Program Lead, US Defense Engagements - Tampa, FL, Washington, DC, or Stuttgart
About The Position
Zinc Network is seeking a Program Lead to manage its multi-year US government defense information operations (IO) program. This role involves owning the delivery and relationship management with the prime contractor and government customer, translating requirements into actionable plans, and building a US-based delivery team. The Program Lead will bridge private-sector strategic communications expertise with US defense IO experience, operating credibly within the US federal contracting environment. The position is hands-on initially, with potential for leading a larger portfolio and team as Zinc's presence grows. The role is hybrid, with office attendance dependent on location (Washington, DC, Tampa, FL, or Stuttgart, Germany), and requires regular travel to customer and prime contractor sites.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
- Significant professional experience in strategic communications, IO, or a closely related discipline, spanning both private-sector and US defense contracting environments.
- Demonstrated experience managing a client or prime contractor relationship in a US federal contracting context, ideally as a subcontractor.
- Working knowledge of US defense information operations practice, terminology, and behavioral change frameworks.
- Active or readily reinstated US security clearance appropriate to the program's classification requirements (TS/SCI preferred).
- US citizenship (required for personnel on this program).
- Experience building and leading teams, including recruitment and people management.
- Strong program and delivery management skills, including budget and labor-hour tracking within a federal contracting structure.
- Excellent relationship-management and communication skills, with the credibility to operate confidently with both government customers and a fast-moving, creative organization.
Nice To Haves
- TS/SCI security clearance preferred.
Responsibilities
- Own the day-to-day relationship with the prime contractor and the government customer, acting as Zinc's principal point of contact for program delivery matters.
- Lead delivery across all Zinc-resourced workstreams on the program, ensuring outputs meet the prime's and government customer's requirements, quality standards, and deadlines.
- Translate prime and government requirements into practical delivery plans, coordinating Zinc's US and UK-based teams as needed.
- Build, and subsequently lead, a dedicated US-based delivery team as the program scales, including recruitment, onboarding, and day-to-day people management.
- Monitor program budget and labor-hour utilization against the agreed subcontract terms, escalating risks, variances, or scope changes to Zinc leadership.
- Maintain fluency in US defense IO practice, terminology, and behavioral frameworks (e.g. HPEM) to ensure Zinc's approach is credible and well received by the government customer.
- Identify and help scope additional task order and growth opportunities within the program and the broader prime relationship.
- Ensure all program activity complies with the contractual, security, and clearance requirements applicable to the subcontract.
- Represent Zinc's culture and working approach to the prime and government customer, ensuring Zinc's tech-forward, impact-driven proposition is understood and valued alongside its federal delivery credibility.
- Represent Zinc at high-level meetings with clients and project partners.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
