Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs

Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs

Are you interested in building a safer world through international trade Defense Trade Solutions (DTS) is hiring! We have an opportunity for a Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs to join our Leadership Team. This position is a functional head and matrix leader with no direct reports reporting directly to the Vice President and providing support across the organization to orchestrate DTS tradepolicy posture resolve complex export issues and lead government and industryassociation engagement for DTS and its customers. The Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs defines and leads DTS tradepolicy posture and external relationships with the U.S. Government and industry associations converting evolving Arms Export Control Act (AECA) International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) Export Administration Regulations (EAR) Security Cooperation and Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) policy into clear actionable guidance for customers and DTS delivery teams. As a Leadership Team Individual Contributor and Matrix Leader this role is DTS focal point for U.S. Government engagement and escalations resolution of customer exportpolicy issues association engagement and policy advocacy and executive thought leadershippartnering with the President and Vice President to accelerate approvals and remove friction across TSFD export authorizations Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) strategy and armsexportcontrol policy.

Our Mission:

• To safeguard U.S. and allied military advantage with responsible simplified defense trade and export control through a holistic mission-driven approach.

Who You Are:

• Embody our values of Integrity Passion Simplicity Trust Curiosity and Stewardship to our team our customers and our business.
• A professional with a strong interest in foreign policy and national security.
• A self-starter who thrives in an environment that rewards ambition.
• An entrepreneur who wants to be involved in building a premier professional services firm.
• A positive person with a Yes if attitude who is always on the hunt for solutions to problems.
• A reliable team player who is willing to lend a hand to teammates at a moments notice.
• Invested in Work-Life Harmony through success and fulfillment within both your career and personal life.
• Hungry for the fast pace of a start-up environment with the stability and infrastructure of an established business.
• Has an Active DoD Secret Security Clearance Top Secret preferred.
• Resides in the Washington DC National Capitol Region

What You Bring to DTS:

• 10-20 years of experience in defense trade or security cooperation positions of increasing responsibility.
• Prior experience working in any of the following U.S. Government defense trade or security cooperation offices:
  • Department of State (DOS) Political & Military Affairs Bureau Office of Regional Security & Arms Transfers (PM/RSAT)
  • Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA)
  • DOD Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
  • Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA)
  • Navy International Programs Office (NIPO)
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports & Cooperation (DASA DE&C)
• Advanced-level understanding of Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from Pre-Letter of Request (LOR) to Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) Signature
• Advanced-level understanding of ITAR and EAR Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) export licensing.
• Advanced-level understanding of the Department of Commerce Advocacy Request Process
• Advanced-level understanding of Technology Security & Foreign Disclosure (TSFD) processes and associated release.
• Relationships with U.S. Government Action Officers Senior Executive Service (SES) and Political Appointees in the following offices:
  • Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC)
  • Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry & Security (BIS)
  • Department of State Office of Regional Security & Arms Transfers (RSAT)
  • Department of State Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM)
  • Department of State Regional Bureaus
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy (OSD-P)
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (OSD R&E)
  • Office of the Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (OSD A&S)
  • Defense Technology Security Administration (DTSA)
  • Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA)
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Defense Exports & Cooperation (DASA DE&C)
  • Army Special Programs Office & Tri-Service Committee Representative
  • Army Anti-Tamper Service Lead / ARTPC
  • Navy International Programs Office (NIPO)
  • Navy PMR-51 Tri-Service Committee Representative
  • Navy Anti-Tamper Technical Warrant Holder
  • Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs (SAF/IA)
  • Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition & Special Programs (SAF/AQLS)
  • NSA Technology Security & Export Control Office
  • Department of Defense Chief Information Officer (DOD CIO)
  • Missile Technology Export Committee (MTEC)
  • Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USD(I&S))
  • National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA)
  • Joint Chiefs of Staff Technology Security & Export Control Office
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional ability to engage C-Suite executives and senior U.S. Government officials.
• Creative resourceful and energized by cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent time management skills attention to detail and ability to handle confidential information.
• Willingness to travel outside of Washington DC up to 20% of the time.

What Success Looks Like (12-18 Months):

• GovernmentAffairs Rhythm: Establish a proactive repeatable engagement cadence with interagency stakeholders (DOS DoD DOC) that helps clients enter global markets faster deliver on time and minimize compliance risks.
• Policy Intelligence & Communication: Stand up a concise policy radar that translates ITAR/EAR TSFD and Security Cooperation updates into actionable guidance for delivery teams and communicates policy impacts to customers when shaping export strategy.
• Association Influence: Build visible leadership in priority working groups councils and committeesrepresenting DTS brand as the leader in defense trade and advocating policy positions that support DTSs customer base.
• Tradecraft Unblocking: Reduce friction on complex cases (e.g. proviso reconsideration jurisdiction & classification technology release TSFD assessments USG engagement) by integrating advanced Subject Matter Expertise (SME) support into deliveryteam issue processingfinding the faster path to YES.
• BrandSafe Thought Leadership: Support executivelevel content that reflects DTS tone (confident helpful craftdriven) and showcases impact customers care aboutaccelerated revenue recognition risk mitigation and market access.

Responsibilities:

1) GovernmentAffairs Leadership

• Lead DTS engagement with U.S. Government stakeholders across Security Cooperation TSFD Global Trade Compliance and Global Trade Authorizationsowning relationships meeting prep escalation pathways and followthrough as recurring touchpoints or issueresolution sprints.
• Translate interagency feedback into practical actions for delivery teams and customers.

2) Policy Posture & Intelligence

• Build and run a radar for ITAR/EAR AECA TSFD and FMS/DCS updates; publish concise plainEnglish briefs for customers and internal teams that flag changes operational impacts and growth opportunities.
• Participate in customer Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) to support the DTS President and Vice President.

3) Association Strategy & External Presence

• Plan and lead DTS participation in priority associations (committees panels working groups); secure roles that amplify access to U.S. Government networks drive advocacy for customers and enable thought leadership for staff.

4) Security Cooperation TSFD & Arms Export Control Strategy (Advisor/Owner)

• Proactively guide strategies for releasability/exportability licenses agreements (TAA/MLA/WDA) proviso reconsiderations jurisdiction & classifications reexports/retransfers exemptions & exceptions and USG engagement approachespartnering with the Vice President to raise tradecraft quality on complex issues.

5) Matrix Leadership & Enablement

• Provide dottedline leadership over exportpolicy content (TSFD Jurisdiction & Classification Analysis releasability/exportability) industry association engagement and USGengagement steps; support the Vice President in coaching staff on deliverable quality scalability and proactive identification of daytoday exportpolicy/strategy issues and opportunities.

Compensation:

$150000 - $195000 base salary commensurate with years of experience with up to 20% annual bonus based on individual and company performance. Benefits include but are not limited to Medical Vision Dental insurance 401(k) match 3 weeks PTO 1 week of sick leave Holiday Shutdown and 9/80 Schedule.