Data Collection Team Lead Watch Chief
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)
- Understands Data Collection team employment, watch structure, coverage, and reporting requirements.
- Understands collection systems, readiness, data quality, traceability, and watch turnover.
- Demonstrates judgment identifying collection gaps, technical risks, evidence limits, and escalation needs.
- Builds cross-functional relationships and recommends improvements to continuity, training, and handover.
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 Team Lead directs collection personnel and watch activities for experiments and events. The role integrates coverage, technical readiness, data quality, and reporting with Operations and project leadership to ensure complete execution, traceable records, and watch continuity.
- Lead assigned personnel; set event/watch priorities.
- Translate collection plans into team tasks, coverage, and reporting schedules.
- Coordinate observers, analyst support, and technical readiness.
- Manage watch coverage, turnover, collection status, and open actions.
- Verify data-quality, synchronization, and traceability practices.
- Coordinate troubleshooting and maintain collection continuity.
- Identify collection gaps, resource constraints, and data risks; elevate decisions.
- Review collection records, status products, and assessment inputs.
- Maintain training, SOPs, checklists, and handover procedures.
- Brief the Data Collection Chief and capture lessons learned.
Required Qualifications
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
- Senior technical or operational leadership in data collection, testing, analysis, or related events; education may be satisfied with equivalent experience.
- Ability to direct teams and watches while maintaining collection continuity.
- Demonstrated data-quality, coordination, briefing, and customer communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- Military experience at the senior SNCO or senior officer (O4/O5) level, OR equivalent senior-level operational or technical leadership in a federal or state organization.
- Experience leading complex experimentation or multi-agency evaluations, including emerging technology integration and analytic methodology development.
- Experience with technical collection systems or distributed teams; relevant technical degree or technical/data credentials preferred.
Specialized Tools / Systems / Capabilities
- Collection plans, watch/coverage trackers, collection platforms, and dashboards.
- Quality-control, synchronization, traceability, handover, status, and reporting 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 approximately 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.