Operations Lead, Strategic Partnerships

ABOUT KRAKEN KINETICS

Kraken Kinetics designs and manufactures advanced kinetic solutions that enable modern warfighting capabilities for the United States Armed Forces and its allies. We specialize in mission-tailored warheads and firing systems for unmanned and autonomous weapon platforms, delivering production-ready solutions at speed to address urgent national security challenges.

Our team brings decades of specialized Department of War experience across the full lifecycle of kinetic system development—from concept and design through testing, manufacturing, and operational deployment. Built on a foundation of work that helped lead the DoW into the era of kinetic drones, Kraken Kinetics combines commercial agility with deep technical expertise to deliver DEFINITIVE LETHALITYwhen it matters most.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Title: Operations Lead – Strategic Partnerships

Location: On-site at our Pinehurst, NC area facility

Kraken Kinetics is looking for a driven, highly organized Operations Lead to build and manage the systems that enable our Strategic Partnerships Department to operate at speed. This role sits at the center of the department, owning critical business infrastructure, coordinating customer training and engagement logistics, and driving the processes that keep opportunities, programs, and internal teams aligned.

This is not a traditional administrative role. We are looking for someone who takes ownership of complex workflows, identifies friction before it becomes a problem, and builds scalable systems that allow the broader team to execute more effectively.

Reporting to the Head of Strategic Partnerships, you will work across Government Relations, Industry Relations, Training, Finance, Compliance, Production, and other internal teams to ensure information, resources, deadlines, and responsibilities remain synchronized. Success in this role requires exceptional organization, technical aptitude, and the ability to turn ambiguity into repeatable processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the architecture, governance, and continuous development of the Strategic Partnerships Department's customer relationship management (CRM) environment

• Design and maintain scalable structures for accounts, contacts, opportunities, activities, sales stages, customer engagements, and other critical business data

• Establish CRM standards, data-entry requirements, and operating procedures that ensure accurate, consistent, and actionable information across the department

• Develop dashboards, reports, and recurring management products that provide leadership with visibility into pipeline activity, opportunity progression, customer engagement, and departmental performance

• Maintain data integrity and drive consistent CRM adoption across the Strategic Partnerships team

• Coordinate the execution of customer training engagements, including schedules, student rosters, instructor coordination, travel, equipment requirements, documentation, and internal support

• Serve as a central coordination point between Strategic Partnerships and supporting departments for demonstrations, training events, customer visits, conferences, and other external engagements

• Maintain departmental calendars and track major opportunities, customer engagements, proposal deadlines, training events, conferences, and other time-sensitive requirements

• Support recurring pipeline reviews, opportunity assessments, forecasting, leadership updates, and departmental reporting

• Identify operational bottlenecks, information gaps, and inefficient processes and implement practical solutions

• Support the Head of Strategic Partnerships with database management, resource coordination, and execution of key events

• Maintain accurate records of customer engagements, opportunities, programs, and departmental activity

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

• Experience in business operations, program coordination, project management, sales operations, or a related function

• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, or improve organizational processes and workflows

• Experience working with CRM platforms, databases, or comparable business information systems

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to organize complex information into clear, actionable outputs

• Exceptional organizational skills and demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities

• Ability to coordinate complex activities across internal and external stakeholders

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally with technical and non-technical teams

• Ability to identify problems, develop practical solutions, and independently drive implementation

• Proven success in dynamic or shifting operational environments

Preferred Experience:

• Experience administering or developing CRM environments such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, NetSuite, or comparable platforms

• Experience with Microsoft Power BI, Power Automate, SharePoint, or other workflow automation and business intelligence tools

• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into structured data models, workflows, dashboards, and reporting systems

• Experience developing KPIs, pipeline reporting, forecasts, or management dashboards for sales, business development, or executive leadership

• Experience coordinating customer training, demonstrations, field events, or other logistics-intensive engagements

• Experience in defense technology, aerospace, UxS, advanced manufacturing, or government contracting environments

• Familiarity with U.S. Government and DoW business development, contracting, or acquisition processes

• Working knowledge of export-control and compliance environments, including ITAR/EAR

• Experience using technology and automation to reduce manual administrative workload and improve organizational efficiency

• Experience working in a startup or high-growth environment

Benefits included:

• Generous PTO policy

• Comprehensive medical coverage (80% company-paid for employee + dependents).

• Vision & dental (100% company-paid)

• Short and long-term disability coverage (100% company-paid)

• Generous 401(k) retirement plan

• Company-paid life insurance

• Great teammates and well stocked snacks

LIFE IN MOORE COUNTY, NC (PINEHURST AREA)

Kraken Kinetics is based in Moore County, North Carolina, home to Pinehurst, a nationally recognized destination offering an exceptional quality of life.

Employees benefit from a low cost of living, minimal congestion, and a strong sense of community, with easy access to larger metropolitan areas, including Raleigh-Durham.

Whether you're looking to accelerate your career or put down long-term roots, the Pinehurst area offers a compelling alternative to traditional tech and defense hubs.

We are committed to supporting relocation for the right candidates.

Watch what it’s like to live here:[ Video Link]

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Kraken Kinetics is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applicants of all backgrounds.