Program Manager - Hacking for Defense
About The Position
Hacking for Defense (H4D) is a program that connects real military problems with university students to foster defense innovation. BMNT runs H4D for DIU’s Innovation with Academia (IWA) portfolio and is seeking a Program Manager to oversee its day-to-day operations. This role involves identifying impactful problems, securing government problem sponsors, managing relationships with educators and mission partners, and ensuring the best student work transitions beyond the program. The position focuses on operating the pipeline between emerging founders and critical national security missions.
Requirements
- A decade or more of experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder programs.
- At least five years of experience working within or alongside the defense innovation ecosystem (e.g., DIU, NSIN, DARPA, SOFWERX, national labs, or military services).
- Ability to brief diverse audiences, including combatant commands and university faculty.
- Proficiency in Lean Startup and Mission Model Canvas methodologies.
- Diplomatic skills to navigate relationships with clients, universities, nonprofits, and contractors.
- Entrepreneurial mindset to operate effectively amidst uncertainty.
- U.S. citizenship required.
Responsibilities
- Own the client relationship, serving as the daily interface to DIU’s IWA Program Director and Department of War counterparts.
- Lead global sourcing operations to identify and define actionable problems from bases, combatant commands, and intelligence agencies for university student teams.
- Coordinate the efforts of universities, educators, student teams, military mission partners, the Common Mission Project, and contractor teams.
- Drive post-semester outcomes by connecting student outputs to prototyping, leading the DIU Commercialization Fellowship post-course incubator, and building transition pathways.
- Manage program deliverables, schedules, metrics (sponsor interviews, mission partner conversion, research translation, funding intake), program economics, and growth strategy.
- Supervise and coach project leads and innovation analysts, and enhance the team's expertise.
Benefits
- Compensation range of $155,000-200,000 for DC-based role.
- Benefits package included.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Education Level
No Education Listed
