services contract. This individual will be responsible for directing, managing, and delivering high-quality legislative research, policy analysis, and fiscal impact support that enables informed decision-making by elected officials.

This role is mission-critical to the success of the engagement. The Project Manager & Senior Policy Lead acts as the single point of accountability for task execution, quality assurance, and client communication. The ideal candidate is a seasoned policy and program leader with deep experience operating in complex government environments, translating ambiguous policy questions into structured analyses, and briefing senior leaders clearly and objectively.

Candidates should possess strong business-domain expertise in public policy, legislative research, municipal or state government operations, fiscal analysis, and stakeholder coordination. Success in this role requires demonstrated leadership, analytical rigor, excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to operate independently with minimal supervision while managing multiple concurrent priorities.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Project Manager & Senior Policy Lead provides overall leadership for all Council Legislative Services tasking. This role is responsible for interpreting City requests, shaping analytical approaches, coordinating internal and external contributors, and ensuring that all deliverables meet the City’s standards for objectivity, clarity, timeliness, and public accountability.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, highly organized planner who thrives in environments where requirements may evolve and timelines can be compressed. The individual must be self-directed, proactive, and comfortable working in an advisory capacity with senior elected officials and executive staff. They must anticipate issues, frame policy tradeoffs, manage scope effectively, and ensure analyses are defensible, data-driven, and clearly documented.

The Project Manager & Senior Policy Lead is expected to solve complex policy and fiscal questions, reconcile qualitative and quantitative inputs, and deliver decision-ready products such as memoranda, briefing decks, fiscal impact summaries, and comparative policy analyses. The role relies heavily on structured research methodologies, financial modeling, quality assurance processes, and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

• Lead and manage all task orders issued under the Council Legislative Services contract
• Serve as the primary point of contact between Ascension and City leadership
• Interpret legislative and policy questions and translate them into structured research and analysis plans
• Oversee policy research, legislative review, and comparative analysis activities
• Direct and review fiscal impact analyses, cost-benefit models, and scenario evaluations
• Integrate qualitative stakeholder input with quantitative data findings
• Develop and review written deliverables including reports, memoranda, issue briefs, and presentations
• Prepare and deliver briefings for the Mayor, City Council, and senior staff
• Coordinate meetings, work sessions, and consultations with internal and external stakeholders
• Ensure all deliverables undergo quality assurance for accuracy, clarity, neutrality, and completeness
• Manage schedules, priorities, and workload across multiple concurrent assignments
• Identify risks, data gaps, and scope changes and recommend mitigation strategies
• Maintain organized records of task requests, assumptions, sources, and final outputs

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented Stakeholder Engagement & Communications / Quality Assurance Lead to support the City of Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council by ensuring that legislative research, analytical products, and briefings are clearly communicated, professionally presented, and rigorously quality-checked.

This dual-role position is critical to the success of the Council Legislative Services effort. The individual in this role serves as the final gatekeeper for quality, clarity, and consistency across all written and presentation materials delivered to the Mayor, City Council, and City stakeholders. The role also ensures that stakeholder-facing communications are accurate, accessible, and aligned with the City’s transparency and governance standards.

The ideal candidate brings a blend of stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and quality assurance experience, with the ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment. This role is especially well-suited for a professional who thrives in an advisory capacity, anticipates issues before they surface, and understands how to translate complex policy and financial analysis into clear, decision-ready materials.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Stakeholder Engagement & Communications / QA Lead supports Ascension’s Project Manager and analytical staff by overseeing communications development, stakeholder coordination, and quality assurance for all Council-facing deliverables. While the solicitation does not prescribe detailed communications or QA processes, the City’s expectations for accuracy, neutrality, and professionalism require disciplined execution in these areas.

The individual in this role is expected to be self-directed, highly responsive, and meticulous, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent requests that fluctuate with Council schedules and legislative priorities. The role requires strong editorial judgment, political awareness, and the ability to identify inconsistencies, risks, or gaps in analytical narratives before materials are released.

