Executive VP & Chief Mission Officer

REPORTS TO:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

POSITION SUMMARY/OBJECTIVE:

The Executive Vice President (EVP) & Chief Mission Officer (CMO) is responsible for leading and integrating Space Foundation's mission-facing functions into a cohesive, high-performing enterprise. Reporting directly to the CEO, this executive oversees Space Sector Programs, Education & Workforce Development, Growth, International and Interagency Relations, and Business Market Intelligence.

This is a highly strategic leadership role focused on mission integration, organizational impact, stakeholder engagement, and growth. The successful candidate will ensure that Space Foundation's programs, partnerships, market intelligence, and external engagement efforts are aligned to maximize mission outcomes, strengthen organizational influence, and support long-term sustainability.

The EVP & Chief Mission Officer serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and is responsible for translating organizational strategy into execution across the Foundation's mission portfolio. The ideal candidate is an enterprise leader who excels at building partnerships, aligning diverse teams around common objectives, identifying emerging opportunities, and creating organizational focus, accountability, and impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The following briefly describes the primary responsibilities of this job, but it is not intended to be a complete or all-inclusive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of this position:

Mission Integration & Enterprise Leadership

• Lead and integrate the Foundation's mission-facing portfolio to ensure alignment across programs, growth initiatives, workforce development, market intelligence, and government engagement.
• Translate organizational strategy into measurable mission outcomes and enterprise priorities.
• Ensure mission investments and organizational resources are aligned with strategic objectives.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration and organizational effectiveness across mission-focused teams.

Space Sector Programs

• Provide executive leadership for Space Foundation's industry programs and strategic convening activities.
• Ensure programs remain aligned with stakeholder needs and emerging opportunities across the global space ecosystem.
• Strengthen the Foundation's role as a trusted convener and catalyst for collaboration.

Education & Workforce Development

• Lead the Foundation's workforce development and education portfolio.
• Expand the Foundation's role in addressing workforce challenges across the space industry.
• Align workforce initiatives with industry needs and organizational priorities.

Growth, Membership & Strategic Partnerships

• Oversee organizational growth initiatives and membership.
• Expand engagement with industry, government, academic, and international members.
• Identify opportunities to increase mission impact, organizational influence, and strategic reach.
• Support the development of sustainable engagement and revenue opportunities aligned with organizational objectives.

International & Interagency Relations

• Oversee the Foundation's government engagement strategy and Washington, D.C. presence.
• Strengthen relationships with Congressional, Executive Branch, DoD, Space Force, Intelligence Community, civil space, and international stakeholders.
• Expand Space Foundation's leadership across national security and international space communities.

Business Market Intelligence

• Ensure market intelligence, industry trends, stakeholder insights, and emerging opportunities inform strategic decision-making.
• Translate insights into actionable recommendations for programs, workforce initiatives, partnerships, and organizational investments.
• Provide executive leadership with data-informed assessments of opportunities, challenges, and risks across the space ecosystem.
• Advance strategic initiatives that strengthen the Foundation's influence and relevance globally.

Leadership & Organizational Performance

• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of mission leaders.
• Establish clear goals, accountability, and measurable outcomes across the mission portfolio.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, continuous improvement, and mission focus.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and executive leadership team on mission execution and organizational growth.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees the work of assigned personnel by setting priorities, coaching for development, and managing performance to achieve individual and team success in alignment with organizational goals.

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops and manages the program or department budget, ensuring adherence to budgetary standards, proactively tracking expenditures, and communicating deviations to Finance in a timely and transparent manner.

COMPETENCIES:

• Demonstrated ability to align diverse teams around a common strategic vision and deliver measurable results.
• Ability to identify emerging opportunities, anticipate market shifts, and develop strategies that advance organizational objectives.
• Proven ability to represent an organization at executive and board levels.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change and integrating multiple functions toward common goals.
• Ability to foster collaboration, build trust, and drive performance across diverse functions.
• Strong communication, influence, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to engage effectively with board members, CEOs, government officials, military leaders, international partners, and other senior stakeholders.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Advanced degree, preferably in business, public policy, international affairs, engineering, science, or a related field.
• Proven experience leading complex organizations, business units, programs, or portfolios with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Must demonstrate experience with recordkeeping, tracking financials, building budgets, and conducting cost/benefit analysis.
• Experience connecting programs, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and market intelligence to organizational growth and impact.
• Significant experience building and maintaining relationships with senior leaders across industry, government, nonprofits, academia, and/or international organizations.
• Experience creating scalable processes, governance structures, performance frameworks, and accountability systems.
• Extensive experience leading, mentoring, and developing senior-level teams.

Preferred:

• Experience within space, aerospace, defense, technology, national security, government, or related sectors.
• Experience overseeing programs, partnerships, government engagement, workforce initiatives, or market intelligence functions.
• Familiarity with nonprofit, membership, association, or mission-driven organizations.
• Experience working with Congressional, federal, military, international, or civil space stakeholders.
• Experience supporting enterprise strategic planning and organizational transformation.
• Experience working closely with boards of directors and executive leadership teams.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

This position involves extended periods of sitting or standing at a workstation and frequent use of a computer and other standard office equipment. Occasional movement, including walking, lifting, or carrying items up to 15 pounds, may be required. Reasonable accommodation will be made to support individuals with disabilities in performing essential job functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This role is primarily based in an office environment, with access to standard equipment and furnishings. The employee may occasionally be required to participate in offsite meetings or events, including potential travel as needed. The work environment is quiet to moderate in noise level. Reasonable accommodation will be made for individuals with disabilities.

JOB STATUS:

• FLSA Classification: This position is exempt according to guidelines of the Fair Labor Standards Act and, as such, an individual in this position is not eligible to receive overtime pay.
• Full- or Part-Time: This position is full-time in nature. An individual in this position will work a schedule consisting of 40+ hours per week.
• Work Location: This position’s primary work site is at Space Foundation headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO. Candidate must be based in or willing to relocate to Colorado Springs, CO. Relocation support is available.
• Regular Schedule: Usual business days are Monday through Friday, holidays excepted, and usual business hours are from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. in the time zone in which the position is located.

BENEFITS:

Space Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid basic life and AD&D coverage
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer contribution
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off
• Access to employee assistance program (EAP)

EEO STATEMENT:

Space Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.