Manager of Growth and Strategic Initiatives- Advanced Materials

Riverside Research; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Riverside Research is seeking a Manager of Growth and Strategic Initiatives in Advanced Materials to shape the future portfolio and expand national security capabilities. You will bridge technical experts with government customers and drive differentiated solutions that align with mission priorities.

You will collaborate with Principal Investigators, business development, and executive leadership to develop compelling narratives, engage customers, and influence investments for long-term growth.

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance (US citizenship required)
• 12+ years of progressive experience in technology strategy, business development, capture, or technical leadership within advanced materials or related national security tech areas
• Minimum of 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor's, 12 with a Master's, or 8 with a PhD; equivalent experience may be required for this level
• Proven success identifying and advancing defense/intelligence opportunities, including experience influencing major program wins ($10M+ awards)
• Deep understanding of technology transition pathways for emerging materials into funded mission applications
• Established relationships with defense, intelligence, government labs, and mission partners
• Ability to translate complex materials into compelling mission-focused solutions for government stakeholders
• Strong collaboration and communication bridging researchers, business development, and senior decision makers
• Willingness to travel up to 50%
• Technical expertise in advanced materials, materials characterization, electromagnetic materials, or functional/novel materials development

Responsibilities

• Become a trusted ambassador for Riverside Research's capabilities to customers
• Leverage government and national labs connections to identify emerging challenges and opportunities
• Engage with customers to understand future mission needs, gaps, and investments
• Connect customer challenges with Riverside Research capabilities to develop differentiated solutions
• Partner with Principal Investigators to shape research priorities and capability roadmaps
• Develop technical narratives, presentations, and marketing materials showcasing capabilities
• Work with Business Development and capture teams to mature opportunities from engagement to proposals
• Provide market intelligence to leadership to guide portfolio strategy and investments
• Collaborate across technical and leadership teams to align opportunities with growth strategy

Skills

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Executive communication

Government stakeholder engagement

Travel readiness

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Mission-focused growth

Education

Bachelor's degree in a related field

Master's degree

PhD or equivalent

Job description

Manager of Growth and Strategic Initiatives- Advanced Materials

Job ID

2026-4401

Category

Engineering

Position Type

Full Time Salary

Riverside Overview

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country's most challenging technical problems.

All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.

Position Overview

Riverside Research is seeking a Manager of Growth and Strategic Initiatives- Advanced Materials to help shape the future of our advanced materials, materials characterization, and emerging technology portfolios. This is a unique opportunity for a technically fluent, mission focused leader to connect groundbreaking research with national security challenges and create new opportunities for impact.

The successful candidate will become a key link between Riverside Research's technical experts and the government customers who need their capabilities. By building relationships across the defense and intelligence communities, understanding emerging mission challenges, and identifying where Riverside Research can deliver differentiated solutions, this individual will help define our growth strategy and expand our research impact.

Working closely with Principal Investigators, technical leaders, Business Development, and executive leadership, the Manager of Growth and Strategic Initiatives- Advanced Materials will shape customer engagements, develop compelling capability narratives, identify strategic opportunities, and influence investments that position Riverside Research for long-term growth.

Responsibilities

• Become a trusted ambassador for Riverside Research's technical capabilities by understanding our research portfolio and communicating its mission value to current and future customers
• Leverage your relationship across government, national laboratories, industry, and mission organizations to identify emerging challenges and create new opportunities for engagement
• Engage directly with customers to understand future mission needs, technology gaps, and investment priorities
• Connect customer challenges with Riverside Research expertise to develop differentiated solutions and growth opportunities
• Partner with Principal Investigators and technical leaders to shape research priorities, capability roadmaps, and strategic investments
• Develop compelling technical narratives, customer presentations, white papers, and marketing materials that showcase Riverside Research's unique capabilities
• Work with Business Development and capture teams to mature opportunities from early customer engagement through proposal development
• Bring customer insights, market intelligence, and technology trends back to leadership to guide portfolio strategy and future investments

Who you are:

• A strategic thinker who can understand complex technical capabilities and translate them into mission focused opportunities
• A relationship builder with established connections across defense, intelligence, research or national security technology communities
• A technically credible leader who can engage with researchers while communicating effectively with government decision makers and executives
• Someone who thrives at the intersection of technology, mission needs, and growth

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI security clearance (US citizenship required)
• 12+ years of progressive experience in technology strategy, business development, capture, or technical leadership within advanced materials, materials science, applied physics, engineering research, or related national security technology areas
• Minimum of 15 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 12 with a Master's degree, or 8 and a Phd. Equivalent experience is typically required for an employee at this level.
• Demonstrated success identifying, shaping, and advancing defense and intelligence technology opportunities, including experience influencing and supporting major program wins ($10M+ individual award values)
• Deep understanding of technology transition pathways and experience moving emerging materials technologies, research investments, prototypes, or advanced capabilities into funded mission applications and sustained programs
• Established relationships and trusted connections with defense, intelligence, government research organizations, laboratories, and mission partners to identify emerging needs and create new customer engagements
• Ability to understand complex materials technologies and translate technical capabilities into compelling mission focused solutions for government stakeholders, researchers, and executive leadership
• Strong collaborator and communicator with the ability to bridge Principal Investigators, technical teams, Business Development, and senior government decision makers
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 50%
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following areas:
  • Advanced materials and materials characterization
  • Electromagnetic materials and related technologies
  • Functional materials, novel materials development, or materials discovery

Global Compensation

$0.00000 - $0.00000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.

Closing Statement

Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.

Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran's status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.