Director, Defense and National Security Innovation Programs

About the role

The Director, Defense and National Security Innovation Programs leads complex defense innovation initiatives that connect government mission partners with commercial technology companies, investors, academia, state and regional innovation stakeholders, and other partners across the dual-use ecosystem. This role carries overall responsibility for program success, including strategic direction, operational leadership, team management, stakeholder engagement, ecosystem development, technology scouting, mission alignment, readiness and transition support, reporting, and delivery against program-defined playbooks, standard operating procedures, and performance expectations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Program Strategy and Operations
  • Provide overall direction for complex defense innovation programs, ensuring activities align with sponsor priorities, mission needs, RTI expectations, and program-defined playbooks and operating procedures.
  • Set the operating rhythm for assigned programs, including governance, prioritization, resource planning, risk management, escalation, and performance oversight.
  • Lead multidisciplinary RTI teams, subcontractors, and partners to deliver high-quality execution across outreach, intake, scouting, assessment, validation, transition support, communications, and reporting.
• Build Ecosystem and Stakeholder Partnerships
  • Serve as the senior representative for assigned programs with sponsors, mission partners, regional government, industry, investors, academic institutions, and other innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
  • Develop and maintain trusted relationships across regional and national innovation ecosystems, including startups, venture capital firms, accelerators, technology developers, nonprofits, and academic partners.
  • Design and lead facilitated engagements, workshops, forums, and other convenings that connect mission partners with relevant commercial technologies and expertise.
• Translate Mission Needs into Technology Opportunities
  • Work with defense and national security partners to understand operational problems, requirements, constraints, funding pathways, acquisition considerations, and success criteria.
  • Guide targeted technology scouting efforts that identify commercial and dual-use solutions aligned to specific mission needs, problem sets, or capability gaps.
  • Oversee assessment of company and technology readiness, mission fit, transition pathways, and barriers to adoption.
• Drive Reporting, Communication, and Continuous Improvement
  • Ensure timely, accurate data capture and reporting on pipeline activity, engagement metrics, participant progression, readiness indicators, financial inputs, and program outcomes.
  • Prepare executive briefings, written summaries, decision-support materials, and program updates for sponsors, mission partners, RTI leadership, and external stakeholders.
  • Use program data, lessons learned, and stakeholder feedback to improve services, refine playbooks and operating procedures, and strengthen alignment with evolving mission needs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, technology commercialization, business, public policy, national security, or a related field and at least 12 years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree and at least 10 years of relevant experience; or a PhD and at least 6 years of relevant expreience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Significant experience leading complex programs, partnerships, or innovation initiatives involving defense, national security, government, commercial technology, venture, research, or dual-use innovation ecosystems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage operational execution, set priorities, and drive accountability across multiple stakeholders and workstreams.
• Experience engaging senior government, military, industry, investor, academic, or regional economic development stakeholders with credibility and executive presence.
• Strong understanding of technology commercialization, innovation ecosystems, emerging technology assessment, and pathways for moving technology from identification to pilot, validation, acquisition, or operational use.
• Ability to translate mission needs and technical concepts into clear, actionable strategies, engagement plans, briefings, and decision-support materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with technical, nontechnical, executive, and external audiences.
• Ability to work onsite or in a program-designated location when required and travel domestically as needed for regional engagement, national meetings, and mission-critical activities.
• To qualify, applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and should not require, now or in the future, sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status, etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical, business, public policy, national security, or related discipline.
• Relevant experience with defense innovation organizations, military service, the Intelligence Community, acquisition pathways, technology transition, or federally funded R&D programs.
• Experience developing or managing regional innovation programs, accelerators, venture engagement programs, public-private partnerships, technology transition programs, or defense-focused commercialization initiatives.
• Experience with technology readiness, commercial readiness, manufacturing readiness, test and evaluation, independent validation and verification, or transition planning.
• Experience leading competitive proposals, capture efforts, sponsor growth, or new program development.

Pay

$166,000 - $205,000