This position solves for three critical needs:

1. Ensuring that all deliverables are accurate, complete, and internally consistent
2. Supporting clear and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders
3. Protecting the City and Ascension through structured quality control and documentation discipline

The role relies heavily on Microsoft 365 tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, SharePoint) and established review workflows to manage versions, comments, and approvals.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

The Stakeholder Engagement & Communications / QA Lead will:

• Review all draft reports, memoranda, presentations, and briefing materials for accuracy, clarity, completeness, and consistency
• Edit and proofread Council-facing documents to ensure professional tone, neutral language, and accessibility for non-technical audiences
• Verify that data references, assumptions, and citations align with analytical inputs and approved methodologies
• Coordinate stakeholder communications related to meetings, briefings, and information requests, in collaboration with the Project Manager
• Prepare stakeholder-ready communication products such as one-pagers, talking points, executive summaries, and presentation decks
• Track and manage comments, revisions, and version control across deliverables using SharePoint and Teams
• Support preparation for Mayor and City Council meetings by ensuring materials are finalized, formatted, and delivered on schedule
• Document quality assurance checks and maintain review logs to support transparency and auditability
• Identify and flag potential risks, ambiguities, or inconsistencies in analytical narratives prior to submission
• Assist with post-meeting summaries, action item tracking, and follow-up communications as needed

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!Ascension LLC is seeking a Financial & Economic Analyst / Data Analyst to support the City of Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council by delivering objective, data-driven fiscal, economic, and quantitative analyses that inform legislative and policy decisions.

This dual-role position is ideal for a candidate who combines strong analytical rigor with the ability to translate complex financial and economic data into clear, decision-ready insights for elected officials and senior leadership. The individual will play a critical role in evaluating the fiscal impacts of proposed ordinances, policy initiatives, and programmatic decisions, ensuring Council deliberations are supported by credible, transparent, and well-documented analysis.

The Financial & Economic Analyst / Data Analyst will work closely with Ascension’s Project Manager / Senior Policy Lead and Policy Analyst to integrate quantitative findings into Council memoranda, briefing materials, and presentations. This role is essential to achieving the City’s goal of informed, accountable, and data-supported legislative decision-making.

Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, task-order-driven environment, responding to evolving Council priorities, and exercising independent judgment with minimal supervision.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Financial & Economic Analyst / Data Analyst provides independent fiscal analysis, economic impact assessment, and quantitative data support for legislative research and Council advisory services. The role supports the City’s need for timely and impartial evaluation of budgetary, economic, and operational implications associated with proposed legislation, policies, and initiatives.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, analytical professional who is highly organized, intellectually curious, and capable of managing multiple analytical requests concurrently. They are self-driven, comfortable working with incomplete or evolving datasets, and skilled at validating assumptions, documenting methodologies, and presenting findings in a clear and defensible manner.

This role supports:

• Fiscal impact analyses for proposed ordinances or policy changes
• Cost-benefit and scenario modeling
• Economic trend analysis relevant to municipal decision-making
• Data validation, synthesis, and visualization
• Development of reproducible analytical tools and models

The analyst is expected to leverage tools such as Microsoft Excel, Power BI, and other data-analysis platforms to produce transparent, auditable outputs suitable for public-sector use.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

The Financial & Economic Analyst / Data Analyst will:

Support Council meetings and work sessions, as needed, by preparing financial summaries or briefing materials
Conduct fiscal impact analyses to assess budgetary implications of proposed legislation, programs, or policy alternatives
Develop cost-benefit, break-even, and scenario-based financial models to evaluate policy options
Analyze economic, demographic, and programmatic data to identify trends and potential impacts on the City
Validate and reconcile data from multiple sources to ensure accuracy and reliability prior to analysis
Document assumptions, methodologies, and limitations to support transparency and auditability
Develop quantitative exhibits, tables, and charts to support Council briefing materials
Create and maintain Excel- or Power BI-based analytical tools that enable repeatable analysis
Collaborate with policy and project management staff to integrate quantitative findings into written reports and presentations
Respond to ad-hoc analytical requests from Council leadership within compressed timeframes

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension is seeking an experienced Policy Analyst & Legislative Researcher to provide objective, data-driven legislative research and policy analysis in support of municipal decision-making for an elected legislative body. This role is central to ensuring that City Council members receive timely, accurate, and well-documented information to evaluate legislation, fiscal impacts, and policy options.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives at the intersection of policy research, analytical writing, and public-sector governance. This individual should be comfortable working independently, synthesizing complex information across policy domains, and translating findings into concise, decision-ready products for elected officials and senior leadership.

