Associate Director, Defense Programs (Air Force/Navy)

RTX•Wilson, VA

20h•Onsite

About The Position

RTX is seeking an Associate Director, Defense Programs to join its corporate Global Government Relations (GGR) team. The role drives strategic planning and execution across GGR’s internal and external work and partners closely with business unit leaders to develop unified solutions. It provides strategic, analytical, and procedural leadership to strengthen collaboration among government relations, business unit programs and business development functions, and corporate partners. The role supports GGR portfolios for the Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force. The successful candidate will bring aerospace and defense expertise and an active external network within the Pentagon and broader Department of Defense. The Associate Director will act as a trusted advisor and thought leader, and may directly engage senior Pentagon leaders and executive stakeholders on behalf of senior leadership. This is an onsite, U.S.-based role in Arlington, Virginia. An active and transferable U.S. government Top Secret/SCI clearance is required before the start date, and U.S. citizenship is required. The salary range is $157,200–$298,800. The role may be eligible for relocation and incentive compensation.

Requirements

Typically, a university degree and at least 12 years of relevant experience; alternatively, an advanced degree in a related field and at least 10 years of experience; or, without a degree, 16 years of relevant experience.
Relevant experience in aerospace and defense, military service, Department of Defense civil service, legislative affairs, or corporate government relations.
Demonstrated experience working within or closely alongside the Pentagon, such as the Joint Staff, Service Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, or Defense Agencies.
Practical knowledge of policy, requirements, and budget processes, including PPBE and FAR/DFARS.
Strong knowledge of and active engagement with Pentagon decision-makers, industry associations, think tanks, and other non-governmental nonprofit organizations.
Ability to communicate complex documents, including military doctrine, executive orders, and regulatory and legislative language.
Active Top Secret security clearance; an active and transferable U.S. government clearance is required before the start date.
U.S. citizenship, because only U.S. citizens are eligible for the required security clearance.
Strategic thinking and ability to connect operational planning to long-term organizational strategy.
Ability to synthesize input from multiple business units and translate it into structured initiatives.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust, influence without direct authority, and engage regularly with executive leadership.
Adaptability in fast-paced, ambiguous environments; self-motivation and a results-driven approach to solving problems with urgency.
Strong communication and organizational skills, attention to detail, and customer focus.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.

Responsibilities

Lead operations and support strategic planning to promote active engagement and information sharing across business units and corporate functions.
Partner with executive leadership to propose and manage agendas, follow up on action items, and track progress using key metrics.
Build relationships across RTX and its business units, identify cross-business opportunities, align customer messaging, and bridge gaps across campaigns and programs.
Lead processes to establish, refine, and execute joint strategic priorities.
Communicate with internal and external GGR stakeholders and foster transparent, timely communication across participating business units.
Prepare briefs, reports, and presentation decks for senior leadership engagements.
Work across GGR and business units to assess political, legislative, and regulatory developments; address policy hurdles, assess operational impacts, and develop unified solutions.
Evaluate internal and external developments to identify opportunities to improve enterprise collaboration and remove barriers to joint execution.
Use established Pentagon and legislative-affairs networks to represent RTX at policy and regulatory meetings, engage senior leaders, and serve as an executive proxy in high-level engagements as needed.
Engage with industry associations and think tanks to inform and influence national security policymakers and regulatory and legislative decision-makers on public policy issues affecting RTX.
Lead high-priority cross-functional special projects and strategic initiatives as required.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
401(k) plan with employer matching and a separate employer retirement contribution
Tuition reimbursement
Student loan repayment program
Life insurance and disability coverage
Optional pet, home and auto, additional life and accident, critical illness, group legal, and identity-theft protection coverage
Birth, adoption, and parental leave benefits
Fertility and family-planning benefits
Adoption assistance
Employee assistance plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
Wellness rewards program
Virtual doctor visits
Child and elder care services
Second-opinion medical services
Flexible spending accounts
Flexible work schedules
Paid time off and holidays
Potential relocation assistance
Potential annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation