Director of Defense Transition & Operational Programs

RGBSI; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental coverage

401(k)

Short-term disability

AD&D

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

RGBSI is seeking an experienced defense professional to lead the transition of emerging technologies, including LSAD, from demonstrations into funded defense programs, operational deployments, and long-term procurement pathways.

The role focuses on bridging technology demonstrations with program adoption by creating sponsorship and customer advocacy within the DoD, and by developing comprehensive transition strategies that engage key stakeholders and partners.

Qualifications

• Experience moving emerging technologies from demonstration to funded programs.
• Strong network across DoD and defense innovation organizations.
• Ability to create sponsorship and customer advocacy for transitions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a demonstration-to-program transition strategy for LSAD and related technologies.
• Identify operational users, program offices, acquisition organizations and defense stakeholders.
• Secure and facilitate customer-sponsored demonstrations, evaluations, field tests, and operational testing.
• Build advocacy among PEOs, combatant commands, acquisition organizations, and defense innovation groups.
• Translate warfighter requirements into funded technology transition opportunities.
• Establish relationships with transition sponsors capable of moving demonstrations toward procurement.
• Coordinate with government customers, engineering teams, and leadership.
• Develop transition pathways as technologies progress through TRLs and MRLs.
• Identify strategic partnerships with prime contractors and defense integrators.

Skills

DoD acquisition experience

Technology transition leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Program sponsorship

Job description

• Client is seeking an experienced defense professional to lead the transition of emerging technologies, including the Client Shield Anti-Drone (LSAD) platform, from successful demonstrations into funded defense programs, operational deployments, and long-term procurement pathways.
• This is not a traditional government sales or capture management position. The primary objective is to bridge the gap between technology demonstration and program adoption by creating operational sponsorship, customer advocacy, and funded transition opportunities within the U.S. Department of Defense.

Mission

• Accelerate the transition of LSAD and related Client Technologies capabilities from demonstration-stage technologies into funded defense programs, operational use, and sustained procurement channels.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive demonstration-to-program transition strategy for LSAD and related technologies.
• Identify operational users, program offices, acquisition organizations, and defense stakeholders with immediate Counter-UAS, force protection, and related mission requirements.
• Secure and facilitate customer-sponsored demonstrations, evaluations, field exercises, and operational testing.
• Build advocacy among Program Executive Offices (PEOs), combatant commands, acquisition organizations, operational units, and defense innovation organizations.
• Translate warfighter and operational requirements into funded technology transition opportunities.
• Establish relationships with transition sponsors capable of moving successful demonstrations toward procurement and sustained deployment.
• Coordinate closely with government customers, operational stakeholders, engineering teams, and CLIENT/Client Technologies leadership.
• Develop transition pathways for technologies as they progress through Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRLs).
• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with prime contractors, defense integrators, and other industry partners where appropriate.
• Leverage the broader CLIENT and Client Technologies portfolio to address identified defense mission gaps and customer requirements.
• Provide senior leadership with guidance on defense acquisition pathways, operational requirements, customer engagement, and technology transition strategy.
• Help navigate the "valley of death" between technology development, operational validation, and defense procurement.

Requirements:

• The ideal candidate is a highly credible and established defense professional with firsthand experience moving emerging technologies from demonstration and experimentation into funded operational programs or sustained procurement.

Preferred:

• 10 - 15+ years of experience supporting Department of Defense acquisition, operational programs, testing, experimentation, technology transition, or related defense initiatives.
• Established relationships across one or more branches of the U.S. military, including: U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Defense innovation organizations, Acquisition commands and program offices
• Demonstrated success transitioning emerging technologies into Programs of Record, funded programs, operational deployments, or sustained procurement channels.
• Strong understanding of Counter-UAS, directed energy, force protection, autonomy, advanced manufacturing, or related defense technologies.
• Experience working directly with warfighters, operational units, PEOs, program offices, acquisition leadership, and testing organizations.
• Strong understanding of DoD acquisition and technology-transition processes.
• Existing relationships and credibility within the defense community.
• Active or prior U.S. security clearance preferred.
• Proven ability to move technologies beyond demonstrations and into funded operational use.

We offer attractive, competitive compensation and benefits including, medical, dental, 401k, short-term disability, AD&D, tuition reimbursement, and more.

Zobility is RGBSI's workforce management and staffing division. RGBSI is a multi-national corporation headquartered in Troy, MI with branches throughout the USA, Canada, Germany, and India.