VP, Washington Operations

Divergent • Torrance, CA

2d • $282,220 - $317,490 • Onsite

About The Position

Divergent Technologies is seeking a Vice President, Washington Operations to lead the strategic development of its newly formed Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office. The role operates at the intersection of business and government, serving as Divergent’s primary liaison to the Department of War and other Executive Branch agencies. The executive leads strategic engagements to advance company interests and identify, shape, and support business development and other strategic opportunities.

The Vice President will represent Divergent in the Washington defense and aerospace community, help establish the office’s strategy and operating model, and support its staffing, budget, performance metrics, and team growth. The role builds trusted relationships with government, congressional, industry, think tank, and trade association stakeholders; supports opportunity shaping and capture; and advises company leadership on defense policy, budgets, acquisition, and market developments. The position also establishes protocols and ensures that Washington-based government engagement complies with applicable laws and regulations. It is not a registered lobbyist role and operates below Lobbying Disclosure Act registration thresholds.

The position is based in Washington, DC / Northern Virginia, with regular travel to Divergent facilities in California and customer sites expected. The listed salary range is $282,220–$317,490 USD. The compensation package includes salary, an equity plan, discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, paid vacation and sick time, company holidays and a year-end shutdown, paid parental leave, health and wellness benefits, company-sponsored life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, and reimbursement opportunities for learning and development.

Requirements

• Current Department of Defense security clearance, or ability to obtain and retain clearance within 365 days from submission.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in defense, aerospace, or national security business development, government relations, or senior government service.
• Demonstrated record of leading strategic engagements with the Department of War, Military Departments, or other Executive Branch agencies.
• Proven experience identifying and shaping opportunities and contributing to major captures and awards.
• Deep understanding of the defense acquisition process, the federal budget cycle, and the defense industrial base.
• Established network of senior relationships within the Washington national security community.
• Experience building or leading teams, ideally including establishing a new office or function.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Advanced communications skills; strategic thinking and opportunity shaping; relationship building and influence; entrepreneurial leadership in a start-up environment; integrity, judgment, and discretion; cross-functional collaboration; and results orientation and accountability.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree.
• Experience with government contracting and/or advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, or emerging defense technology companies.
• Familiarity with nontraditional acquisition pathways, including Other Transaction Authorities, SBIR/STTR, and rapid acquisition programs.
• Prior senior service in the Department, a Military Department, or a congressional or White House national security role.
• Experience supporting a growth-stage or venture-backed company.

Responsibilities

• Represent Divergent as a senior presence in the Washington defense and aerospace community and help shape business development and other strategic opportunities.
• Assist in establishing and leading the Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office, including its strategy, operating model, staffing plan, budget, and performance metrics.
• Assist with recruiting, developing, and leading a team of government relations, policy, and business development professionals.
• Serve as the principal point of contact with the Department of War, Military Departments, defense agencies, and other Executive Branch agencies, and connect those stakeholders with congressional defense committee staff, industry partners, think tanks, and trade associations.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior acquisition, requirements, technology, and industrial base leaders and decision makers.
• Lead strategic engagements to position Divergent as a preferred partner for advanced manufacturing and defense industrial base priorities.
• Engage with the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, other Executive Branch stakeholders, and relevant industry and policy organizations.
• Assist with identifying, shaping, and qualifying business opportunities before formal solicitation.
• Partner with the Chief Commercial Officer and capture, proposal, and business development teams to develop capture strategies and win themes.
• Provide customer insight, competitive intelligence, and budget and requirements analysis to inform pursuit decisions.
• Support teaming and partnership strategy with prime contractors, nontraditional defense firms, and other industry partners.
• Contribute to bookings and revenue growth targets through disciplined pipeline development.
• Monitor and interpret defense policy, budget formulation, acquisition reform, appropriations, and authorization activity affecting Divergent’s markets.
• Advise executive leadership on policy and regulatory developments, risks, and opportunities.
• Support the Chief Commercial Officer’s registered legislative engagement and that of outside advisors or a future legislative affairs hire with technical, budget, and requirements substance.
• Ensure government engagement complies with applicable laws and regulations, including lobbying disclosure, gift and ethics rules, procurement integrity requirements, and export control requirements.
• Establish internal protocols for Washington-based activity and customer contact.
• Establish the Washington office with defined metrics in partnership with the Chief Commercial Officer; develop executive-level relationships with priority customers; help build a qualified pipeline integrated with the corporate capture process; contribute measurably to bookings targets; and implement a compliance framework for Washington engagement.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities.
• Paid vacation, sick time, company holidays, and a year-end shutdown.
• Paid parental leave.
• Health and wellness benefits, including HMO and Premium PPO options.
• Company-sponsored life insurance.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives.

What This Job Offers

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