Director, Market Intelligence & Government Relations

About the role

Darkhive is looking for a Director of Market Intelligence & Government Relations to own two closely linked functions: understanding where defense spending and competitive dynamics are moving, and building the government relationships and policy fluency that let us move with them. This role sits within Strategy & Corporate Development and reports into the Chief Strategy Officer.

Responsibilities

• Track competitors, peer companies, and adjacent players across the UAS and counter-UAS landscape
• Monitor DoD and service-level budget lines, NDAA provisions, and procurement trends to inform business development and product decisions
• Build and maintain market sizing, forecasting, and win/loss analysis that grounds pursuit decisions in data rather than relationship-driven guessing
• Deliver regular intelligence briefings to Business Development, Capture, and executive leadership
• Own relationships with congressional offices, defense committees, and relevant DoD and agency stakeholders
• Track ITAR/EAR and export-control policy shifts and advise leadership on business and operational implications
• Represent the company at industry days, policy forums, and government-industry working groups
• Cross-functional partner closely with Communications & PR to keep policy narrative and press narrative aligned, given the natural overlap between the two functions
• Support Corporate Development and Partnerships with market and policy context for strategic opportunities
• Brief the CSO ahead of board and investor conversations touching policy or competitive positioning

Qualifications

• 6–10 years of experience across market/competitive intelligence, government relations, or defense policy
• Working familiarity with the DoD budget cycle (PPBE), the NDAA process, and congressional engagement
• Strong analytical and writing skills — comfortable producing both a sharp internal briefing and an external-facing policy position
• Bachelor's degree required

Preferred

• Existing relationships within DoD, a service branch, or on Capitol Hill
• Working knowledge of ITAR/EAR and export-control frameworks, particularly for dual-use technology
• Experience at a defense tech startup or another company balancing government and commercial rules
• Experience building a market intelligence or government relations function from scratch

Physical And/or Mental Requirements

• Ability to sit and/or stand for periods of time
• Ability to use a keyboard, mouse, and other equipment with or without accommodations
• Ability to maintain awareness during business hours
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds
• Excellent written and verbal communication and good command of the English language
• Learns and memorizes routine tasks

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical plans
• 100% employer paid dental and vision insurance premiums
• Automatic 401k employer contribution with vesting
• Paid vacation and personal time off
• 11 Paid holidays
• 5 days of sick leave
• Stock options
• Welcoming and friendly work environment
• Respect of work-life balance

Selection Process

• Hiring team reviews applications
• 20-minute pre-screen with Darkhive recruiter
• 30-minute phone screen with the hiring manager
• Take home project
• In-person or video interview with hiring team

Equal Opportunity Employer

Darkhive is an equal-opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment against any employee or applicant because of race, color, gender (including pregnancy), age, gender identity, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.