Senior Program Director, Government Contracts
Junior Achievement
About Junior Achievement USA®
Junior Achievement is education for what’s next. As a strategic partner working in collaboration with educators, employers, investors, leaders, and the communities they serve, we are dedicated to helping students achieve academically today and economically tomorrow. As a leader in experiential learning operating on a national scale with over a century of experience, we are driving toward lasting change. This means ensuring a generation of students has the transferable skills and competencies needed to navigate a rapidly changing world. By delivering career-connected learning, we are invested in accelerating economic mobility through education. By helping students become confident, capable, and connected today, we can ensure they have access to opportunity-filled futures tomorrow. Junior Achievement reaches more than 4.6 million students annually across nearly 100 U.S. markets, and is part of JA Worldwide, which serves over 19.9 million students in more than 100 countries. Learn more at www.ja.org.
Position Summary
The Senior Program Director, Government Contracts role provides national leadership for Junior Achievement USA’s (JA USA) federal workforce development programs - currently centered on the Submarine Industrial Base (SIB) skills pipeline. This position sets the strategic direction for JA’s partnerships with federal agencies, industry stakeholders, and education systems, ensuring the delivery of impactful, compliant, and sustainable programs that strengthen the nation’s workforce. The Senior Director serves as the organization’s senior liaison to the U.S. Government and defense industry, representing JA USA at the highest levels of collaboration, policy discussion, and strategic planning.
The ideal candidate is an established leader with deep experience in defense contracting, government relations, or industrial workforce development, capable of operating confidently in complex environments while inspiring alignment, innovation, and measurable impact across JA’s national network. This is a fully remote position, with an approximately 25-35% travel requirement. Applicants must be based on the East Coast for consideration.
Essential Functions
Strategic Vision & National Leadership
- Set and execute the long-term strategy for JA USA’s government contracting initiatives in alignment with JA’s mission and federal workforce priorities.
- Serve as a senior thought leader and trusted advisor to government and industry partners, representing JA USA in national conversations on workforce readiness, economic mobility, and defense sector growth.
- Anticipate workforce trends within the maritime, naval, and defense ecosystems to inform the evolution of JA’s program models.
- Lead internal and external communications on strategic priorities, outcomes, and opportunities for collaboration.
Federal Program Oversight & Accountability
- Provide executive oversight of all aspects of the initiative, including compliance, reporting, and performance metrics tied to federal contracts.
- Direct budget strategy, resource allocation, and fiscal accountability to ensure contract and grant adherence.
- Advise senior leadership on new government grant and contract opportunities aligned to strategic growth areas.
- Ensure data-driven decision-making through continuous evaluation, analysis, and performance measurement of program outcomes.
- Maintain rigorous documentation standards and reporting processes to meet federal and partner expectations.
Stakeholder & Industry Engagement
- Cultivate and sustain high-impact partnerships with federal agencies, defense contractors, industry associations, and K–12 education systems.
- Serve as JA USA’s principal point of contact with the U.S. Government, ensuring transparency, responsiveness, and collaboration.
- Represent JA USA in meetings, forums, and negotiations across defense, manufacturing, and education sectors.
- Engage with state and local stakeholders to build support for national workforce initiatives, ensuring regional implementation fidelity.
- Serve as a public spokesperson and visible advocate for JA’s impact in federal and defense communities.
Expansion & Sustainability
- Develop and operationalize strategies to scale the initiative beyond the Submarine Industrial Base to additional defense and government contracting programs.
- Identify emerging opportunities to expand JA’s reach through new partnerships, funding sources, and federal priorities.
- Build organizational capacity to support ongoing program growth, including mentorship of project teams and development of standard operating frameworks.
- Partner across JA USA departments to ensure defense initiatives are integrated into the broader education and workforce development strategy.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of progressive experience in defense, government contracting, or federal program leadership, ideally within maritime, shipbuilding, or manufacturing industries.
- Proven record of leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder programs in federally funded or defense-related environments.
- Deep understanding of federal contracting, compliance, and performance accountability processes.
- Demonstrated ability to influence and engage senior leaders in government, industry, and education.
- Strong strategic, financial, and operational management skills, with experience directing multimillion-dollar programs or contracts.
- Experience building or leading government relations, trade, or workforce development programs that bridge public-private partnerships.
- Exceptional communication and relationship management abilities, with confidence representing complex initiatives to high-level audiences.
- Hands-on, proactive leadership style with a balance of strategic vision and operational execution.
Desired Qualifications
- Direct experience with the Submarine Industrial Base, Department of Defense (DoD), or U.S. Navy operations.
- Established presence and relationships within Washington, D.C., defense, or maritime sectors.
- Familiarity with JA USA’s mission, structure, and field operations.
- Advanced degree in Business, Public Policy, Education, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Recognized credibility as a connector, problem solver, and industry advocate.
- Strong understanding of political and economic influences shaping federal workforce policy.
Benefits
JA USA’s health care benefits provide coverage when needed—focusing on programs that support and encourage healthy living and your overall well-being. We offer medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, paid time off, and 401(k).
Our Commitment
At JA USA, we believe that our success is directly tied to our ability to foster an environment where all individuals have access to opportunities and can thrive. We are deeply committed to creating a workplace where inclusion and belonging are not just principles but lived experiences. This commitment drives us to attract, develop, retain, and promote a workforce that mirrors the communities we serve, bringing together a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and talents.
We embrace the unique contributions that every JA USA employee brings to our mission and encourage individuals from all backgrounds to join our team. By welcoming various voices, we continue to expand our understanding of the world, and we actively seek to elevate representation of different individual experiences and the perspectives they shape.
We are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard—where people can be their authentic selves and know that they belong. This is how we build a workplace where every individual can succeed, and where we work together to create lasting impact for the young people and communities we serve.
Additional Information
JA USA does not provide sponsorship for employment visas for this position. All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship, now or in the future.