OnRamp Hub Ecosystem Engagement Lead

The Ecosystem Engagement Lead plays a vital role in building and sustaining a regional defense innovation ecosystem that advances the mission of the DIU OnRamp Hub. This position serves as the primary connector between DIU and regional stakeholders including startups, academic researchers, government agencies, and industry partners by leading outreach, relationship cultivation, and community programming. The Ecosystem Engagement Lead is responsible for planning and executing events, increasing awareness of DIU opportunities, and fostering public-private partnerships that align with national security innovation goals. Supports DIU’s strategic objectives by aligning outreach and engagement with DIU’s three Lines of Effort: synchronizing warfighter needs with commercial capabilities, lowering barriers to DoW entry, and catalyzing a unified innovation ecosystem. Additionally, this role has responsibility for continuously scanning the commercial, dual-use, and venture-backed technology landscape to surface companies whose capabilities are relevant to current and anticipated mission requirements. This role requires exceptional communication skills, the ability to represent DIU’s mission externally, and a proactive approach to ecosystem development.