Ecosystem Engagement Lead

Parallax Advanced Research • Columbus, OH

1d

About The Position

The Ecosystem Engagement Lead serves as an initial point of contact for the Defense Innovation OnRamp Hub: Ohio and is a strategic facilitator for outreach & engagement innovation ecosystem development and industry outreach in Ohio and regionally. This role focuses on strengthening partnerships among the Department of War (DoW), industry, and academia by aligning regional innovation capabilities with national defense priorities. With a particular emphasis on the Office of the Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E) Critical Technology Areas and Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) priority areas, the incumbent will drive outreach, engagement, and integration efforts to streamline DoW interaction with commercial technology providers and relevant stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s (BA/BS) or equivalent experience.
• At least 5-7 years of relevant work experience in outreach and engagement within defense, government, technology, or innovation sectors
• Knowledge of technology commercialization processes, including Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), dual-use technology, or venture-backed startups.
• Understanding of defense acquisition FAR and Non-FAR pathways, especially the use of Other Transactional Authority (OTA), and the SBIR/STTR process.
• Experience in ecosystem building, especially within the defense industrial base, venture capital, or innovation accelerators.
• Proven ability to develop, foster, and maintain impactful relationships with diverse stakeholders across government, industry, and academia
• Proven experience and demonstrated ability to work on cross-functional teams, fostering open communication, and driving shared goals.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing reports, presentations, and stakeholder briefings.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, evolving environment, balancing long-term planning with immediate execution needs.
• Strong task scheduling and resource management skills to ensure efficient program execution.

Nice To Haves

• Proven experience managing complex relationships with multiple stakeholders, including government agencies, businesses, and academia.
• Experience working with DoW organizations such as AFWERX, DIU, NSIN, or other defense innovation entities.
• Knowledge of technology commercialization processes, including Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), dual-use technology, or venture-backed startups.
• Understanding of defense acquisition FAR and Non-FAR pathways, especially the use of Other Transactional Authority (OTA), and the SBIR/STTR process.
• Experience in ecosystem building, especially within the defense industrial base, venture capital, or innovation accelerators.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoW security clearance (Secret or above).

Responsibilities

• Stakeholder Engagement Initial engagement with industry to determine if the company/technology meets a requirement of the Department of War and the threshold to receive additional support from the OnRamp Hub: Ohio/make introductions to other resources.
• Act as the primary DoW outreach focal point for OnRamp Hub: Ohio across the State of Ohio and regionally, engaging Program Acquisition Executive offices, defense laboratories, and other DoW acquisition entities to understand demand signals for us to act upon.
• Assist Managing Director and Ecosystem Development Lead with regional and statewide ecosystem partner engagement to expand opportunities within the defense sector and expand resource offerings to the small business community.
• Represent the organization's engagement interests at defense innovation events, trade shows, and consortia, ensuring a visible and responsive presence.
• Support the preparation of briefings, reports, and communication materials to keep leadership and stakeholders informed on engagement activities, ecosystem trends, and outcomes.
• Support and provide feedback on the implementation and efficiency of OnRamp Hub: Ohio's CRM tool.
• Support the development and operationalization of strategies to build regional defense innovation ecosystems, enhancing collaboration pipelines between DoW, academia, and the commercial sector.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level