Senior Program Manager (Problem Sourcing)

Overview

SUMMARY

The Innovation with Academia (IWA) Student Prototyping Senior Problem Sourcing Program Manager serves as a program leader within the Defense Innovation Unit's Innovation with Academia program. IWA connects Department of War (DoW) mission problems with university talent, research, and expertise to develop pathways from problem discovery through prototyping, commercialization, transition, and ultimately capability the Department can use.

The IWA Student Prototyping program utilizes experiential learning to inspire students to experience work in the National Security Industrial Base by matching highly talented undergraduate and graduate students to deliver rapid, early-stage prototypes, whether technical or policy centered, that help solve the mission partner’s problem.

The Senior Program Manager is responsible for leading the planning, execution, performance, and continuous improvement of IWA’s student prototyping programs and initiatives. This role translates strategic direction into executable program plans, coordinates across government, academic, industry, and contractor stakeholders, and ensures program activities remain aligned to mission needs, milestones, and intended outcomes.

The Senior Program Manager serves as the primary leader, subject matter expert, and ambassador for the program. This position is responsible for the planning, execution, performance management, and continuous improvement of program activities. The Senior Program Manager oversees all phases of the program lifecycle, ensuring successful delivery of objectives, alignment with client requirements, and achievement of organizational goals.

The ideal individual will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a diversity of situations, with excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills, and the ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities and equities in a high-tempo environment serving DIU’s mission.

The ideal candidate is a collaborative and results-driven professional with strong program management, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership skills. This role requires the ability to manage complex initiatives, coordinate cross-functional teams, oversee budgets and resources, and effectively communicate with government, academic, and internal stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Management and Execution

• Lead the planning, execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement of assigned IWA student prototyping program(s) and initiatives.
• Translate government direction and program objectives into executable plans, milestones, deliverables, and operating rhythms.
• Ensure successful delivery of program requirements, milestones, deliverables, and outcomes.
• Communicate program status, achievements, risks, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Establish, track, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) and program metrics to measure effectiveness and impact.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance operational efficiency, participant experience, and program outcomes.
• Ensure responsible stewardship of program funding while maintaining compliance with contractual, organizational, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate across IWA programs and cross-cutting functions to ensure effective intake and handoffs and integrated execution.
• Prepare executive-level briefings, recommendations, decision materials, and program reporting for government leadership.
• Develop and maintain program documentation, operating procedures, and performance records.
• Occasional travel to support program activities and stakeholder engagements may be required.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all student prototyping program activities.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders including members of the senior management team, government contractors, Federal civilian and military personnel, university researchers, entrepreneurship faculty, prototyping faculty, and student teams.
• Foster collaboration among diverse partners to advance program objectives.
• Prepare and deliver executive-level briefings, reports, presentations, and program documentation.
• Communicate program status, achievements, risks, and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of organizational objectives.
• Support special projects and strategic initiatives as needed.

Key Skills and Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in program management, program operations, strategic initiatives, or related roles in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
• Masters degree in Business Administration, Program Management, Public Administration, or Engineering
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs from planning through execution, including managing priorities, milestones, deliverables, risks, dependencies, and outcomes.
• Strong ability to translate strategic direction into executable plans, bring structure to ambiguity, and adapt programs as priorities and needs evolve.
• Experience working with or within higher education institutions is highly valued, including an understanding of academic culture, decision-making, faculty and student engagement, and university operating rhythms.
• Ability to effectively navigate and connect government, academic, technical, and external stakeholders with different cultures, incentives, and ways of working.
• Familiarity with the Department of War, national security, defense innovation, university research, prototyping, commercialization, or dual-use technology ecosystems is highly valued.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to use data and program metrics to assess results, identify gaps, and drive continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to improve and evolve program design, processes, and delivery—not simply maintain existing operations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear briefings, recommendations, reports, and decision materials for senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, anticipate issues, and drive accountability and follow-through across teams and partners.
• Proficiency with AI-enabled tools, CRM/project management systems, and other technologies to improve program execution, analysis, workflows, and decision support.
• Experience with program budgets, funding, procurement, federal programs, or contractor-delivered programs is beneficial. Bachelor's degree required; advanced degrees and relevant professional certifications are valued but not required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting the Department of War, federal government programs, and/or academia.
• Experience working with Salesforce.
• Familiarity with government contracting, acquisition processes, and program execution.
• Experience developing performance measurement frameworks and program analytics.
• Experience collaborating with geographically dispersed or matrixed teams.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Essential functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for frequently bending, stooping, sitting, walking or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with the opportunity to move about. Occasionally there may be a need to move or lift moderately light items up to 35 pounds. Near visual acuity to review written documentation; ability to hear and understand speech at normal room levels and on the telephone; manual dexterity to operate a telephone and keyboard; lift horizontally and vertically.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Job is performed in an office setting with exposure to computer screens and requires extensive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse and multi-line telephone system. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

None

ADDITIONAL QUALIFYING FACTORS:

As a condition of employment, must pass a pre-employment drug screening, as well as have acceptable reference and background check results.

As an equal opportunity employer, The Tatitlek Corporation recognizes that our strength lies in our people. Discrimination and all unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment, in employment is not tolerated. We encourage success based on our individual merits and abilities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status or employment. We support and obey laws that prohibit discrimination everywhere we do business.

BENEFITS:

For more information please visit https://careers-tatitlek.icims.com/

Salary

$170k+ DOE