This role directly supports the effectiveness, transparency, and credibility of legislative deliberations and plays a critical role in strengthening evidence-based policymaking for the client.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Policy Analyst & Legislative Researcher provides independent analytical support across a wide range of legislative and policy topics. The role focuses on researching proposed legislation, evaluating policy alternatives, assessing fiscal and operational implications, and preparing written analyses and briefing materials for City Council use.

Because legislative needs evolve rapidly, the analyst must be highly organized, self-directed, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple concurrent research requests under compressed timelines. The role requires strong judgment in identifying credible sources, clearly documenting assumptions, and distinguishing facts from interpretation.

This position regularly supports:

• Legislative research and issue briefs
• Comparative policy analysis across jurisdictions
• Fiscal impact summaries (in coordination with financial analysts)
• Council meeting preparation and follow-up analysis
• Ad hoc research requests driven by emerging policy questions

Tools commonly used include Microsoft Word, Excel, SharePoint, Teams, and online legislative research databases. Familiarity with municipal governance structures and public-sector policy processes is essential.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

• Conduct legislative and policy research on municipal, state, and federal issues relevant to City Council decision-making
• Analyze proposed ordinances, resolutions, and policy initiatives for legal, operational, and policy implications
• Prepare clear, concise written products such as policy memoranda, issue briefs, and comparative analyses
• Research best practices and peer jurisdiction approaches to inform policy options
• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data into decision-support materials for non-technical audiences
• Track legislative developments, regulatory changes, and policy trends as requested
• Support Council meeting preparation through background research and briefing materials
• Coordinate with the Project Manager/Senior Policy Lead and Financial Analyst to align findings
• Respond to time-sensitive, ad hoc research requests with professionalism and accuracy
• Maintain organized research files and documentation to support transparency and reuse

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a Mentor-Protégé Program Specialist to support the Defense Health Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). This role is critical to the successful execution, oversight, and continuous improvement of DHA’s Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP), a statutory program designed to strengthen the small business industrial base supporting the Military Health System.

The ideal candidate is a mission-driven analyst and program operator with demonstrated experience supporting federal small business programs, acquisition-related initiatives, and stakeholder-driven program management efforts. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to DHA OSBP leadership, ensuring mentor-protégé agreements are properly evaluated, coordinated, documented, and managed in accordance with FAR, DFARS, DoDI 4205.01, and the Small Business Act.

This position is well-suited for candidates with experience in federal acquisition support, program analysis, policy development, and cross-functional coordination, particularly within DoD or civilian federal environments.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Mentor-Protégé Program Specialist provides analytical, operational, and program management support to DHA OSBP’s Mentor-Protégé Program. The role focuses on program execution, policy and guidance development, agreement review and coordination, performance tracking, and stakeholder engagement.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable working in a regulated, fast-paced environment with competing priorities. The candidate should be self-directed, capable of operating with minimal supervision, and skilled at translating statutory and regulatory requirements into practical, executable program processes.

This role supports DHA OSBP by ensuring mentor-protégé agreements are compliant, well-documented, and aligned with agency small business objectives, while also helping the Government measure program outcomes and continuously improve execution.

