Defense Program Lead: Rapid Acquisition & Innovation

Dcode; Washington; On-site; USD 116,000 - 152,000; Full time

Job summary

Dcode is seeking a mission-driven Senior Program Manager to lead high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. You will guide major workstreams, stand up rapid acquisition capabilities, and advise stakeholders on program improvements to accelerate outcomes.

You will build frameworks, governance, and metrics to drive speed, accountability, and measurable ROI, navigating ambiguity while delivering repeatable, scalable solutions.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of relevant government-facing program leadership experience.
• Experience supporting DoD or federal clients in acquisition, innovation, or PM.
• Ability to lead projects in complex, ambiguous environments.
• Experience advising stakeholders and influencing decisions at multiple levels.
• Strong program management knowledge with exposure to agile methodologies.
• Excellent communication, including executive briefings and decision-ready materials.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with structured thinking.
• 6+ months of continuous full-time work in a SCIF.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects or major workstreams delivering measurable mission outcomes in high-tempo environments.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable plans, operating models, and repeatable processes.
• Design and implement frameworks for rapid acquisition, including intake, evaluation, decision-making, and transition workflows.
• Drive execution through agile, sprint-based delivery models, ensuring progress is measurable and iterative.
• Ensure teams remain focused on outcomes (mission impact, speed, ROI) rather than outputs.
• Identify risks, anticipate challenges, and proactively implement mitigation strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to client stakeholders, providing data-driven recommendations on program and process improvements.
• Facilitate alignment across leadership, program offices, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Support the development of governance structures, decision frameworks, and operating charters.
• Enable faster, more disciplined decision-making through standardized approaches (e.g., down-selects, risk recalibration, transition readiness).
• Establish and implement performance measurement frameworks, including leading indicators (cycle time, throughput, decision velocity).
• Develop ROI and impact models to support investment decisions and future scaling efforts.
• Ensure pilots and initiatives are structured as evidence-generating experiments with consistent evaluation criteria.
• Drive continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and refining processes.
• Support the design and execution of engagement models with startups, academia, and emerging technology partners.
• Standardize approaches for technology evaluation, integration readiness, and vendor engagement.
• Help align innovation efforts with mission priorities and scalable delivery pathways.
• Lead and manage team members across projects, onboarding new members and accelerating productivity.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Manage contract execution to ensure compliance, performance, and profitability targets.
• Monitor delivery health, flag risks early, and implement solutions to improve efficiency and scalability.

Skills

Program leadership

DoD federal experience

Stakeholder influence

Agile methodologies

Executive communication

Analytical thinking

SCIF experience

Project delivery

Job description

Dcode is seeking a mission-driven Senior Program Manager to lead high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. You will guide major workstreams, stand up rapid acquisition capabilities, and advise stakeholders on program improvements to accelerate outcomes.

You will build frameworks, governance, and metrics to drive speed, accountability, and measurable ROI, navigating ambiguity while delivering repeatable, scalable solutions.