Data Collection Chief - Assistant Section Leader

BLUF 

Tactical Analyst III is a senior operational or technical leader responsible for shaping experimentation strategies, leading scenario design, and delivering authoritative assessments to customers. This role represents the highest level of expertise within the Tactical Analyst job family and provides strategic guidance across programs, events, and analytic efforts. 

Company Overview 

Covan Group is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) based in the National Capital Region. Our team consists of high-performing, experienced, and adaptive veterans and civilians who bring a multi-tiered perspective and deep expertise to our clients. Covan Group combines military and civilian experience across key areas, including MAGTF Planning, MEU and Special Operations, Military Instruction, Fires, Networking, Data Analytics, and Multimedia Production. Our capabilities are rooted in experience at all levels, from squad leaders to division leaders. With a strong foundation of recently separated service members—many still serving in the reserve component—Covan Group provides clients with firsthand military insight into research, development, and operational innovation. 

Key Outcomes (First 90–180 Days) 

• Learns and understands how Data Collection teams are employed and supported, providing informed recommendations to leadership. 

• Develops a clear understanding of collection systems, data pathways, personnel, and readiness requirements. 

• Demonstrates sound judgment in identifying data-quality concerns, evidence limitations, technical risks, and resource gaps. 

• Builds effective relationships across Data Collection, Operations, Planning, project teams, partners, and customers. 

• Identifies opportunities to improve collection readiness, continuity, training, traceability, and technical effectiveness. 

Core Responsibilities 

Technical Specialist Track 

• Function as a principal engineer, senior developer, or technical strategist for experimentation efforts. 

• Shape experimentation designs through advanced solution architecture, system integration strategies, and technical planning. 

• Recommend technical approaches for prototype integration, data collection, and system performance evaluation. 

• Advise customers on feasibility, risk, and operational applicability of technical solutions. 

Project Responsibilities 

The Data Collection Chief serves as the assistant section leader for Data Collection Headquarters. The role integrates collection planning, technical readiness, personnel allocation, data quality, and reporting across supported teams. It produces consistent, traceable evidence and reliable technical support for experimentation and customer assessment. 

• Assist the section leader in establishing collection priorities, standards, and technical requirements. 

• Coordinate collection plans, evaluation needs, staffing, and support across concurrent events. 

• Direct assigned technical leads and resolve cross-team collection dependencies. 

• Oversee readiness of collection systems, interfaces, data pathways, storage, and backups. 

• Establish approved checks for data quality, synchronization, provenance, integrity, and traceability. 

• Review collection plans, technical diagrams, dashboards, status products, and assessment inputs. 

• Coordinate with Operations, Planning, project managers, partners, and customer representatives. 

• Oversee technical incident response and elevate collection risks and resource shortfalls. 

• Develop training, SOPs, technical continuity procedures, and collection lessons learned. 

• Brief leadership on collection coverage, evidence limitations, readiness, and decisions required. 

Required Qualifications 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance. 

• Military experience at the senior SNCO or senior officer (O4/O5) level, OR equivalent senior-level operational or technical leadership experience within a federal or state organization. 

• Demonstrated senior-level operational or technical expertise relevant to experimental design and execution. 

• Education requirement may be satisfied with appropriate experience. 

• Senior leadership experience in technical collection, data engineering, analysis, or related operations; demonstrated management of technical teams and data-quality practices. 

• Ability to explain evidence and limitations clearly to customers and leadership. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience leading complex experimentation, wargames, or multi-agency evaluations. 

• Expert-level understanding of emerging technology integration and operational employment. 

• Ability to shape analytic methodologies and guide strategic assessments. 

• Experience leading experimentation or test-and-evaluation activities. 

• Relevant technical degree or equivalent experience. 

• Experience with Linux/Windows systems, data interfaces, and software-supported collection. 

Specialized Tools / Systems / Capabilities 

• Collection plans and network/data-flow diagrams. 

• Authorized servers, collection platforms, and dashboards. 

• Data-quality, provenance, integrity, and traceability tools. 

Clearance Requirements 

• Secret required; TS/SCI strongly preferred depending on program. 

• Must maintain full compliance with all clearance reporting and security protocols. 

Work Environment & Travel 

• Remote-first role with 50-80% annual travel to customer, laboratory, and event locations. 

• Event execution may require extended days, shift work, early mornings, evenings, weekends, and schedule changes. 

• Travel is governed by Covan Group's Travel Policy. 

Compensation 

2026 Pay Band: $95,000 – $150,000 

EEOC & Accommodation Statement 

Covan Group provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Reasonable accommodations are available upon request.