About the Job
This role will manage a broad policy portfolio, serving our defense and aerospace members, and companies focused on critical and emerging technologies with a defense lens.
General Description of Duties:
The successful candidate will have a geostrategic vision on enhancing U.S.-India defense relations across government to government initiatives such as the “U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology), U.S.-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) and INDUS-X (India U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem).
The successful candidate will have a geostrategic vision on enhancing U.S.-India defense relations across government-to-government initiatives and have deep expertise and lead policy developments in the defense portfolio, with strong connections with serving and past defense officials across both governments.
The successful candidate will have past experience with the DOD and must be a U.S. citizen. The successful candidate will be able to identify key issues, themes, prepare background briefs, engage key stakeholders, lead the policy discussions and stakeholder meetings, and initiatives.
This position reports to the Chief Operating Officer of USISPF.
Detailed Description of Duties:
- Analyze the existing regulatory environment, to craft and effectively deliver a coordinated advocacy strategy that helps U.S. and Indian defense companies, including startups to mitigate risks thereby playing a pivotal role in catalyzing sustainable growth for the business development.
- Real time tracking of new developments within the portfolio.
- Work with external stakeholders and experts to determine potential opportunities, regulatory issues, trade barriers arising from such changes that may affect the members, their operating models, products and clients.
- Facilitate meetings between USISPF members and key stakeholders, including the government, regulators and alliance partners to promote and advocate member issues at hand.
- Prepare submissions to regulatory reviews and engage in consultation with regulators, policymakers and overall decision makers.
- Manage and curate programs and events within the portfolio.
- Contribute to public policy and advocacy activity within USISPF, which will include coordinating and drafting responses to public consultation papers, position papers and speaking notes for company representation in conferences, panels, round tables etc.
- Ensure that all member companies assigned to the portfolio are regularly engaged with at the Forum. This includes soliciting their policy views, joining them in government meetings, and polling members on key issues.
- Senior Director will be responsible for expansion of the membership base by adding new members in the sector.
- Organize member briefing sessions and meetings on a regular basis especially after relevant announcements, news, press releases, orders, circulars, and joint statements.
Experience:
- 15 years of experience related to the defense sector. Prior consulting/advocacy work in the sector is a plus.
- A Bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in a relevant discipline. A Master’s degree is preferred.
- Strong networks in the private sector for the defense and aerospace companies.
- A basic familiarity and understanding of India’s culture, political structure, government functioning and business environment is required.
- Excellent people’ skills and an appetite for business development.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel is required.
- Fluent written and spoken English is necessary.
- Excellent skills in research, analysis, writing, speaking, and client relations are required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Strong knowledge of and background in advocacy and public policy development pertaining to the defense sector.
- Highly effective oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively and comfortably interact at highest corporate, political and educational institution levels.
- Ability to maintain the highest personal levels of ethical conduct, confidentiality and integrity, with a strong professional reputation in the industry.
- Self-starter with proven track record of successfully working with a wide array of functional groups across an organization and cultures as well as working independently.
- Ability to identify and understand key technical aspects pertaining to companies, policies in the legislative and regulatory proposals.
- Ability to influence, negotiate with, and discuss policy at the highest echelons.
- Must be flexible and demonstrate strong judgment and decision-making skills.
- Must be based or willing to relocate to Washington, D.C..
- Demonstrated ability to build and foster effective relationships and networks with others.
Please send your CV to Mr. Gaurav Verma at vermag1@usispf.org and cc Ms. Paola Moore at pmoore@usispf.org
