Manager Innovation Labs Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Purpose and Impact:

We are seeking a dynamic Innovation Strategist to lead the identification, development, and execution of innovative strategies for securing and delivering high-value government contracts. This role focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies, creative acquisition approaches.

The ideal candidate will bridge technical innovation with government contracting expertise to help organizations stay ahead in competitive bids, foster partnerships, and deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet mission-critical requirements while navigating FAR, DFARS, and other regulatory frameworks. You will drive growth by spotting opportunities for disruptive approaches in procurement, proposal development, and solution delivery.

The ideal candidate will collaborate with our Protege business to create a demo application that can support NGA as well as other DoW and Intelligence Community agencies.

Work Schedule: Be willing to travel to nearby customer sites on occasion.

Essential Responsibilities:

Develop Innovation Strategies: Identify and evaluate emerging technologies, market trends, and innovative contracting vehicles (e.g., OTs, CSOs, IDIQs with flexible terms) to create winning approaches for government opportunities.

Opportunity Analysis & Roadmapping: Monitor federal solicitations (SAM.gov, FedBizOpps), agency innovation labs, and policy shifts (e.g., acquisition innovation initiatives). Build and maintain innovation roadmaps aligned with government priorities and organizational capabilities.

Proposal & Acquisition Support: Collaborate with capture teams to design innovative technical and pricing strategies for proposals. Support the full acquisitions lifecycle, including ROMs, quotes, compliance reviews, and negotiations as prime or subcontractor.

Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with government contracting officers, program managers, innovation advocates, and industry partners. Represent the organization at industry events, OT summits, and government-industry days.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with technical teams, legal/contracts, business development, and delivery groups to prototype solutions, pilot programs, and scalable innovations that differentiate bids.

Risk & Compliance Management: Ensure all innovative strategies comply with federal regulations while pushing boundaries through creative yet compliant mechanisms. Advise on risk mitigation for novel contracting approaches.

Performance Tracking: Measure the impact of innovation initiatives on win rates, contract value, and delivery outcomes. Provide regular reports and recommendations to leadership.

Knowledge Sharing: Foster a culture of innovation within the team through training on new procurement tools, technologies, and best practices in government contracting.

Minimum Requirements (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

5-8+ years of experience in government contracting, business development, strategy consulting, or innovation roles, with direct exposure to federal procurement.

Proven track record of contributing to successful applications, government contract wins, especially involving innovative or non-traditional acquisition methods.

Experience in high-priority sectors such as DoD or intelligence community is strongly preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

Strong strategic thinking and ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable government solutions.

Understanding of the ATO Security process

Excellent analytical, research, and presentation skills (including proposal writing and executive briefings).

Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.

Adaptability in a fast-paced, regulated environment with a bias toward experimentation and learning from pilots.

Outstanding communication and relationship-building skills.

Security Clearance Required:

Must be a U.S. Citizen.

• TS/SCI (Ability and willingness to take and pass a CI poly

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Public Policy, Technology, or a related field (Master's or MBA preferred).

Minimum Years of Experience: 5-8 Years

Preferred Qualifications: AI if applicable to your program

Certifications such as CISSP, Security +or other technology certifications.

Background in emerging tech areas (AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud, autonomy, biotech).

5-8+ years of experience in government contracting, business development, strategy consulting, or innovation roles, with direct exposure to federal procurement.

Proven track record of contributing to successful applications, government contract wins, especially involving innovative or non-traditional acquisition methods.

Experience in high-priority sectors such as DoD or intelligence community is strongly preferred.

Preferred Qualifications: AI if applicable to your program

Certifications such as CISSP, Security +or other technology certifications.

Background in emerging tech areas (AI/ML, cybersecurity, cloud, autonomy, biotech).

Salary Range: $190,000 - $200,000

Compensation Details:

$160,000 - $200,000

The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.

Benefits Overview:

Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)

• Educational reimbursement

• Parental leave

• Employee stock purchase plan

• Tax-saving options

• Disability and life insurance

• Pet insurance

Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.

Original Posting:

06/30/2026 - Until Filled

Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.

Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language atLabor Laws Posters.