ABOUT CDN
Creative Defense Network (CDN) works with the Department of War to enable acquisition transformation on the front lines. We work with acquisition executives and professionals to shape strategies and provide them with leading tools and training to succeed.
We’re focused on enabling the DoW to deliver better capabilities faster by applying novel approaches and working closely with industry and operators. We’re running one of the defense community's most widely read publications with over 16,000 subscribers. We’re a small startup have a big impact on transforming Department operations.
ABOUT THE ROLE
As an Acquisition Transformation Lead, you’re working with our clients to drive defense acquisition to a modern environment. You’ll work closely with program offices, rapid capabilities offices, and portfolio acquisition executives to shape strategies, cut through the bureaucracy, and enable speed of delivery. You’ll contribute to building CDN’s tools, training, and advisory products to scale what works into repeatable success.
You'll report directly to the CEO and work across CDN's full portfolio of client engagements and internal initiatives. If you've spent a career navigating DoD acquisition from the inside and want to spend the next chapter fixing it, this is the job.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Direct Advisory Support
→ Provide embedded acquisition advisement to rapid capability offices, portfolio executives, and program offices navigating complex acquisition environments.
→ Lead short-duration strategy sprints to help clients develop executable acquisition strategies to deliver capabilities with greater speed and agility.
→ Guide clients through acquisition and contract pathways, harness commercial solutions, and help them apply them correctly.
→ Conduct red team evaluations and independent assessments of acquisition strategies, organizational constructs, and program approaches.
Tools and Training Development
→ Contribute subject matter expertise to CDN's tool suite to infuse leading acquisition practices, validating business logic, and testing workflows.
→ Help build and deliver acquisition training programs, including interactive workshops and curriculum for our training platform.
→ Translate practitioner experience into actionable content: playbooks, templates, case studies, and reference guides.
Requirements and Budget Transformation
→ Advise clients on reforming requirements and budget processes aligned with the acquisition transformations.
→ Support budget analysis, funding strategy, and portfolio-level investment planning for acquisition transformation initiatives.
→ Help acquisition organizations shift from legacy program-centric models to portfolio-based, capability-driven approaches.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Required
→ 8+ years of direct experience in defense acquisition in program management, contracting, engineering, or related fields.
→ Deep working knowledge of defense acquisition policies, processes, Adaptive Acquisition Framework pathways, contracting processes to include FAR/DFARS, other transactions, and commercial acquisition.
→ Working knowledge of modern acquisition reforms and the current acquisition transformations.
→ Strong written and verbal communication skills. Able to brief senior executives and produce clear, concise analysis.
→ Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
→ Demonstrated ability to work in small teams and coordinate across many stakeholders.
→ Mission-driven and entrepreneurial. Comfortable operating with autonomy in a fast-moving startup environment.
→ Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret clearance.
→ Bachelor's degree or higher in engineering, business, or related fields.
→ U.S. Citizenship.
Preferred
→ Demonstrated experience with requirements (JCIDS) and/or budget (PPBE) processes.
→ Experience supporting or advising rapid acquisition organizations.
→ Background in portfolio management, composability, or interoperability frameworks.
→ Experience with the defense industry and non-traditional defense companies.
→ Prior experience building or delivering acquisition training programs.
WHY CDN
CDN is remote-first, with most meetings in the Northern Virginia / DC area. Expect up to 10% travel for in-person engagements. You'll be joining a small team with a big footprint requiring close coordination with leadership, real ownership of your domain, and direct visibility into the full business.
This is a senior role with direct access to CDN leadership, a meaningful stake in how the company grows, and work that has real consequences for how the DoD acquires and delivers warfighting capabilities. If the appeal of being embedded in a large firm with layers of oversight and approvals has worn off, CDN is a different kind of organization.