Vice President of Business Development

We are seeking a proven Vice-President of Business Development with deep experience in defense-related sales to expand our footprint in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and allied markets. Reporting to the CEO, you will lead strategic initiatives, identify high-value opportunities, build executive-level partnerships, and drive revenue growth for our subsidiaries' monitoring and control systems, fasteners, and aerospace components tailored to military applications. This executive role demands a visionary hunter mentality, expertise in federal acquisition processes, and a passion for solving complex challenges in harsh-environment technologies. If you thrive in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment and have a track record of leading teams to close multi-million-dollar defense contracts, we want you on our team.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Market Expansion & Opportunity Identification: Lead research and prioritization of defense market segments (e.g., naval, aerospace, and ground systems) to uncover opportunities for our portfolio, including salinity systems, navigational aids, custom fasteners, and precision aerospace components. Develop and oversee a structured sales pipeline targeting DoD programs, primes, and subcontractors.
• Executive Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture high-level relationships with key decision-makers, including DoD program executives, procurement leaders, and industry partners. Represent us at industry events, forums, and conferences (e.g., AUSA, Sea-Air-Space) to position us as a thought leader in electrical control, fastening, and aerospace solutions for military platforms.
• Sales Strategy & Execution: Develop and implement compelling value propositions that align our rugged, ISO-certified systems and components with client needs, such as enhanced situational awareness, secure assemblies, and environmental monitoring in extreme conditions. Oversee RFI/RFP responses, proposal development, and negotiations to secure contracts.
• Pipeline & Team Management: Qualify leads based on technical fit, budget, and timelines; maintain accurate CRM records (e.g., Salesforce) to track progress, forecast revenue, and achieve quarterly/annual targets (e.g., $5M+ in new bookings). Mentor and lead a small sales team to scale operations.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Collaborate with executive leadership, engineering, manufacturing, and R&D teams across our subsidiaries to customize solutions and ensure seamless handoffs from opportunity to delivery. Provide strategic market intelligence on trends like AI-integrated sensors or unmanned systems to inform product roadmaps and corporate strategy.
• Performance Metrics & Reporting: Monitor competitor activities, regulatory changes (e.g., DFARS compliance), and emerging technologies; deliver executive reports on key metrics such as win rates, pipeline health, and customer satisfaction to the board and senior leadership.
• Business Growth Initiatives: Spearhead partnerships, joint ventures, or M&A opportunities to enhance Our defense portfolio, focusing on sea/air/land integration and long-term revenue diversification.
• Quoting Process Optimization & Execution: Partner with engineering, estimating, and operations teams to streamline and standardize the quoting process, ensuring timely, accurate, and competitive proposals; drive initiatives to reduce quote turnaround time and improve win rates, enabling the organization to consistently deliver high-quality quotes in alignment with DoD and prime contractor requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field (Master's or MBA required).
• 10+ years of direct sales/business development leadership experience in the defense sector, with proven success in selling electrical/electronic systems, fasteners, sensors, or aerospace components to DoD or military primes.
• U.S. citizenship required; active security clearance (Secret level or higher preferred).
• In-depth knowledge of federal acquisition regulations (FAR/DFARS), contracting vehicles (e.g., GSA, IDIQ), and procurement processes.
• Demonstrated track record of closing high-value deals ($1M+), with experience managing sales funnels, teams, and strategies from lead generation to contract award.
• Established executive network within DoD agencies (e.g., Navy, Air Force), primes (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman), and industry associations.
• Technical aptitude in electrical engineering, fastening technologies, maritime/aerospace systems, or harsh-environment manufacturing.
• Proficiency in CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills; experience with executive proposal writing and C-suite presentations.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% for client meetings, trade shows, and site visits.
• Prior executive experience in multinational or matrixed organizations; familiarity with ISO standards and military specifications (MIL-STD).