Regional Engagement Principal

Overview

Job specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees. Specifications and not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

We are seeking a Regional Engagement Principal to support the National OnRamp team, a team of the Defense Innovation Unit’s Commercial Operations Team reporting to the Secretary of Defense. DIU’s Commercial Operations is a component dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration among DoD Mission Partners, Academia, Industry, new ventures & entrepreneurs, private capital investors, and other national security stakeholders to solve some of the most complex challenges facing the nation.

 

Two key components of this mission involve 1) engaging with the venture and startup communities to leverage their creativity and agility in addressing defense-related problems and 2) engaging the academic community—building partnerships with universities and academic institutions to attract emerging talent with innovative ideas, skills and untapped potential. The Regional Engagement Principal will be instrumental in cultivating relationships and fostering partnerships within the academic and venture ecosystems and integrating those communities into DIU Commercial Operations’s programs to drive innovation and enhance national security.

 

The ideal individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a diversity of situations, with excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities and equities in a high-tempo environment serving DIU’s mission.

The successful candidate will build ongoing rapport and interact seamlessly and with a professional demeanor across a broad range of individuals including members of the Senior Management Team, government contractors, Federal civilian and military employees, and cross-government stakeholders. The role is expected to handle exquisitely highly sensitive, confidential, and institutional information while exercising professionalism and discretion.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

 

The Regional Engagement Principal will serve as the primary liaison between DIU Commercial Operations and the local venture and startup as well as academic communities, actively seeking to establish and nurture connections that can lead to innovative solutions for the Department of Defense (DoD). This role will focus on identifying and harnessing the potential of these communities, ensuring their ideas and technologies are effectively integrated into DIU Commercial Operations’s programs.

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

 

• Engagement with Ventures, Funders & Founders: Foster relationships with local startups, venture capital firms, and entrepreneurial hubs to promote DIU Commercial Operations programs, company engagement, capital engagement, and other initiatives and secure their active participation as problem solvers. (40%)• Engagement and Collaboration with Academia: Actively engage with faculty, staff, and students from regional academic institutions to explore their capabilities and interests, fostering collaboration on addressing DoD challenges through DIU Commercial Operations’ programs. Plan, support delivery, and assessment of DIU Commercial Operations programs in partnership with regional startups and venture ecosystems. (40%)• Ecosystem Development: Create a vibrant national security problem-solving ecosystem by establishing partnerships between local universities, the venture community, and DoD end users. Support the development of strategic initiatives alongside DIU Commercial Operations’s Regional Directors, with a focus on elevating the role of academic partnerships and venture/commercial engagement. (10%)• Representation and Outreach: Represent DIU Commercial Operations at relevant meetings, conferences, and industry events, enhancing visibility within the venture and academic communities and facilitating knowledge exchange between government, industry, and academia. (5%)• Collaboration with DoD Partners (as needed): Work closely with assigned DoD mission partners to identify challenges and opportunities that can be addressed through innovative solutions offered by academic, venture and startup ecosystems as needed. (5%)

 

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND LICENSURE:

 

• Proven experience working in or with venture capital, startups, or entrepreneurial ecosystems, particularly in the context of dual-use technologies.• Proven experience working with academic institutions, particularly in fostering collaborations that bridge research and national security.• Strong background in technology projects that involve collaboration among inter-agency, inter-departmental, and international partners.• Relationshi