VP, Washington Operations

Ursa Major is at a stage where establishing a physical presence in the Washington, D.C. area is advantageous to the growth of the company. Ursa Major’s future success will rely on strong relationships with space- and defense-focused federal agencies and Congress, developing knowledge and influence on policy issues affecting the industry as well as establishing contracting opportunities.

As a self-starter with strong relationships and demonstrated success in key legislative and defense circles, the VP of Government Relations is responsible for owning Ursa Major’s narrative to the U.S. Government. The VP of Government Relations is tasked with ensuring that Ursa Major is well positioned to support the U.S. Government across space access and hypersonic missions. This role is responsible for driving success in a set of primary focus areas:

• Government Affairs: The VP will set the strategy and manage all Ursa Major third-party vendors / contractors, including, but not limited to external advisors, lobbyists, and strategic advisory firms. The VP will lead engagements on the Hill related to the budget process and relevant legislative activities. S/he will develop and advocate on space policy issues, and report on relevant policy considerations. The VP will oversee mapping, developing, and managing critical relationships with policy makers, defense officials, and other relevant stakeholders to national interests.

• Political Action Committee: Manage the company's Political Action Committee (PAC), including strategy, compliance, engagement, and alignment with business development objectives.

• Market Expansion: The VP will run a series of projects to grow Ursa Major’s ability to pursue business opportunities domestically and abroad. Activities include:

• • Creating a clear path forward for Ursa Major to sell into the international market through the foreign military sales process.
• • Supporting the development of strategic positioning materials to communicate Ursa Major’s value propositions within key national security circles.

• Government Proposal Shaping: The VP will identify and shape relevant proposal opportunities with the government customer and then provide support as needed to develop proposals. This effort will include creating communication channels with relevant government agencies to influence Request for Proposal language through briefings and responses to Requests for Information. The VP will team closely with a range of stakeholders at Ursa Major to ensure technology and business alignment in developing opportunities.

Objectives and Key Results (OKRs):  

1. Grow and own the process to secure Program Element (PE) line items in the defense appropriations bill.

• Author appropriate white papers for PE adds. 

• Communicate with correct DoD offices to ensure awareness of the add(s) and that the PE line is correct. 

• Engage with staff members on both the Senate and House side to promote the proposed PE add. 

• Confirm that add(s) are included in the legislation coming out of the House and/or Senate appropriations committees. 

• Defend adds through the legislative process to the final signing of the bill. 

1. Grow Ursa Major’s impact by expanding the range of projects and geographies that Ursa Major may pursue.

• Create partnerships with relevant FFRDCs and UARCs for potential engineering stopgaps and new hire scouting. 

• Pursue a facility clearance for Ursa Major. 

• Create and implement the strategy to drive international adoption of Ursa Major products through foreign military sales.

1. Position Ursa Major to win U.S. Government development contracts (SBIRs/STTRs/Other). 

• Identify and pursue relevant R&D funding projects and programs associated with relevant DoD initiatives.

• Identify and shape an alternative contracting mechanism (e.g., OTA) and participate in a cross functional team in submitting a response.

• Develop prime agnostic strategy and partnership pathways with companies across the landscape of hypersonic technology development.

• Develop and implement a roadmap to participation in a program of record.  

Minimum Requirements:

• 12+ years of experience working on legislative matters in the private sector, a Congressional office, or an Executive Agency with a focus on defense and/or space related matters

• Strong understanding of legislative process in general and of space- and defense-policy issues; experience with defense appropriations and/or defense authorization

• An established network of government, policy, and regulatory contacts within the US Space Force, US Air Force or other relevant DoD circles

• Demonstrated experience and success promoting high tech businesses to influential legislative bodies within the U.S. Government