Tools and processes commonly used in this role include Microsoft 365 (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint), data trackers, document review workflows, and structured reporting templates.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

The Mentor-Protégé Program Specialist is expected to perform the following activities in support of the DHA OSBP Mentor-Protégé Program:

• Analyze mentor-protégé agreement submissions for completeness, compliance, and alignment with statutory and regulatory requirements
• Support needs assessments and draft analytical content to inform program policies, guidance, and implementation materials
• Coordinate internal and external reviews of mentor-protégé agreements with Government stakeholders
• Track program activities, milestones, and agreement statuses using structured data and reporting tools
• Assist with program management reviews and stakeholder briefings related to mentor-protégé execution
• Support development and maintenance of budget, expenditure, and performance tracking reports for the program
• Prepare summaries, memoranda, briefing slides, and reports for OSBP leadership
• Maintain accurate program documentation and records in accordance with DHA requirements
• Support continuous process improvement initiatives related to mentor-protégé operations
• Participate in meetings, working groups, and outreach activities as required

Protect our Homeland, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a Data Analyst / Reporting Specialist to support the Defense Health Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) in advancing its mission to become a more data-driven, performance-focused organization. This role is critical to enabling OSBP leadership to track, assess, and communicate small business participation outcomes across DHA acquisitions.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical rigor, reporting discipline, and business acumen, with the ability to translate complex acquisition and program data into clear, actionable insights for senior government stakeholders. This role directly supports DHA’s statutory responsibilities under the Small Business Act and contributes to enterprise-level decision-making that impacts acquisition strategy, outreach effectiveness, and small business goal attainment.

This position is well-suited for a professional with experience in federal data analysis, KPI development, reporting automation, and executive-level briefing support, particularly in acquisition, program management, or small business domains.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Data Analyst / Reporting Specialist provides analytical and reporting support to OSBP by developing, maintaining, and delivering recurring and ad hoc performance reports, dashboards, and data products that measure small business participation and program execution effectiveness.

The role supports OSBP’s transition toward real-time visibility of performance metrics by leveraging analytical tools and structured data processes. The analyst is expected to be detail-oriented, self-directed, and highly organized, capable of working in a dynamic federal environment with minimal supervision while managing multiple reporting timelines and stakeholder requests.

The ideal candidate anticipates data quality issues, proactively constructs solutions, and ensures reporting products are accurate, timely, and aligned with leadership priorities. This role solves challenges related to data fragmentation, reporting consistency, and performance storytelling by applying structured analytical methods and modern reporting tools.

Primary tools and environments include: Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Power BI, DHA network systems, and government-furnished data repositories.

Position Responsibilities and Anticipated Activities

• Analyze small business participation, subcontracting, and acquisition-related datasets to identify trends, risks, and performance drivers
• Develop weekly Small Business Achievement Reports and semi-annual subcontracting performance reports
• Compile and validate data from multiple government and contractor sources to ensure accuracy and consistency
• Design dashboards, scorecards, and visualizations that provide real-time insight into OSBP performance metrics
• Prepare executive-ready briefings, charts, and data narratives for senior leadership
• Support evaluation of strategic planning initiatives and annual small business goals
• Monitor incoming data calls, industry inputs, and program communications relevant to small business performance
• Document data methodologies, assumptions, and reporting logic to ensure repeatability and audit readiness
• Coordinate with program managers, analysts, and leadership to respond to ad hoc data and reporting requests
• Ensure compliance with DHA data security, privacy, and Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) handling requirements

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a Project Coordinator / Operations Support professional to provide day-to-day operational, analytical, and coordination support to the Defense Health Agency’s Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP). This role is critical to ensuring the smooth execution of OSBP program activities, reporting requirements, stakeholder coordination, and internal operations that support DHA’s mission to maximize small business participation across acquisitions.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a structured but fast-moving federal environment, brings strong organizational and communication skills, and understands how to support program execution through disciplined coordination, tracking, and documentation. This role is well-suited for professionals with experience supporting federal program offices, acquisition or small business programs, or management support functions who want to grow their impact while working closely with senior stakeholders.

