Innovation, Research, and Development Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Thank you for considering IT Concepts dba Kentro, where innovation drives opportunity and collaboration leads to success. Our dynamic community of experts is fully committed to advancing our customers' missions, fostering professional growth, and making a positive impact on our communities.

Our transition to Kentro in 2025 reflects a rich legacy built upon the foundation of IT Concepts. Rather than leaving ITC behind, we confidently embrace a future centered around the Core of More. By joining our supportive community, you will find that Kentro is dedicated to your personal and professional development. Together, we can drive meaningful change, spark innovation, and achieve extraordinary milestones.

Kentro is looking for a skilled and motivated Innovation, Research, and Development Manager to join our Technical Services team. As the Innovation, Research, and Development Manager, you will be responsible for translating internal and customer requirements into actionable tasks. You will also manage our innovation lab, research emerging technologies, and drive their integration into customer and our corporate environments. A key function will be working to define how we execute plans designed to enhance customer adoption of these solutions.

The Product Owner and Innovation Manager will join our Technical Services team, operating within a CMMI Development Maturity Level 4/5 framework. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in leading our research and development (R&D) team to support our service delivery teams and contribute to organizational growth. Kentro’s core capabilities focus on Infrastructure Modernization, Data and AI, Human Capital Management (HCM), Cybersecurity, and Healthcare. Kentro has also invested in partnerships with AWS, Microsoft, Google, UiPath, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Tableau, Databricks, among others. The innovation manager will use our core competencies, leverage our partnerships when/where it makes sense, and embrace emerging technology to guide what we create and how we innovate. Our innovations aim to create accelerators that differentiate Kentro from our competition and provide quality services for our customers.

Responsibilities:

• Focus on Priorities:
• Work closely with Tech Services leadership to focus R&D efforts.
• Be flexible, adapt when priorities shift and communicate impacts.
• Creating accelerators to drive value for our customers.

• Requirement Gathering and Analysis:
• Work closely with internal and customer stakeholders to gather and analyze business requirements.
• Translate internal and customer stakeholder needs into user stories, acceptance criteria, and technical specifications, considering cost, risk, and sustainability.
• Prioritize feature backlog based on business value and internal and customer stakeholder input.
• Innovation and Technology Leadership:
• Favor automation and AI where possible.
• Encourage taking calculated risks and failing fast.
• Lead the innovation lab by identifying, researching, and prototyping emerging technologies for integration.
• Oversee and manage demonstration environments to display new and existing technologies and processes to customers to drive value and adoption.
• Communicate the product vision, roadmap, and innovation initiatives to internal teams and customer stakeholders.
• Product Roadmap Management:
• Develop and maintain a clear product roadmap aligned with business objectives and a business case.
• Coordinate with development teams to define release plans and sprint goals.
• Communicate product vision and roadmap to internal teams and customer stakeholders.
• Team Collaboration:
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including developers, QA engineers, designers, and project managers.
• Facilitate communication and foster a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Provide guidance and support to development teams throughout the software development lifecycle.
• Project Execution and Delivery:
• Monitor project progress and identify risks and issues proactively.
• Automate the software delivery life cycle (SDLC) using pipelines and methodologies like DevSecOps or GitOps to deliver secure, high-quality solutions.
• Ensure timely delivery of high-quality software products that meet stakeholder expectations.
• Maintain project and product documentation.
• Plan for the operation and maintenance (O&M) that will be required upon delivery.
• Quality Assurance and Testing:
• Work with QA teams to define test plans and acceptance criteria.
• Review test results and ensure that product meets quality standards.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product quality and efficiency.
• Customer Engagement:
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer interactions related to product features and functionality.
• Gather feedback from customers and incorporate it into product development process.
• Build strong relationships with customers to understand their evolving needs and preferences.

Location: McLean, VA- Option for Hybrid

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• Minimum 10 years of experience in product development, including project management

• Proven experience as a Product Owner or similar role in software development projects.

• Experience managing an innovation lab or leading technology research initiatives.

