Team Lead Middle East Central Asia (MECA) (Falls Church)

Position: Team Lead Middle East Central Asia (MECA) 

Employment Type: Full Time 

Location: Falls Church, VA (Remote approved within the US but applicants located in the DC metropolitan area preferred)

The Role: Tesla Government, Inc. seeks a team lead who will manage a team of research specialists focusing on the Middle East Central Asia (MECA) region who support in-depth research, report writing, user relationship management, and knowledge and information management.

About Us: Tesla Government Inc. (no affiliation with the automotive company) is a rapidly growing small business, located in Falls Church, Virginia. Founded in 2009, Tesla Government seeks to improve how government agencies manage and share information internally and with government and external partners. Our proven agile, outcome-oriented approach delivers results quickly, reducing risk and driving client success.

We offer Flex PTO, flexible work schedule, health benefits, 4% matching on 401k contributions, competitive compensation, and work from home (telework). We have a friendly, active work environment, and our projects make a difference.

Position Summary: Team leads supervise a research team that delivers open-source intelligence for government and military users.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (proportional breakdowns of responsibilities vary):

• Team Management 

  • Manage a team of research specialists, determining prioritization of projects, monitoring quality and output, providing feedback, supporting professional development, and establishing and maintaining standards

  • Mentor and coach team members to help them grow and achieve their full potential as writers and researchers

• User Relationship Management 

  • Interact with government users in person, over the phone, and through email to build and maintain relationships

  • Provide virtual or in person briefings to users on key evolving topics

  • Provide trainings to users on navigating and leveraging online platforms and collaboration tools

  • Identify, suggest, and execute key information-sharing initiatives that provide value to government and military organizations

  • Teach user relationship management approaches and provide relationship management oversight

• Research & Writing 

• Oversee research specialists’ research and writing, ensuring products hew to program standards

  • Develop reports from open source research and official reporting

  • Identify key emerging topics in the region and proactively develop reports on the topics in advance of user requests

  • Continuously review previously produced reports and identify any needs for revisions to ensure their applicability and quality

• Knowledge Management 

  • Help users manage their information, organizing it in an intuitive manner

  • Manage extensive compilations of reports to enable users to readily discover information

  • Constantly find new ways to better relay information, leveraging visualizations and breaking up text

• Business Development

  • Participate in efforts to grow our business

• Other Duties, as Assigned

Attributes of a Successful Team Lead

• Mature approach to team management, including providing timely, constructive and actionable feedback

• Ability to delegate tasks to ensure execution of complex projects with little supervision

• Ability to set team strategy over a 1-3 year time horizon and identify and prioritize opportunities to advance overall program

• Interpersonal skills that allow effective interaction with personnel at all levels of US and foreign governments 

• Have a keen sense of how to discover hard-to-find information and guide team members in developing that skillset

• Have a mindset to organize complex information in an easily navigable way

• Ability to create engaging written, graphical, and multimedia content

• Ability to meet deadlines without compromising quality

• Be technically savvy and have the ability and willingness to learn various computer and web-based applications

• Comfort with public speaking

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS in foreign affairs, international security, area studies, political science, governmental studies, or a related field

• Experience working with the US government or military

• Experience working in international relations, foreign affairs, military affairs, and/or international development

• Experience producing research products on international topics

• Experience reviewing work by peers, colleagues, or direct reports for clarity, organization, and quality

• Fluency in English. Arabic fluency desired

• US citizenship and ability to acquire a security clearance

Desired Experience

• MA/MS in foreign affairs, international security. area studies, political science, governmental studies, or a related field

• Experience with customer/user relationship management

• Study or work experience in Middle East Central Asia (MECA)

To apply to this position, please submit:

• A resume

• A cover letter

Compensation: The expected initial salary for this role is $72,000 annually. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge and skills, education, experience, certifications, geographic location, and organizational needs. Individual compensation will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to base salary, Tesla Government offers a comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, retirement savings options, paid time off, paid holidays, and professional development opportunities.

Tesla Government Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This is a full time position