This position directly supports the Government’s need for reliable program execution, accurate reporting, and responsive operational support across OSBP initiatives.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Project Coordinator / Operations Support role provides essential operational backbone support to the DHA OSBP. The position supports daily program execution activities, tracks deliverables and staffing status, coordinates communications and meetings, and assists with reporting, outreach preparation, and documentation required under the Performance Work Statement.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities with minimal supervision. They are proactive, comfortable working in an ambiguous environment, and skilled at anticipating needs before issues arise. This role supports the Government by ensuring information flows efficiently, reports are accurate and timely, and program activities remain aligned with performance requirements.

The position relies heavily on Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint) and requires comfort working with trackers, schedules, and structured reporting processes.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

The Project Coordinator / Operations Support will:

Collaborate closely with the Program Manager, analysts, and Government stakeholders

Coordinate and track daily program execution activities in support of OSBP initiatives

Monitor shared mailboxes and incoming communications and compile summaries of salient information

Maintain staffing plans, labor trackers, and status reports in accordance with contract requirements

Prepare and update program trackers, schedules, and action item logs

Support development of weekly, monthly, and semi-annual reports and deliverables

Assist with preparation of briefing materials, presentations, and executive summaries

Coordinate meetings, outreach events, and stakeholder engagements, including logistics and documentation

Draft meeting agendas, capture meeting notes, and track follow-up actions

Support transition-in and transition-out documentation and coordination activities

Ensure compliance with quality control, reporting, and documentation standards

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a Business Analyst / Strategic Analyst to provide high-impact analytical, data-driven, and strategic support to the Defense Health Agency Office of Small Business Programs (DHA OSBP). This role is critical to helping DHA OSBP operate as a more data-driven, performance-focused organization, supporting statutory small business goals and acquisition decision-making across the Military Health System.

The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of business analysis, data analytics, federal acquisition familiarity, and strategic communication skills, and is motivated by mission-focused work supporting federal healthcare and defense programs. This role is well-suited for professionals who excel at translating complex data into actionable insights, developing performance metrics, and supporting leadership decision-making in regulated federal environments.

This position plays a direct role in advancing DHA OSBP’s mission by supporting program execution, performance reporting, strategic planning initiatives, outreach analytics, and small business participation assessments.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Business Analyst / Strategic Analyst supports DHA OSBP by delivering analytical and program execution support that enables leadership to evaluate small business performance, monitor program outcomes, and inform strategic decisions. The role focuses on industrial base analysis, performance metrics development, data visualization, reporting, and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, analytical problem solver who can operate effectively in a dynamic federal environment, manage multiple priorities, and work independently with minimal supervision. The analyst is expected to anticipate information needs, synthesize data from multiple sources, and produce high-quality reports and briefings for senior government stakeholders.

Tools commonly used in this role include Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Power BI, Teams, and other Microsoft 365 applications, as well as government-provided data systems and reporting tools.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

• Analyze small business participation data, subcontracting achievements, and program performance metrics
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and visualizations to support leadership decision-making
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and semi-annual reports on small business achievements and program execution
• Monitor industry trends, acquisition activity, and external data sources relevant to small business programs
• Support evaluation of strategic planning initiatives and annual small business goal development
• Compile and synthesize data into executive-level briefings, presentations, and written summaries
• Coordinate with program staff to validate data accuracy and ensure reporting consistency
• Assist with outreach analytics, event assessments, and benefit evaluation metrics
• Maintain documentation, data repositories, and knowledge management artifacts
• Collaborate with government and contractor stakeholders to support continuous process improvement

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

The Program Manager is the designated Key Personnel responsible for the overall performance of Ascension’s support to the DHA OSBP. This role provides leadership, coordination, and oversight across all task areas, including program management, data and analytical support, strategic communications, outreach, mentor-protégé support, and administrative services.

The Program Manager ensures that all contractual requirements are met in accordance with the Performance Work Statement, quality standards, and delivery schedules. The role requires a highly organized, detail-oriented leader who can anticipate risks, manage competing priorities, and maintain continuity of operations in a fast-paced federal environment.

