How will this role impact First Command?

The Director of Military Affairs Relationship Manager serves as the enterprise’s senior relationship leader across the Northeast military corridor, with primary responsibility for the West Point and Washington, DC markets. This role is accountable for building, strengthening, and sustaining trusted relationships with senior military leaders, key influencers, policymakers, and strategic partner organizations to elevate brand presence, deepen credibility, and expand access within the broader military community.

This position acts as the organization’s forward-deployed representative, ensuring alignment between enterprise priorities and the unique dynamics of the service academy environment, joint military leadership ecosystem, and national policy landscape.

What will the employee do in this role?

Strategic Relationship Management

• Cultivates and sustains trusted relationships with senior leaders across the Joint Force, service academies, the Pentagon, and affiliated organizations
• Serves as the primary liaison between the enterprise and key military, governmental, and partner stakeholders
• Identifies and develops strategic partnerships that enhance long-term access, influence, and enterprise credibility

Brand Presence & Market Development

• Establishes and maintains a strong, credible, and visible enterprise presence across the North East, West Point and DC region
• Leads execution of regional engagement strategies to expand reach within officer, policymaker, and influencer networks across all services
• Ensures all external engagement reflects enterprise brand standards and military cultural awareness

Trust Building & Influence

• Builds enterprise trust and credibility through consistent, authentic engagement with key leaders and decision-makers
• Advises executive leadership on military sentiment, emerging issues, and relationship dynamics within the Northeast region
• Supports enterprise advocacy objectives by aligning relationship activity with broader strategic priorities

Strategic Integration & Execution

• Translates enterprise military engagement strategy into targeted regional plans tailored to the Northeast Division
• Coordinates with internal partners (Service Strategy and Geographic leadership, Marketing, Advisor Operations) to align priorities and execution
• Facilitates collaboration between internal teams and external stakeholders to advance enterprise initiatives and opportunities
• Serves as a key liaison for enterprise legislative affairs, congressional outreach, government relations, and advocacy initiatives, cultivating and maintaining relationships with policymakers, congressional staff, military associations, and other stakeholders whose interests align with First Command’s strategic priorities.

Event Representation & External Engagement

• Represents the enterprise at high-visibility military, academic, and policy engagements across the region
• Advises on participation in strategic events, forums, and engagements that elevate enterprise access and positioning
• Identifies opportunities to connect senior enterprise leaders with key military and policy stakeholders

What skills and qualifications does this employee need?

Education

• Master’s degree in Business, Marketing or Communications preferred

Work Experience

• Commissioned Officer experience with service in the grade of O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/Commander) or above
• Strong understanding of joint military culture, leadership structures, and operational environments
• Demonstrated success building senior-level relationships within military, government, or national security environments
• Working knowledge of the Washington, DC defense and policy ecosystem
• Exceptional communication, stakeholder engagement, and influence skills
• Ability to operate independently in a geographically dispersed, relationship-driven role

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate of a United States Military Service Academy (USMA, USNA, USAFA, USCGA, or USMMA)
• Recent active-duty military retiree
• Experience working in or with a service academy environment
• Exposure to joint, interagency, congressional, or policy-focused environments (e.g., OSD, Joint Staff, Capitol Hill, defense organizations)
• Experience supporting legislative affairs, advocacy, government relations, or strategic engagement initiatives
• Background in corporate military affairs, partnerships, or external engagement roles

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Creative and collaborative work style
• Superior written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lead through influence and inspiration
• Understanding of military protocols and cultures across all services
• Ability to digest information quickly, analyze complex data, turn information into action, and lead projects aligned with brand purpose and tone
• Flexibility to do work that falls outside the job description and a willingness to work evenings, weekends and holidays, and travel as needed
• Superior judgment and ability to deliver training and presentations
• Work ethic and ability to manage projects successfully to meet deadlines
• Demonstrate Integrity and ability to work within compliance guidelines and manage confidential information.
• Act with sense of urgency and the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks successfully
• Have a sense of humor, a positive attitude and grace under pressure
• Demonstrate a desire to help others be successful

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