Director, Government Affairs And National Security Programs

Director, Government Affairs And National Security Programs

At Vast, our mission is to contribute to a future where billions of people are living and thriving in space. We are building artificial gravity space stations, allowing long-term stays in space without the adverse effects of zero-gravity. Our initial crewed space habitat will be Haven-1, scheduled to be the world's first commercial space station when it launches into low earth orbit in May 2026. Our team is all-in, committed to executing our mission safely and on time. If you want to work with the most talented people on Earth furthering space exploration for humanity, come join us.

Vast is looking for a Director, Government Affairs And National Security Programs, reporting to the Vice President of Government Affairs, to lead and expand the company's engagement with the U.S. Department of Defense and associated national security stakeholders. This role will drive policy, partnership, and advocacy strategies to advance Vast's initiatives to launch and operate the world's leading commercial space stations in support of both civil and national security space objectives.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Washington D.C. location.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a comprehensive DoD and national security engagement strategy aligned with Vast's government affairs and policy objectives. Collaborate across internal teams including Legal, Programs, Engineering, and Business Development to align advocacy efforts with mission and programmatic priorities.
• Dod And Interagency Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with key offices within the Department of Defense, U.S. Space Force, Air Force, Space Development Agency (SDA), Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), and other defense-related organizations. Engage with relevant Congressional committees and staff, particularly those overseeing defense, space, and appropriations matters. Coordinate with the National Security Council (NSC), Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and others in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) when cross-agency alignment is required.
• Policy And Advocacy: Monitor, analyze, and interpret U.S. defense and national security policy, legislation, and appropriations developments impacting commercial space capabilities. Prepare policy briefs, talking points, and legislative summaries to inform internal leadership and support strategic decision-making. Develop recommendations and written submissions for defense-related requests for information (RFIs), trade reports, and industry-government engagements.
• Program And Partnership Support: Collaborate with Vast's business development team to support DoD-related contracting opportunities, cooperative agreements, and partnerships. Identify emerging defense needs where Vast's commercial capabilities can contribute to resilience, mission assurance, and space domain awareness objectives. Provide policy support for defense-related technology initiatives, security reviews, and regulatory engagement.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 8+ years of professional experience in government affairs

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience working on DOD space programs and policies
• Experience with government contracting and government procurement
• Experience with Congressional appropriations and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) process
• Proven ability to adapt to rapidly changing priorities and schedules with ease and grace
• Ability to simplify complex concepts into straightforward and concise explanations
• Comfortable operating outside of areas of expertise and in new territory
• Excellent communication, analytical, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
• Self-starter with excellent time-management and prioritization skills

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time
• Ability to obtain appropriate security clearance to support DOD space programs