The ideal candidate is:

• Self-directed and comfortable working with minimal Government supervision
• Skilled at translating requirements into executable plans
• Adept at managing staffing levels, performance metrics, and deliverables
• Experienced with monthly, weekly, and ad hoc reporting requirements
• Capable of establishing strong working relationships with Contracting Officers, CORs, and program stakeholders

Tools and processes commonly used in this role include Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint, Excel, PowerPoint), reporting dashboards, staffing trackers, quality control plans, and structured program management methodologies.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

• Serve as the primary point of contact with the Government COR and Contracting Officer
• Lead and manage all aspects of contract performance and service delivery
• Oversee execution of program management, reporting, outreach, and analytical tasks
• Develop, maintain, and enforce the Quality Control Plan
• Ensure timely submission of all required deliverables, including monthly progress reports and staffing plans
• Manage staffing levels, labor categories, and workforce continuity
• Coordinate transition-in and transition-out activities
• Monitor contract risks, issues, and performance metrics
• Lead internal team meetings and coordinate cross-functional support
• Prepare and review briefings, reports, and executive-level documentation
• Ensure compliance with DHA security, onboarding, and CAC requirements
• Support Government meetings, reviews, and performance assessments

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking a Training Coordinator & Evaluation Analyst to support the planning, execution, evaluation, and continuous improvement of workforce training and learning initiatives for a public-sector client. This role is critical to ensuring that training programs are well-designed, effectively delivered, and measurably aligned with organizational goals, compliance requirements, and workforce performance outcomes.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives at the intersection of training operations, program evaluation, and data-driven decision-making. This role is well-suited for a professional who understands adult learning principles, is highly organized, analytically strong, and capable of translating training outcomes into actionable insights for program leadership.

This position plays a key role in helping the client assess training effectiveness, identify gaps, support workforce readiness objectives, and demonstrate program impact through qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods.

Role Summary

The Training Coordinator & Evaluation Analyst is responsible for coordinating end-to-end training activities while simultaneously designing and executing evaluation strategies that measure training effectiveness, learner outcomes, and program impact.

This role supports the client by ensuring that training initiatives are delivered efficiently, tracked accurately, and continuously improved using data, feedback, and performance metrics. The position requires a detail-oriented professional who can manage multiple priorities, operate independently, and communicate clearly with stakeholders across program, leadership, and instructional teams.

The ideal candidate brings strong organizational discipline, analytical rigor, and the ability to work effectively in evolving environments with minimal supervision. Success in this role requires anticipating risks, resolving issues proactively, and using evaluation findings to inform strategic decisions.

Tools and platforms commonly used in this role include Microsoft 365 (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams), survey tools, learning management systems (LMS), dashboards, and data visualization or reporting tools.

Key Responsibilities and Day-to-Day Activities

The Training Coordinator & Evaluation Analyst will:

• Coordinate planning and logistics for instructor-led, virtual, and hybrid training sessions
• Develop and maintain training schedules, rosters, attendance records, and tracking logs
• Support development and refinement of training materials, curricula, and job aids
• Administer post-training evaluations, surveys, and feedback instruments
• Analyze training data to assess effectiveness, learner satisfaction, and knowledge transfer
• Design and maintain performance metrics and key indicators related to training outcomes
• Develop reports, dashboards, and briefing materials for program leadership and stakeholders
• Track training participation, completion rates, and compliance requirements
• Support continuous improvement efforts by identifying trends, gaps, and opportunities
• Facilitate coordination between trainers, subject matter experts, and client stakeholders
• Ensure training documentation and evaluation artifacts are complete, accurate, and audit-ready
• Apply quality assurance practices to training delivery and evaluation processes
• Support ad hoc analysis and special projects related to workforce development or readiness

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Lead Certified Trainer to design, deliver, and oversee high-quality training programs in support of a mission-driven government client. This role is critical to ensuring successful adoption of new systems, tools, processes, and organizational changes by end users, managers, and administrators.

The ideal candidate is a seasoned training professional with deep experience leading instructor-led and virtual training initiatives, developing curriculum and learning materials, and coaching other trainers. This individual will serve as the primary authority and point of accountability for training strategy, execution, and quality across the engagement.

This role is best suited for a candidate who combines instructional design expertise, facilitation excellence, and stakeholder engagement skills, and who is comfortable operating in complex, regulated environments such as Federal, state, or local government. The Lead Certified Trainer plays a direct role in helping the client achieve operational readiness, workforce capability, and sustained adoption of delivered solutions.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Lead Certified Trainer is responsible for planning, developing, coordinating, and delivering comprehensive training solutions aligned with client requirements, project milestones, and change management goals. This individual leads training needs assessments, designs learning strategies, develops curriculum and materials, and delivers engaging, effective training sessions across multiple audiences.

In addition to hands-on facilitation, the Lead Certified Trainer provides oversight and quality assurance for all training activities, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and alignment with adult learning best practices. The role requires a self-directed professional who can operate with minimal supervision, anticipate training challenges, and adapt delivery approaches to meet evolving customer needs.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, an excellent communicator, and comfortable managing multiple priorities. They will be expected to solve problems related to user adoption, knowledge transfer, and training effectiveness, using data, feedback, and continuous improvement techniques. Tools may include Microsoft 365, SharePoint, PowerPoint, virtual training platforms, learning management systems, and survey or evaluation tools.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

The Lead Certified Trainer will:

• Assess training needs by collaborating with project teams, stakeholders, and end users
• Design comprehensive training strategies aligned to project phases and user roles
• Develop instructor-led, virtual, and blended training curricula and lesson plans
• Create training materials including slide decks, job aids, user guides, and reference materials
• Deliver engaging training sessions to diverse audiences, including executives, managers, and staff
• Lead train-the-trainer sessions to ensure consistent delivery across trainers
• Coordinate training schedules, logistics, and participant communications
• Evaluate training effectiveness using surveys, assessments, and feedback mechanisms
• Refine training content and delivery based on evaluation results and stakeholder input
• Ensure compliance with accessibility requirements, including Section 508 standards
• Document training activities, attendance, and outcomes for reporting purposes
• Support change management and user adoption efforts in collaboration with project leadership

Protect our Land, Ascend with Us!

Ascension LLC is seeking an experienced Project Manager & Lead Instructional Designer to lead and deliver mission-critical training and learning solutions in support of government clients. This role is central to the successful execution of the engagement and serves as both the operational lead and the instructional authority for training initiatives tied to workforce readiness, program transformation, systems adoption, or policy implementation.

The ideal candidate is someone who thrives at the intersection of project delivery, instructional design leadership, and client engagement. This individual must be capable of translating complex program requirements, policies, or systems into structured, accessible, and effective learning solutions while managing schedules, risks, stakeholders, and deliverables.

This role is critical to ensuring that training programs are delivered on time, within scope, compliant with federal standards, and aligned with the client’s strategic goals. Candidates should have experience in regulated or public-sector environments and be comfortable operating with a high degree of accountability and visibility.

Summary of the Contractor Role

The Project Manager & Lead Instructional Designer is responsible for end-to-end ownership of training and instructional design efforts, from initial planning and requirements analysis through curriculum development, delivery, and continuous improvement.

This role supports customer needs by:

• Ensuring training initiatives are well-planned, properly resourced, and executed using disciplined project management practices
• Designing instructional solutions that are learner-centered, outcomes-driven, and compliant with accessibility and government standards
• Serving as a trusted advisor to the client by anticipating challenges, mitigating risks, and aligning training strategies to program objectives

The ideal candidate brings strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in environments where requirements may evolve. This individual is expected to be self-directed, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and skilled at problem-solving and stakeholder coordination.

To be successful, the candidate must leverage tools and processes such as Microsoft 365, SharePoint, virtual learning platforms, structured project plans, risk registers, instructional design frameworks (such as ADDIE), and quality assurance methodologies.

