Director, Federal Strategy and Capture, Government Partnerships

Lila Sciences•Cambridge, MA

2d•$168,000 - $238,000

About The Position

Lila Sciences is looking for a Director of Federal Strategy & Capture to convert senior agency relationships and deep policy fluency into real government partnerships and funding wins. This role sits within our Government Partnerships organization and operates at the front end of capture — shaping the competitive environment before opportunities are formally announced, reading where the federal funding landscape is heading, and opening doors that demand genuine scientific and policy credibility. This is not a policy role. It's a capture role that requires someone with unusually deep federal experience. What You'll Be Building Named Account Ownership — Build, manage, and advance senior relationships at DOE, ARPA-E, NIH, and adjacent US mission agencies. You own the health, depth, and trajectory of those relationships over time. Opportunity Shaping — Engage agencies early enough to influence how funding opportunities are scoped and structured before they become RFPs, ensuring alignment with Lila's strategic roadmap. Cross-Agency Narrative Development — Partner with the Head of Government Partnerships to connect Lila's portfolio to national science priorities and build a prioritized federal pipeline. Institution Building — Help stand up Lila's federal capture function, including how we track relationships, manage pipeline, and engage agencies systematically over time.

Requirements

Senior US federal experience at the intersection of science, policy, and strategy — agency, NSC, interagency, or equivalent background
Scientific fluency in life sciences, biotechnology, or adjacent domains
A demonstrated track record of turning relationships into concrete outcomes: funded programs, formal partnerships, or procurement pathways
Experience standing up new government functions, programs, or divisions from scratch
Comfort operating in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment where you're building as you go

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with federal funding mechanisms — OTAs, cooperative agreements, SBIRs, BAAs — and how to position a company advantageously within each
Existing relationships within DOE, ARPA-E, DARPA, BARDA, DoD, NSC, or interagency bioeconomy and biosecurity networks
Experience working with or inside a startup, venture-backed company, or other resource-constrained private sector environment
Familiarity with Congressional authorization and appropriations processes as they relate to agency R&D priorities
Comfort with CRM or pipeline tracking tools to systematize relationship and opportunity management

Responsibilities

Build, manage, and advance senior relationships at DOE, ARPA-E, NIH, and adjacent US mission agencies.
Engage agencies early enough to influence how funding opportunities are scoped and structured before they become RFPs, ensuring alignment with Lila's strategic roadmap.
Partner with the Head of Government Partnerships to connect Lila's portfolio to national science priorities and build a prioritized federal pipeline.
Help stand up Lila's federal capture function, including how we track relationships, manage pipeline, and engage agencies systematically over time.