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Deputy Director for Commercial Operations
DEFENSE INNOVATION UNIT (DIU)
Mountain View, CA
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is a Department of Defense (DoD) organization focused exclusively on accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and growing the national security innovation base. As the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country, DIU is focused on rapid prototyping, fielding, and scaling of commercial solutions that can save lives, lead to new operational concepts, increase efficiency, and save taxpayer dollars.
Duties
We are looking for an experienced executive to lead DIU’s engagement with commercial companies and investors in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and other key innovation hubs across the United States. You will represent DIU and DoD on defense applications of commercial technology and will interact directly with senior executives, including cabinet level secretaries and appointees, top military leadership, and Members of Congress. In addition to overseeing day-to-day commercial operations, you will maintain senior level investor and company relationships in order to provide insights into what technologies are being funded by venture capital, how those technologies map to national security use cases, and which companies are delivering those technologies.
As the Deputy Director, Commercial Operations you will:
- Advise the DIU Director and Portfolio Directors on any and all commercial considerations or relevant topics.
- Deliver a consistent, on-brand DIU procurement experience to private sector partners, including VCs and partner companies; and must be able to interact at the senior executive level with ease.
- Lead DIU’s intersection and relationships with the broader “DoD capital stack,” including general private venture capital and other investors, “patriotic capital,” and internal DoD capital entities (e.g., the Office of Strategic Capital). Manage/lead these relationships to maximize the efficient deployment of capital in support of DoD objectives, enabling sustainable scaling of commercial technology for DoD.
- Lead DIU’s support for commercial partners through the development process, enabling scale and managing transition/handoff to other agencies of DoD where appropriate.
- Provide oversight and direction for DoD’s innovation “on-ramp” functions, including the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), and including the early venture portfolio, geographic relationships and presence with universities and local innovation communities across designated States, and talent programs (e.g., Hacking for Defense). [Note: Congressional funding for these programs has been nearly $100 million annually.]
- Elevate awareness of DIU within innovation ecosystems.
- Develop subject matter knowledge of key industry focus areas.
- Participate in industry conferences, forums, webinars, and other events.
- Maintain market vigilance to be able to identify relevant technologies.
- Foster deep personal relationships with executives, policy organizations, and influencers across the ecosystem.
- Collaborate with DIU leadership to expand DIU’s access to allied innovation ecosystems.
- Develop materials that help clarify DIU’s added value to the DoD market.
- Identify opportunities to expand and strengthen DIU’s brand within the commercial market.
- Represent the DIU brand with appropriate gravitas and poise in all situations.
Skills & Experience we value for this role:
- Highest integrity and sound judgment.
- Executive presence and comfort with senior level interaction.
- Ability to deal with ambiguity and adapt quickly to changing demands.
- Ability to develop a vision for an organization.
- Ability to critically assess current capabilities and execute a strategy to deliver upon the vision.
- 10+ years of commercial experience, primarily in the private sector.
- 5+ years of experience in executive leadership roles (particularly in Business Development or Corporate Development) at a start-up or top-tier technology company, or as an investor in a top-tier venture/PE firm or related commercial business enterprise.
- History of having confronted significant hurdles and excelled at them.
- Thorough understanding of startup company culture and operations.
- Experience in enterprise sales, business development, operations, or product development.
- Prior military, Intelligence Community, or government experience is a plus.
- VC ecosystem experience is a plus.
Structure
In this role, you will work under the general direction and guidance of the Director, DIU, under the auspices of the Secretary of Defense. The Director outlines general assignment objectives and policies while delegating to the incumbent wide latitude for individual initiative, innovation and autonomy in planning, designing and applying expertise to DOD challenges.
Conditions of Employment
- This is a drug testing designated position
- Must submit for and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance
- Financial Disclosure is required
- Travel is required up to 20% for this position
- Telework may be authorized
- Mobility Agreement – No
- Physical Examination – No
- Overtime – No
Location & Travel: This position is located at our Mountain View office location with up to 20% travel required to engage other DIU locations and mission partner sites.
Who we are:
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) organization within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. DIU strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology throughout the military and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field commercial capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago, and inside the Pentagon, DIU is the Department’s gateway to acquiring leading technologies for the warfighter.
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