Program Management Advisor - DIU 10X Portfolio

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.



RRI is seeking tech-savvy energy project managers to join our team of advisors supporting the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).

"DIU is the Department's innovation pointman...the primary interface with the non-traditional ecosystem. Its mission is to convert entrepreneurial products into tangible combat power." - Pete Hegseth, 57th Secretary of War

This incumbent serves as Program Manager within the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). It is a first-of-its-kind unit for the Department of War, staffed by some of DoD's best technologists, active-duty, and reserve personnel. DIU headquarters is in the heart of Silicon Valley to help the Department access leading-edge technologies, and the start-ups and entrepreneurs behind them. The goal of the DIU is to better position the Department of War to be more open to the infusion of non-traditional technical ideas and talent, and to accelerate the adoption of advanced commercially derived technology to DoW, transform its capabilities, and strengthen the national security innovation base.

We are seeking tech-savvy energy project managers to join our team of advisors supporting DIU. We're looking for diverse backgrounds in defense relevant technology areas to include but not limited to, operational energy and energy resilience, electric vehicles, logistics, space, advanced manufacturing, AR/VR, human-machine teaming, and biotech.

This position requires an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and U.S. citizenship.



The program manager will directly support and supervise prototype development and deployment of 10x portfolio technologies. Duties will include but are not limited to:

• Create and lead collaborative teams of DoD and commercial entities partnered to successfully deliver commercial solutions to DoD customers.
• Manage relationships between DoD customers and commercial entities required for successful program execution and transition.
• Develop program goals, milestones and plans for implementation collaboratively with DoD entities, customers, and program offices.
• Facilitate logistical rollout of deliverable technologies by coordinating with program offices and local units.
• Participate in outreach, collaboration, and mentorship with commercial vendors, industry, academia, other non-traditional vendors, DoD entities, program offices, and recognized technical experts throughout the execution of DIU's acquisition and prototyping phases.
• Assist with the business and technical evaluation of commercial technologies.
• Serve as the lead facilitator of the DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) process, ultimately leading to the award of an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype contracts and management of multiple awarded efforts at any given time.



• A minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 8 years with a Master's degree, a PhD with 5 years' experience, or equivalent experience is typically required for an employee at this level.

• This position requires an active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and U.S. citizenship.
• Minimum 8 years' experience in product, project, program management in a commercial technology or DoD capacity.
• Ability to distill and communicate a variety of complex issues for a range of stakeholders including: technical, military, and commercial
• Minimum of five years of business development and project management related experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a record of creativity and innovation
• Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of healthcare, public health, diagnostics, human performance/education, biotechnology, energy storage/production, electrical vehicles. space, advanced manufacturing, business, finance or related field.
• Have awareness of commercial technology companies as they pertain to the technology areas above.
• Proficient computer skills, especially business content creation and program management applications.
• Negotiation training or experience negotiating commercial and DoD contracts.



$150,000 - $225,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.



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.