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Business Operations - Federal

130k – 200kNew York, NYWashington, DCBusiness OperationsOnsite5+ YOE
Summary

Supports federal leadership in scaling defense tech business by managing pipeline, forecasting, cross-functional coordination, and high-stakes opportunities from pipeline to contract. Requires 5+ years in government/policy/operations and experience in ambiguous, high-growth environments.

About the role

What you'll do

  • Act as a force multiplier to Federal leadership: Operate as a trusted extension of leadership, helping set priorities, drive decision-making, and ensure execution against team’s highest-impact initiatives.
  • Design and scale the federal operating system: Build and evolve how the team runs - including opportunity qualification, pipeline management, forecasting, and cross-functional coordination - with a focus on enabling repeatable, scalable growth.
  • Drive strategic coordination across the business: Lead cross-functional efforts across BD, Commercial Sales, Product, Engineering, Legal, and Operations to move priority opportunities from pipeline to contract and through successful delivery. Coordinate with other Growth teams at Nominal to extend and adapt best practices for the Federal team.
  • Improve visibility and predictability: Help design and run systems that connect pipeline, program execution, and financial outcomes - enabling leadership to make better, faster decisions.
  • Translate strategy into execution: Break down ambiguous, high stakes opportunities into structured plans with clear owners, timelines, and measurable outcomes.

We're looking for

  • 5+ years in government, policy, operations, or program management (e.g., federal agencies, Congress, think tanks) or fast-paced background with similar operational rigor (e.g., consulting, startups)
  • Experience operating at the intersection of strategy and execution in ambiguous, high-growth environments.
  • Experience in Chief of Staff, program, or operations leadership roles where you owned outcomes, not just tasks
  • Experience scaling teams and processes in fast-paced, rapid-growth, ambiguous environments: a political campaign, a new government initiative, or a startup where you helped write the playbook
  • Exceptional communication skills—able to synthesize complex inputs, write clearly, and run efficient, high-impact meetings
  • Strong analytical skills, with a bias to outcomes-based results
  • Highly organized with strong attention to detail
  • Willing to travel up to 25%
  • The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS Clearance is an advantage

Skills that supercharge us

  • Background in military, national security, defense policy, or federal program management
  • Prior experience at a defense tech or gov tech company is a plus, but not required
  • Experience managing up to senior leadership and operating as a strategic partner
  • A graduate degree in government affairs, technology policy, international relations, or a related field is preferred

Compensation

The base pay range for this role is $130,000 – $200,000 per year.

Skills
Pipeline ManagementForecastingCross-functional CoordinationProgram ManagementStrategic PlanningOperations LeadershipAnalytical SkillsGovernment AffairsNational SecurityDefense Policy
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