Senior Defense Operations & Programs Associate

Dcode; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Dcode, a team focused on bridging technology and government, is seeking a Senior Program Associate to support high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. The role is ideal for professionals with 2-3 years of experience who can own defined workstreams, produce decision-ready deliverables, and coordinate across government, military, civilian, and industry stakeholders.

Based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, the position involves operations anchoring, event planning, TDYs, SITREPs, and

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of relevant professional experience in consulting, government, defense, operations, finance, program delivery, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience producing high-quality, client-ready deliverables using PowerPoint, Excel, and written reports.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the judgment to tailor information for working teams and senior leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with or interest in government acquisition, innovation, technology integration, and mission delivery.
• Comfort working in agile, iterative delivery environments with evolving requirements.
• Demonstrated ownership, attention to detail, follow-through, and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.

Responsibilities

• Execute defined workstreams with appropriate guidance, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of outputs.
• Develop clear, structured deliverables - including briefings, analyses, frameworks, reports, and program artifacts - that support client decision-making and program progress.
• Support day-to-day client interactions through meeting preparation, note-taking, action tracking, stakeholder follow-up, and synthesis of inputs.
• Build a strong understanding of client mission priorities and connect day-to-day activities to broader organizational goals.
• Contribute to agile, sprint-based execution cycles while managing multiple tasks, changing priorities, and dependencies.
• Anticipate potential issues, recommend practical solutions or process improvements, capture lessons learned, and help refine tools, frameworks, and methodologies.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Project coordination

Agile delivery

Stakeholder management

2-3 years experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Dcode, a team focused on bridging technology and government, is seeking a Senior Program Associate to support high-priority initiatives for a defense sector client. The role is ideal for professionals with 2-3 years of experience who can own defined workstreams, produce decision-ready deliverables, and coordinate across government, military, civilian, and industry stakeholders.

Based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, the position involves operations anchoring, event planning, TDYs, SITREPs, and