VP, Washington Operations

Divergent; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 282,000 - 317,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity plan

Discretionary bonus opportunities

Comprehensive health benefits

Job summary

Divergent is seeking a Vice President, Washington Operations to lead the strategic development of the new Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office. You will serve as the primary liaison to the Department of War and other Executive Branch agencies, shaping opportunities and driving growth in defense and advanced manufacturing.

The role requires leading a team, establishing the office, and partnering with commercial, capture, and policy teams to position Divergent for major captures and bookings.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in defense, aerospace, or national security business development, government relations, or senior government service.
• Demonstrated record of leading strategic engagements with the Department of War, the Military Departments, or other Executive Branch agencies.
• Deep understanding of the defense acquisition process, the federal budget cycle, and the defense industrial base.
• Established network of senior relationships within the Washington national security community.
• Experience building or leading teams, ideally including standing up a new office or function.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Represent Divergent in the Washington defense and aerospace community, shaping and influencing business development opportunities.
• Lead the Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office strategy, operating model, staffing plan, budget, and performance metrics.
• Recruit, develop, and lead a high-caliber team of government relations, policy, and business development professionals.

Skills

Executive presence

Communication

Negotiation

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Relationship building

Cross-functional collaboration

Entrepreneurial leadership

Results orientation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree

Job description

Divergent is building the new industrial age. Every day, our teams design, manufacture, and assemble advanced systems for some of the world’s most demanding industries. Our integrated engineering and manufacturing platform transforms complex designs into production-ready solutions, helping customers move faster, build smarter, and deliver critical systems when they matter most. Divergent is a qualified Tier 1 supplier to global automotive OEMs and supports leading U.S. aerospace and defense companies.

Join us and help push the boundaries of what can be built.

Purpose

Divergent Technologies is seeking a Vice President, Washington Operations to lead the strategic development of the company's newly formed Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office. Working at the intersection of business and government, the Vice President serves as Divergent's primary liaison to the Department of War and other Executive Branch agencies. This executive leads strategic engagements to advance Divergent's interests and, in particular, to identify, shape, and support the capture of business development and other strategic opportunities.

The Role

Washington Office Leadership

• Represent Divergent as a senior, visible presence in the Washington defense and aerospace community, including the shaping and influence of business development and other strategic opportunities.
• Assist in establishing and leading the Washington, DC / Northern Virginia office, including its strategy, operating model, staffing plan, budget, and performance metrics.
• Assist in recruitment, development, and leadership of a high-caliber team of government relations, policy, and business development professionals as the office grows.

Government Liaison and Strategic Engagement

• Serve as the principal point of contact with the Department of War, the Military Departments, defense agencies, and other Executive Branch agencies, and the connective tissue between those stakeholders and the congressional defense committees' professional staff, as well as industry partners, think tanks, and trade associations.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior acquisition, requirements, technology, and industrial base leaders and decision makers.
• Lead strategic engagements to position Divergent as a preferred partner for advanced manufacturing and defense industrial base priorities.
• Engage with the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, and other Executive Branch stakeholders, as well as industry partners, think tanks, and trade associations, as appropriate.

Business Development and Capture

• Assist with identification, shaping, and qualification of new business opportunities in advance of formal solicitation.
• Partner with the Chief Commercial Officer and the Capture, Proposal, and Business Development teams to develop capture strategies and win themes.
• Provide customer insight, competitive intelligence, and budget and requirements analysis to inform pursuit decisions.
• Support teaming and partnership strategy with primes, nontraditional defense firms, and other industry partners.
• Contribute to bookings and revenue growth targets through disciplined pipeline development.

Policy, Budget, and Market Intelligence

• Monitor and interpret defense policy, budget formulation, acquisition reform, appropriations, and authorization activity that affect Divergent's markets.
• Advise executive leadership on policy and regulatory developments, risks, and opportunities.
• Support the Chief Commercial Officer's registered legislative engagement, and that of any outside advisors or future legislative affairs hire, with the technical, budget, and requirements substance behind Divergent's positions; this role is not a registered lobbyist and operates below Lobbying Disclosure Act registration thresholds, in full compliance with applicable law.

Compliance and Governance

• Ensure all government engagement complies with applicable laws and regulations, including lobbying disclosure, gift and ethics rules, procurement integrity requirements, and export control requirements.
• Establish internal protocols for Washington-based activity and customer contact.
• Advanced communications skills.
• Strategic thinking and opportunity shaping.
• Relationship building and influence.
• Entrepreneurial leadership in a start-up environment.
• Integrity, judgment, and discretion.
• Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, operations, technology, and finance.
• Results orientation and accountability.

Success Measures (First 12 Months)

• Washington office established and operating with defined metrics, in partnership with the Chief Commercial Officer.
• Executive-level relationships established with priority customers across the Department of War and key agencies.
• Assist in development of a qualified pipeline of shaped opportunities integrated with the corporate capture process.
• Measurable contribution to bookings targets, credited under an attribution method (or MBO structure) agreed with the Chief Commercial Officer and the head of Capture before the first shaped opportunity is handed off.
• Compliance framework for Washington engagement implemented.

Basic Qualifications

• Current DoD security clearance or ability to obtain and retain clearance within 365 days from submission.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• 15 or more years of progressive experience in defense, aerospace, or national security business development, government relations, or senior government service.
• Demonstrated record of leading strategic engagements with the Department of War, the Military Departments, or other Executive Branch agencies.
• Proven experience identifying and shaping opportunities and contributing to major captures and awards.
• Deep understanding of the defense acquisition process, the federal budget cycle, and the defense industrial base.
• Established network of senior relationships within the Washington national security community.
• Experience building or leading teams, ideally including standing up a new office or function.
• Exceptional executive presence, communication, and negotiation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree.
• Experience with government contracting and/or advanced manufacturing, additive manufacturing, or emerging defense technology companies.
• Familiarity with nontraditional acquisition pathways, including Other Transaction Authorities, SBIR/STTR, and rapid acquisition programs.
• Prior senior service in the Department, a Military Department, or a congressional or White House national security role.
• Experience supporting a growth-stage or venture-backed company.

Work Environment

• Based in Washington, DC / Northern Virginia.
• Regular travel to Divergent facilities in California and to customer sites is expected.

Compensation

At Divergent, our pay range is based on the level of the job. For this role, we will consider candidates at level X01 as evaluated through our interview process.

• VP, Washington Operations/ X01: $282,220 - $317,490

Pay Range: $282,220 USD - $317,490 USD

What We Offer

• Holistic Compensation Package: Enjoy a world-class compensation package that includes a competitive salary, equity plan, and discretionary results-based incentive bonus opportunities, ensuring you're truly valued for your contributions.
• Wellness and Time Off: Embrace a healthy lifestyle with paid vacation, sick time, and company holidays, including a year-end shutdown to recharge. We support growing families with paid parental leave, recognizing the importance of bonding time.
• Comprehensive Health and Wellness: Prioritize your well-being with our comprehensive health and wellness benefits, offering both HMO and Premium PPO options. Additionally, benefit from company-sponsored life insurance and short and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Investment in Growth: We’re committed to your professional development. Take advantage of reimbursement opportunities for learning and development initiatives, empowering you to continuously expand your skill set and reach peak performance.
• Collaborative and High-Performing Environment: Join our collaborative, dynamic, and high-performing team within a fast-paced, mission-driven company. Together, we’re disrupting the traditional manufacturing industry, fostering innovation, and integrating people and technology to reduce our footprint.

Equal Employment Opportunity