Mission Manager

Defense Unicorns

5d•$118,150 - $159,850•Remote

About The Position

As a Mission Manager at Defense Unicorns, you will lead the design, coordination, and execution of multiple large-scale, community-facing hackathon events throughout the year. This is not a traditional program management role. We are looking for someone who is energized by bringing people together, thinks creatively about problem-solving at scale, and wants to make a tangible impact across the Department of War innovation ecosystem. You will serve as the primary point of contact for government mission heroes, industry partners, and vendors, while leading a small internal team and managing partner relationships. You will own the full lifecycle of each event, from planning through execution and stakeholder communication, ensuring that every hackathon reflects Defense Unicorns' values and delivers meaningful mission outcomes.

Requirements

Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programs or events in a government or defense-adjacent environment
Experience serving in a prime contractor role, including managing subcontractor relationships and contract compliance
Demonstrated ability to coordinate across government, industry, and subcontractor partners simultaneously
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with confidence engaging senior government and industry stakeholders
A proactive, creative mindset with a track record of building something that didn't exist before
U.S. Citizenship
Active Secret Clearance

Nice To Haves

Experience planning or executing large-scale community or innovation events such as hackathons, integration events, or exercises
Familiarity with the DoW innovation ecosystem, including programs, procurement, and mission priorities
Background in or exposure to DevSecOps, platform engineering, or software delivery
Experience managing subcontractors and coordinating multi-party delivery
Comfort operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where no two events are the same

Responsibilities

Serve as Defense Unicorns' primary point of contact with government mission heroes across the DoW
Own the prime contractor relationship, ensuring program commitments, compliance, and performance expectations are met
Build and sustain productive working relationships across government, subcontractors, and the broader DoW innovation community
Represent Defense Unicorns professionally and authentically in all external engagements
Own end-to-end planning and execution of multiple hackathon events per year
Coordinate logistics, timelines, and deliverables across internal staff, government stakeholders, and subcontractors
Translate mission requirements and stakeholder goals into actionable event plans and clear team direction
Continuously improve the hackathon model based on participant feedback and program outcomes
Lead a small internal Defense Unicorns team while managing a network of subcontractors supporting event delivery
Own subcontractor relationships, including scoping, performance management, and accountability
Foster a collaborative, high-energy team environment aligned with Defense Unicorns' culture and values