Business Development Director

Sodern America•Englewood, CO

6d•$120,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Imagine combining the excitement of building something new with the confidence of joining a company that already knows how to win. As a globally established organization with a strong history of success abroad, we are expanding into the United States and forming a new division designed for growth, innovation, and long-term impact. Sodern America has come to Colorado! Backed by Sodern’s 60+ years of cutting-edge innovation as an internationally recognized space equipment manufacturer and leader in optronic systems including star trackers and space cameras, Sodern America will feature a production line and operations dedicated to the US market to better serve its growing North American customer base and strengthen partnerships across the region. This is more than a job; it is a chance to be part of a founding team. You will help establish processes, shape culture, and influence strategy, all while supported by an experienced international parent company that has already demonstrated sustainable success. For those who thrive in dynamic environments and want to leave a tangible mark, this is a unique opportunity to build with purpose. The Business Development Director is responsible for leading and executing the company’s U.S. revenue growth strategy through the development, management, and successful close of complex sales opportunities. This role owns the full sales lifecycle, from market development and prospect identification through contract negotiation and implementation, ensuring disciplined execution and sustainable revenue expansion. The Business Development Director will exercise discretion and make decisions in independent significance. The Business Development Director has some authority to hire and fire, and in other circumstances the Business Development Director’s recommendations will be given significant weight. The Business Development Director will build, supervise, lead, and mentor a high-performing sales team while personally driving strategic customer engagements. This role serves as the primary commercial leader for the U.S. market and is accountable for establishing strong customer relationships, structuring competitive commercial proposals, and securing profitable agreements aligned with the company’s long-term objectives. The Business Development Director will oversee customer relationships throughout the sales process and into implementation, partnering closely with a Mission Manager who will lead post-contract delivery. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, strong executive presence, negotiation expertise, and the ability to navigate complex, commercial sales environments.

Requirements

Past business development / sales experience required; experience in aerospace and defense required
Past management experience required
Strong presentation and negotiation skills and experience interacting with contractors, buyers and customers
Strong understanding of formal procurement processes and RFP response / proposal management
Financial acumen including pricing models, margin analysis and contract structures
Ability to synthesize technical and commercial information into compelling value propositions
Proficiency in CRM systems and sales analytics tools
Relationship building skills that inspire confidence, trust, collaboration, and respect with all stakeholders
Strong leadership, coaching and performance management capabilities
A minimum of 10 years of sales experience is required.
Sales in aerospace and defense is strongly preferred
A bachelor’s degree is required

Nice To Haves

Background in engineering preferred
knowledge of AOCS engineering in the space industry is an advantage
Knowledge of star tracker system architecture and optronics is an advantage
Post-sales implementation and support experience preferred
French language competency is an advantage
engineering degree is preferred

Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills and follow-through
Communicate clearly and frequently with the CEO about activities, duties and developments
Identify and create opportunities to originate and close upon Sodern America sales within the U.S. market
Develop and execute annual and multi-year sales strategy aligned with company growth objectives
Develop and manage sales forecasts
Maintain relationships with Sodern’s existing U.S. customers
Perform opportunity identification and lead generation
Build relationships with customers and prospects
Drive customer retention and expansion strategies
Develop and implement processes supporting the full sales business cycle
Lead CRM implementation and ensure effective adoption and utilization
Develop and manage proposals involving coordination across necessary internal resources
Manage complex commercial offers with the support of the Sodern France technical team
Oversee the post-contract implementation process with the support of a Mission Manager who will report to you
Participate in the follow-up of offers to achieve annual order intake targets
Maintain performance tracking & reporting / KPI management
Perform competitive intelligence (competition, market evaluation, etc.)
Participate in trade shows and events
Participate in the execution of the commercial roadmap for star trackers and space cameras
Manage and develop the sales team
Attend meetings in a timely manner and demonstrate consistent attendance
Communicate clearly and frequently with Sodern France leadership about activities, duties and developments
Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.