Director, DOD Programs

Location: Arlington, United States of America

In fast changing markets, customers worldwide rely on Thales. Thales is a business where brilliant people from all over the world come together to share ideas and inspire each other. In aerospace, transportation, defence, security and space, our architects design innovative solutions that make our tomorrow's possible.

Knowing what Thales does today, means asking where technology is taking us tomorrow. We are creating the waves of digital transformation that will cary our customers into the future. Where these transformations intersect and interfere is where the most interesting and innovative tomorrows are being built. Thales operates at the intersection of these technologies to find every tomorrow.

Director, DOD Programs

Arlington- Hybrid

Position Summary

Thales is currently looking for a Director, DoD Programs will assist the VP, Defense Programs for the Pentagon/DoD account and support Thales USA (TUSA) outreach to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment in the Department of Defense, to include the Offices of the Assistant Secretary (Acquisition), the Assistant Secretary (Sustainment), the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Industrial Policy, the Executive Director, International Cooperation and other DoD offices as required.  

This role will primarily focus on outreach to the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines Acquisition mid-level leadership and the Program Executive Offices and focused Program Management Offices.

Regulatory Compliance Requirements

Must have US Citizenship in order to review controlled and sensitive DOD data.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The responsibilities for this position would include:

• Relationship building and broad engagement on program and policy decisions of importance to Thales. 

• Coordinate engagement with other offices in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and military services headquarters staffs. 

• Participate in TUSA outreach to external organizations on matters of defense program and policy issues, including the Aerospace Industries Association, the National Defense Industrial Association, and others as determined. 

• Support targeted engagement with capture team leads for specific national security program pursuits for TUSA in the United States. 

• All engagement related to defense policies and programs, close coordination with Thales Defense & Security, Inc. will be essential to ensure awareness of all efforts and ensure deconfliction where necessary. 

• Responsible for aligning internal Thales stakeholders’ interests in support of policy messaging to DoD and in support of important program pursuits with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Joint forces.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from accredited university or college in Engineering, Economics, Business or related field

• At least 15 years of overall military and defense business experience

• At least 10 years of specific work experience in a business development/sales and DoD collaborative role

• Extensive experience working in and with the US Dept of Defense (either as uniformed military, civilian DoD and/or direct industry supplier to DoD) with a corresponding robust network of contacts in these communities.

• Team player who can communicate equally across multi-functional internal and external teams in an international and complex matrixed business environment

• Excellent communications skills- both written and oral- including demonstrated presentation skills to Executives

• Demonstrated experience analyzing complex and sensitive financial / operational data in a confidential environment

• Positive demeanor in order to interact at all levels of influence both internal and external to Thales

Special position Requirements

• Ability to travel up to 25% outside of the greater Washington DC area as required- domestic and international.

What We Offer

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following: 

•Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance.

•Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period. 

•Company paid holidays and Paid T