Description

The Senior Operations Manager, U.S. Defense Plans & Strategies leads execution of planning and strategy support for U.S. defense customers. This role directs day-to-day operations, maintains stakeholder and organizational awareness across key Department of War (DoW) entities, and drives disciplined prioritization and follow-through for senior-level engagements supporting enterprise campaigns and strategic objectives. The Senior Operations Manager coordinates cross-functional teams, manages action-item execution, and ensures decision-quality outputs for executive and customer audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and strategy operations; ensure timely, high-quality delivery of decision-ready products (briefs, assessments, planning artifacts).
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and establish an operating rhythm (priorities, deliverables, metrics, quality control, stakeholder updates).
• Track, monitor, and maintain customer organization charts and leadership/staff changes for the Joint Staff, Office of SecWar, Military Departments, and related agencies; disseminate relevant updates internally.
• Maintain customer and stakeholder contact lists to enable continuity and rapid engagement.
• Track, monitor, and prioritize senior-level customer engagement priorities; prepare engagements and ensure message alignment and follow-through.
• Coordinate with Leidos business sectors, Growth organization, and Technology organization to plan and execute senior-level events/engagements in support of campaigns.
• Liaise with Growth to advance priority campaigns; translate customer insights and engagement outcomes into actionable next steps.
• Liaise with Executive Leadership Team (ELT) staff to support enterprise strategic goals and provide decision-ready updates.
• Track, monitor, and prioritize budget management activities impacting plans, engagements, and execution; communicate impacts and constraints.
• Track, monitor, and coordinate with external consultancies; integrate outputs into internal workflows and manage timelines/deliverables.
• Maintain action-item and decision logs; lead coordination to close actions, deconflict issues, and resolve misalignment across stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree and 15+ years of U.S. Government experience (military or civilian), including substantial work supporting DoW missions and senior leaders. Additional years of experience in lieu of degree will be considered.
• Demonstrated management and organizational experience leading teams and/or complex portfolios and driving execution across concurrent priorities.
• Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams and coordinate across diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience producing executive-level briefings and decision-quality written products.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• This position requires US Citizenship with the ability to obtain TS/SCI security clearance
• Must be located in the National Capital Region (NCR).

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting or working within Joint Staff, Office of Secretary of War, Military Department staffs, Combatant Commands, or related defense agencies.
• Experience supporting business development campaigns, senior-level engagements, and event execution in a defense environment.
• Experience integrating third-party/consultant outputs into executive decision products and operational workflows.
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• Master's Degree

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment in the NCR, with on-site presence as required for engagements and mission needs.
• Periodic travel may be required.

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Original Posting:

January 15, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $116,350.00 - $210,325.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.