Senior Business Development Manager - Space and Missile Defense

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Business Development Manager - Space and Missile Defense based in United States.** This is a high-impact business development role focused on expanding opportunities across the Space and Missile Defense sector within the U.S. defense market. You will build and strengthen relationships with government customers, industry partners, vendors, and subcontractors while identifying and shaping new business opportunities. The role combines strategic market development, pipeline management, customer engagement, teaming strategy, and early-stage capture activities. You will work closely with operations, technical teams, capture professionals, and executive stakeholders to translate market intelligence into actionable growth strategies. A key focus will be developing a strong portfolio of Navy and Marine Corps opportunities and positioning the organization for competitive prime-contract opportunities. The ideal candidate is a strategic, disciplined, and collaborative business developer who thrives in complex acquisition environments and periods of significant growth. With substantial exposure to Space and Missile Defense customers and markets, you will play a central role in shaping long-term growth and mission-focused opportunities. ### Accountabilities - Research market trends, customer priorities, competitive activity, and emerging opportunities aligned with the organization’s technical capabilities and areas of strategic interest. - Identify and develop new business opportunities while maintaining a disciplined and continuously evolving business development pipeline. - Build and nurture long-term relationships with government customers, industry partners, vendors, subcontractors, and other key stakeholders across the defense ecosystem. - Work closely with operations and technical teams to understand capabilities, identify growth opportunities, and align customer needs with relevant solutions. - Lead early-stage gate reviews and provide strategic assessments of potential opportunities, including their viability, competitive positioning, and probability of success. - Develop teaming strategies designed to optimize win probability and establish effective work arrangements with industry partners. - Initiate and manage relationships with potential teaming partners while leveraging existing industry connections to identify high-value opportunities. - Gather and analyze business intelligence concerning customers, competitors, teaming partners, vendors, acquisition activities, and market developments. - Attend symposiums, industry days, conferences, and other relevant events to expand market intelligence, customer access, and strategic relationships. - Collaborate with capture managers and the broader business development organization to shape pursuits and support the development and execution of growth strategies. - Lead regular business development and pipeline review meetings, ensuring opportunities remain aligned with strategic priorities and receive appropriate follow-through. - Apply a strategic and analytical mindset when evaluating opportunities and contribute to the development of a growing portfolio of Navy and Marine Corps business. ### **Requirements** - Be a U.S. citizen and hold a Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain a Top Secret clearance; an active Top Secret clearance is strongly preferred. - Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business, a technical discipline, or a related field, or possess equivalent relevant military, government, or business experience. - Bring 3–5 years of business development or capture experience within Department of Defense (DoD) services organizations, preferably supporting Space and Missile Defense customers and markets. - Demonstrate a proven track record of identifying and closing new business through a consultative, collaborative, and multidisciplinary approach. - Possess a strong understanding of DoD requirements shaping and acquisition/procurement processes, particularly within Space and Missile Defense-related organizations. - Demonstrate strong familiarity with the Space and Missile Defense customer base, industrial base, and/or user communities involved in acquisition, development, testing, integration, sustainment, and requirements development. - Have a recent track record of successfully winning Space and Missile Defense programs. - Bring strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to develop trusted relationships across government, industry, and internal leadership teams. - Demonstrate executive presence, strategic thinking, sound business judgment, and the ability to operate effectively in complex and ambiguous environments. - Be disciplined and methodical when managing opportunities and supporting complex capture processes, while remaining adaptable in a rapidly evolving organization. - A Master’s degree in a business-related field is preferred. - A Project Management Institute (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) or Shipley certification is preferred. - 10+ years of military or federal civil service experience is strongly preferred. - Be comfortable working collaboratively across functions and influencing outcomes without relying on a purely individual approach. - Be willing and able to travel approximately 25–60% as required by customer, industry, and business development activities. ### **Benefits** - Competitive compensation determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, competencies, education, certifications, geographic location, and applicable federal contract requirements. - Hybrid work arrangement, with the position ideally located near a major Fleet concentration area, the greater Washington, DC area, or a relevant corporate office. - The role is particularly suited to candidates based in Los Angeles/El Segundo or the Space Coast area of Florida. - Medical, dental, and vision insurance options. - Life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage. - TRICARE supplement options. - 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching. - Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). - Employee Assistance Program. - Learning and professional development benefits. - Paid time off and paid holidays. - Opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping a growing Space and Missile Defense and Navy/Marine Corps business portfolio.