Manager, Military Operations

About the role

The Manager, Military Operations is a people-first leadership role responsible for the day-to-day oversight, coordination, and development of Blue Ops INC's Military Operations Specialists. This position serves as the connective layer between frontline operators, instructors, and senior leadership — ensuring that teams are prepared, resourced, and aligned to execute across all operational events, defense programs, and training initiatives. The Manager translates program objectives and strategic direction into executable plans at the team level, directly supervising Military Operations Specialists while maintaining a working knowledge of USV systems, mission planning, and instructional delivery. This role is expected to be present and engaged in the field alongside the team — not managing from a distance.

Responsibilities

• Team Leadership & Personnel Management
  • Directly supervise Military Operations Specialists personnel; manage day-to-day scheduling, task assignments, and team priorities.
  • Conduct regular one-on-one check-ins, performance conversations, and developmental coaching with direct reports.
  • Identify training needs, skill gaps, and professional development opportunities within the team; develop plans to close them.
  • Support the onboarding and integration of new team members; ensure personnel are qualified and ready before being placed in operational or instructional roles.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, safety, continuous improvement, and mission focus across the team.
  • Provide input to the Senior Manager on team performance, staffing needs, and personnel actions.
• Operational Planning & Event Execution
  • Coordinate team participation in all assigned operational events, demonstrations, military exercises, and testing activities.
  • Develop and manage pre-event planning timelines, task assignments, and readiness checklists for all near-term events.
  • Ensure all operational personnel are fully briefed, equipped, and prepared before departing for field events.
  • Serve as an on-site operational lead or designate qualified team leads for events where the Manager is not present.
  • Oversee post-event debriefs and AAR completion; ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future planning.
  • Maintain working familiarity with USV operations, command-and-control systems, and mission execution procedures sufficient to support, guide, and evaluate the team in the field.
• Mission Planning & Coordination
  • Support the development of mission plans, CONOPs, and operational documentation for assigned programs and events.
  • Coordinate with government customers, partner organizations, and internal stakeholders to define mission requirements and manage operational expectations.
  • Ensure team compliance with applicable maritime regulations, safety procedures, and program-specific operational standards.
  • Escalate mission risks, resource conflicts, or schedule impacts to the Senior Manager in a timely manner.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
  • Serve as the primary day-to-day coordination point between Military Operations, Training, Engineering, and Business Administration teams.
  • Coordinate closely with: Senior Manager, Military Operations & Training; Engineering & Autonomy Teams; Demo / RDT&E Specialists; Payload & Sensor Integrators; Logistics & Field Support Personnel; Government Training Managers & Contracting Officers.
  • Represent the team in internal planning meetings, program reviews, and status updates.
• Reporting & Documentation
  • Maintain accurate records of team activities, event outcomes, training completions, and personnel qualifications.
  • Produce periodic status reports and team updates for the Senior Manager.
  • Support development of program deliverables, data calls, and government-required reporting as needed.
• Supervisory Responsibilities
  • Direct supervisory authority over Military Operations Specialists and other personnel as may be assigned to the team. Responsibilities include daily task assignment, performance feedback, scheduling, field readiness oversight, and input into formal performance evaluations. Reports to the Senior Manager, Military Operations.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, maritime operations, military science, instructional design, defense systems, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in defense operations, maritime systems