Strategic Projects Manager

About the role

Quartermaster is in the midst of a significant buildout, expanding its global maritime sensing network by deploying physical equipment on commercial vessels throughout international waters. This Strategic Projects Manager role is designed for a versatile generalist who can successfully navigate the intricacies of various business functions while operating with a high degree of autonomy. The successful candidate will report directly to the founding team and unit leaders, acting as a crucial connector between strategic vision and on-the-ground execution. You will be responsible for transforming complex, ambiguous challenges into tangible results by coordinating efforts across operations, commercial, and product teams. This position requires an individual who is equally comfortable analyzing financial models and engaging in hands-on problem-solving to drive projects forward. You will own the end-to-end lifecycle of strategic initiatives, ensuring that projects move from initial concept to implemented solutions efficiently. The role demands a proactive mindset and the ability to build trust with specialists across different domains without needing to be a specialist in every field. Ultimately, you will establish the repeatable processes and clear documentation that allow permanent teams to take ownership and scale successful projects.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Address significant, undefined problems from start to finish, structuring them, finding solutions, and implementing results with a high level of ownership.
• Lead coordination across operations, commercial, and product teams to complete cross-functional projects that span multiple departments and require alignment.
• Create high-quality technical and financial documents, including economic models, business cases, and data-driven recommendations that inform key strategic decisions.
• Adapt to shifting business needs, which could involve establishing new market recruitment strategies, resolving operational bottlenecks, or managing commercial pilots from conception to scale.
• Develop repeatable processes and clear documentation for successful projects, enabling permanent teams to take over ownership and ensuring consistent execution.
• Drive the collection and analysis of operational data to measure project impact, validate hypotheses, and provide evidence for ongoing adjustments and future planning.
• Partner closely with the commercial team to identify new opportunities, define go-to-market approaches for new sensing deployments, and support contract negotiations.
• Collaborate with product and engineering stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical specifications and ensure deployed solutions meet intended outcomes.
• Manage multiple priorities in a fast-growing startup environment, proactively identifying risks, dependencies, and roadblocks before they impact project timelines.
• Serve as the primary point of coordination for internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring clear communication and alignment on project goals and timelines.
• Establish key performance indicators for each project, tracking progress against milestones and reporting results to leadership for review and decision-making.
• Leverage practical data skills to independently analyze information, build financial models, and stress-test assumptions before presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of standard operating procedures for project execution, fostering a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Act as a thought partner to founders and unit leaders, providing analytical support and strategic recommendations based on rigorous assessment of project feasibility and value.

Requirements

• 2-4 years of experience at a leading management consulting firm (MBB or similar) with a history of strong performance and delivering complex client engagements.
• Ability to produce precise technical and financial analyses, including clean financial models that are well-structured and easy to interpret.
• Comfort with undefined problems and a focus on delivering tangible outcomes rather than just creating polished presentations or slide decks.
• Effectiveness across sales, operations, and growth functions, earning the trust of specialists and functional leaders without needing to be an expert in every discipline.
• A proactive approach, moving quickly and meticulously to complete tasks accurately, balancing speed with a high attention to detail in a fast-growing company.
• Excellent communication skills for interacting with founders, cross-functional teams, and external clients, demonstrating clarity and precision in both written and verbal exchanges.
• Strong judgment and the ability to make decisions with incomplete information, navigating ambiguity to keep projects moving forward.
• A demonstrated capacity for self-direction, requiring minimal supervision while managing deadlines and taking ownership of project success.

Nice to have

• Experience in maritime, logistics, hardware, supply chain, or other complex physical-world industries where operational realities impact business models.
• Practical data skills (SQL, Python, or advanced spreadsheet/BI) to independently analyze information and derive insights without heavy reliance on data teams.
• Background in early-stage startups or as part of a founding team, where agility and a bias for action are essential traits for success.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time to engage with vessel operators, port authorities, and partner organizations in the field.

Practical notes

• Startup experience at a high-growth company is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% of the time may be required.
• This role is based in Arlington, VA, and is eligible for full-time employment.
• Compensation for this position is structured within the range of $170,000 to $190,000 per year, commensurate with experience.