Forward Deployed Innovation Strategist

Job Summary:

 

The Forward Deployed Innovation Strategist serves as a senior-level strategic resource within the DDC Strategic Innovation Team, bridging innovation capability development and strategic deployment to market vertical delivery teams. This role embodies a unique blend of intellectual capital creation, business growth, and hands-on client delivery through the consistent development, enhancement, and deployment of Solution Accelerators. Forward Deployed Innovation Strategists rotate seamlessly between supporting Strategic Innovation Team initiatives internally and serving as embedded members of subsidiary contract delivery teams. These deployments typically span six months to two years, during which the Strategist directly contributes to high-visibility, mission-critical engagements by deploying and adapting Solution Accelerators as part of the delivery team.

What sets this role apart is the long-term commitment DDC makes to these individuals. Their careers are not bound to a single contract. Forward Deployed Innovation Strategists are selected for their deep expertise, leadership, and strategic impact. After completing their deployments, they return to the Innovation Team, not only to contribute traditionally but also to receive training and contribute to the latest generation of Solution Accelerators, ensuring they remain ready for future deployments. This model enables them to grow, contribute, and lead across the enterprise over time, continuously expanding their knowledge and influence within DDC’s innovation ecosystem.

Solution Accelerators represent the core of DDC’s innovation portfolio and intellectual capital, integrating best practices, methodologies, and design patterns from leading open-source frameworks, standards, and industry maturity models. They embody an intelligent blend of people, process, and technology, with technology serving to enable process maturity and human capital effectiveness, never existing for technology's sake alone.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

 

• Actively lead and participate in business growth initiatives, including pre-sales engagements, white paper development, and preparation of responses to RFIs and RFPs. Provide strategic thought leadership, deep subject matter expertise, and technical guidance throughout the business development lifecycle.
• Design, develop, and mature comprehensive Solution Accelerators aligned with DDC’s strategic market verticals, including runbooks, playbooks, BOE templates, position descriptions, marketing materials, capability slicks, proposal boilerplate, training programs, and education resources.
• Directly collaborate with subsidiaries and market vertical teams to ensure effective deployment and adoption of Solution Accelerators, providing hands-on support during critical initial implementation phases.
• Act as a strategic resource, anticipating future delivery needs and proactively preparing for deployment into high-visibility, strategic client engagements.
• Contribute extensively to intellectual capital development, including the continuous improvement and evolution of Solution Accelerators and other strategic innovation offerings.
• Provide strategic support to subsidiary operations, maintaining strong relationships with subsidiary leadership, delivery teams, and market vertical leaders.
• Serve as a mentor and guide for innovation team members and subsidiary staff, ensuring effective transfer of knowledge, methodologies, and adoption of Solution Accelerators.
• Conduct and support market and ethnographic research to ensure DDC innovation efforts are informed by deep customer insights and industry trends.
• Support the ongoing development of internal capabilities, including Virtual Lab Environments, innovation tools, and methodologies.

Job Requirements (Education/Skills/Experience):

 

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Business, Technology, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of professional experience spanning innovation management, technology solutioning, business development, or client-facing technology roles within GovCon and/or federal technology consulting.
• Demonstrated capability in developing and deploying intellectual capital, specifically Solution Accelerators, methodologies, and strategic service offerings.
• Exceptional skill in strategic planning, communication, stakeholder management, and cross-team collaboration.
• Proven track record of successful client engagements and the ability to rapidly integrate into diverse project environments.
• Ability to travel periodically and engage in extended client-site assignments as required.

Skills and Attributes:

• Strategic thinker capable of translating vision into actionable solutions.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Proven leader and collaborator adept at working in dynamic, cross-functional teams.
• Innovative problem-solver able to operate effectively in high-stakes and evolving environments.
• Commitment to continuous learning, skill development, and contribution to DDC’s innovation culture.

Clearance Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance as necessitated by client engagements.

Location:Remote or Hybrid, with regular travel to client sites and DDC offices as needed.

 

Diné Development Corporation (DDC) is a Navajo Nation owned family of companies that delivers IT, professional, and environmental solutions to advance the missions of federal, state, and tribal government agencies. As thought leaders and innovators, our team of specialists build client-centric solutions that solve critical challenges faced by defense, civilian, and healthcare organizations. Employing a mission-focused approach, we deliver value that not only enhances current operations, but also drives future change. Closely aligned with this approach is our commitment to advancing the Navajo Nation and its People. Through economic development and community empowerment, we elevate the Navajo Nation to provide lasting impact and sustainable growth for future generations. DDC’s ability to unite legacy-inspired technologies, industry best practices, and proven methodologies has contributed to our success for twenty years.

 

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing information about compensation, or any other basis prohibited by law. We participate in E-Verify.

About Us

Dine Development Corporation is seeking an experienced Forward Deployed Innovation Strategist Lead to drive strategic growth and capture efforts across 4th Estate agencies. This role is critical to identifying mission challenges within these agencies and aligning innovative, agile solutions from DDC’s portfolio—including data analytics, cloud, cybersecurity, and digital transformation capabilities—to support modernization and mission success. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the missions, acquisition strategies, and evolving priorities across these agencies, and will possess a strong network of existing relationships while also being capable of building new, lasting connections.