Position Day-to-Day Activities

Support user adoption and change management efforts tied to training initiatives

Lead and manage instructional design and training projects from initiation through closeout

Develop and maintain project plans, schedules, milestones, and delivery timelines

Coordinate instructional designers, subject matter experts, facilitators, and client stakeholders

Conduct training needs assessments and translate requirements into learning objectives

Design and oversee development of instructor-led training, virtual training, blended learning, and job aids

Apply adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies to all training products

Ensure all training materials meet Section 508 and accessibility requirements

Facilitate design reviews, pilot sessions, and stakeholder working sessions

Track risks, issues, and dependencies and implement mitigation strategies

Prepare and deliver project status reports, briefings, and training documentation

This HR&Talent Acquisition Coordinator is designed to help us scale our recruiting operations and strengthen our HR infrastructure as we continue to grow. You will be an integral part of our proposal and recruiting process, ensuring we move quickly from position description (PD) development to candidate selection, while also supporting broader HR initiatives that will help us attract, retain, and develop top talent.

Core Responsibilities

1. Position Description (PD) Management

• Finalize PD drafts from the proposal team during the RFI and/or RFP stages.
• Format and post PDs to:
  • Company website
  • LinkedIn and other social media platforms
  • Agreed-upon job boards
• Ensure postings go live within 24–48 hours of receiving final draft.

2. Candidate Pipeline Management

• Use AI tools (with my guidance) to pre-screen resumes.
• Maintain a candidate tracker with notes, ratings, and status updates.
• Flag strong candidates promptly for review.

3. Interview Coordination

• Contact shortlisted candidates to confirm interest.
• Schedule interviews directly on my calendar.
• Send candidates confirmation emails and relevant job details.

4. HR / Human Capital Infrastructure Projects

Contribute to other HR/corporate projects that strengthen company infrastructure.

Assist in building out our HR SharePoint site.

Develop and maintain onboarding/offboarding processes, checklists, and packages.

Support the creation and automation of performance review processes.

Track and ensure completion of required employee training.

We are looking for an HR Data Analyst who will provide advanced analytics, workforce data insights, and internal control expertise to support OPM’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and Internal Control and Compliance (ICC) Division. This role ensures HR and workforce data inform effective decision-making, supports compliance with OMB Circular A-123 Appendix D, and strengthens the link between internal controls, human capital, and financial reporting.

The HR Data Analyst day-to-day functions will be to:

• Serve as the lead SME for workforce and HR data analytics in support of internal control and risk assessment activities.
• Develop dashboards, scorecards, and reports to monitor HR and workforce trends, staffing patterns, and risks affecting financial management systems.
• Provide analytic support for internal control testing, including workforce-related IT General Controls (ITGCs) and human capital processes tied to financial reporting.
• Translate HR data insights into actionable recommendations for OPM leadership.
• Support lessons learned documentation, briefings, and workforce planning deliverables.
• Collaborate with system/process owners to validate data integrity, identify deficiencies, and support remediation planning.
• Mentor analysts and ensure quality in HR-related workpapers, memos, and reporting artifacts.

We are looking for a Senior Business Specialist who will provide expert business analysis, program support, and advisory services to OPM’s Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) and Internal Control and Compliance (ICC) Division. This role bridges business and technical requirements, ensuring compliance with OMB Circular A-123 Appendix D, the CFO Act, FMFIA, and related financial management regulations. The Senior Business Specialist will support the execution of internal control assessments, develop documentation and reporting, and provide strategic recommendations to improve financial management processes.

The Senior Business Specialist day-to-day functions will be to:

• Lead business analysis and documentation efforts in support of internal control assessments, including Test of Design (TOD) and Test of Operating Effectiveness (TOE).
• Support development of project plans, schedules, risk assessments, and deliverables such as deficiency memos, lessons learned, and IT Summary of Aggregated Deficiencies (IT SAD).
• Conduct data validation, process mapping, and documentation of financial and mixed financial systems.
• Analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement, automation, or remediation.
• Collaborate with system/process owners, auditors, and OPM leadership to ensure alignment with internal control requirements.
• Prepare and deliver reports, dashboards, and briefings to support ICC decision-making.
• Provide subject matter guidance to junior analysts and team members.