Program Manager (LNO)

The Work-Life Group•Alexandria, VA

About The Position

The Program Manager (LNO) joins the Secretariat for Special Operations’ Capability Development and Innovation Global Strategic Partnerships Team and serves as an embedded liaison to the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. The role connects Special Operations Forces (SOF) operational needs with emerging technologies and capability-development efforts to address mission gaps, improve interoperability, and accelerate practical solutions to SOF end users. The position coordinates across SOF organizations, Research and Engineering staff, government project leads, end users, and contractor teams. It engages stakeholders to understand operational needs, identifies capability shortfalls and promising technologies, and supports technology assessment, evaluation, and fielding. The Program Manager also helps ensure that technologies remain operationally suitable, supportable, and mission-ready. The role requires at least 10 years of prior service or experience in national security and defense, U.S. citizenship, an active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI access, and a relevant bachelor’s degree. Travel of up to 25% is required, including travel between Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., and to other locations for demonstrations, operational engagements, and prototype evaluations.

Requirements

At least 10 years of prior service or experience in national security and defense.
U.S. citizenship.
An active Top Secret security clearance and the ability to obtain Sensitive Compartmented Information access.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, such as communications, political science, business administration, criminal justice, or international relations.
Strong technical understanding of SOF organizations and formations, systems, networks, operational mission profiles, and acquisition principles.
Ability to travel up to 25%, including between Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., within the National Capital Region, and to forward operating hubs or domestic research and development facilities.
Military rank of E-7 or O-3 (or equivalent) is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree and/or professional military education, such as Joint Professional Military Education Phase I or II.
Experience with the Department of War Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution process and joint interoperability frameworks, including CJADC2.
Experience handling and managing technical data associated with Special Access Programs or Special Access Required environments.
Experience collaborating across the defense innovation ecosystem, including government, operational, research, and industry partners.
Experience identifying, tracking, or evaluating emerging commercial and defense technologies, particularly uncrewed systems, artificial intelligence, edge computing, resilient communications, or electronic warfare.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary local liaison between the supported Special Operations Command and Capability Development and Innovation, coordinating with Research and Engineering staff, government project leads, end users, and contractor teams.
Engage SOF stakeholders to understand mission profiles and emerging operational challenges, identify capability shortfalls, and develop or refine SOF-specific technical and operational requirements.
Identify promising technologies and potential mitigation approaches to address operational gaps, support interoperability, and enable rapid capability development and fielding.
Plan and coordinate technology demonstrations, technical assessments, operational evaluations, and senior-leader theater visits with relevant government and operational stakeholders.
Work with designated government leads to manage schedules, track evaluation milestones, coordinate customer–contractor activities, and support contract-specific performance objectives.
Use project-management practices to identify risks, resolve coordination issues, and deliver timely situation reports and technical briefings through appropriate classified and unclassified channels.
Evaluate the operational suitability and supportability of emerging or deployed technologies to help sustain mission effectiveness over time.