• Strong understanding of Agile methodologies and CMMI Development Maturity Level 3 practices.

• Experience identifying Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and the data required to measure them across multiple information domains including Human Resources, Finance and Accounting, Service Delivery, and others.

• Experience designing data visualizations that inform performance measurement

• Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to prioritize competing demands and manage stakeholders’ expectations effectively.

• Experience developing briefings for Senior Leaders and communications to customers

• Certification in Agile (e.g., Certified Scrum Master and/or Product Owner).

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of cloud platforms and services, data lifecycle, security, and AI.

• Knowledge of infrastructure as code (IaC) and configuration management automation.

• Knowledge of DevSecOps, GitOps, and MLOps.
• Knowledge of federal operational environments and compliance.

Clearance Requirement

• A clearance is not required; however, it may be made available, and candidates should be able to achieve a clearance if desired or required.
• US Citizenship required and residing in United States

Benefits

The Company

We believe in generating success collaboratively, enabling long-term mission success, and building trust for the next challenge. With you as our partner, let’s solve challenges, think innovatively, and maximize impact. As a valued member of our team, you have the unique opportunity to work in a diverse range of technology and business career paths, all while supporting our nation and delivering innovative technology solutions. We are a close community of experts that pride ourselves on creating an environment defined by teamwork, dedication, and excellence.

We hold three ISO certifications (27001:2013, 20000-1:2011, 9001:2015) and two CMMI ML 3 ratings (DEV and SVC).

Industry Recognition

Growth | Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, DC Metro List Fastest Growing; Washington Business Journal: Fastest Growing Companies, Top Performing Small Technology Companies in Greater D.C.

Culture | Northern Virginia Technology Council Tech 100 Honoree; Virginia Best Place to Work; Washington Business Journal: Best Places to Work, Corporate Diversity Index Winner – Mid-Size Companies, Companies Owned by People of Color; Department of Labor’s HireVets for our work helping veterans transition; SECAF Award of Excellence finalist; Victory Military Friendly Brand; Virginia Values Veterans (V3); Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Corporate Breath Award

Benefits

We offer competitive benefits package including paid time off, healthcare benefits, supplemental benefits, 401k including an employer match, discount perks, rewards, and more. We invest in our employees – Every employee is eligible for education reimbursement for certifications, degrees, or professional development. Reimbursement amounts may fluctuate due to IRS limitations. We want you to grow as an expert and a leader and offer flexibility for you to take a course, complete a certification, or other professional growth and networking. We are committed to supporting your curiosity and sustaining a culture that prioritizes commitment to continuous professional development.

We work hard; we play hard. Kentro is committed to incorporating fun into every day. We dedicate funds for activities – virtual and in-person – e.g., we host happy hours, holiday events, fitness & wellness events, and annual celebrations. In alignment with our commitment to our communities, we also host and attend charity galas/events. We believe in appreciating your commitment and building a positive workspace for you to be creative, innovative, and happy.

Commitment Equal Opportunity Employment & VEVRAA

Kentro is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Kentro is strongly committed to compliance with VEVRAA and other applicable federal, state, and local laws governing equal employment opportunity. We have developed comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure our hiring practices align with these requirements.

As part of our VEVRAA compliance efforts, Kentro has established an equal opportunity plan outlining our commitment to recruiting, hiring, and advancing protected veterans. This plan is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure its effectiveness.

We encourage protected veterans to self-identify during the application process. This information is strictly confidential and will only be used for reporting and compliance purposes as required by law. Providing this information is voluntary and will not impact your employment eligibility.

Our commitment to equal employment opportunity extends beyond legal compliance. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace where all employees, including protected veterans, are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

How to Apply

To apply to Kentro Positions- Please click on the: “Apply for this Job” button at the bottom of this Job Description or the button at the top: “Application.” Please upload your resume and complete all the application steps. You must submit the application for Kentro to consider you for a position. If you need alternative application methods, please email careers@kentro.us and request assistance.

Accommodations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you need to discuss reasonable accommodations, please email careers@kentro.us.