Director, Business Development, National Security Space (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space•Virginia, MN

3d•$189,164 - $260,119

About The Position

Sierra Space is seeking a Director, Business Development, National Security Space, to provide executive leadership across multiple divisions or enterprise-level business development functions. This role involves architecting comprehensive growth strategies to transform the organization's market position and revenue streams. The Director will establish strategic and tactical plans that shape the company's business development approach across multiple market segments, make critical decisions impacting organizational performance, and lead through multiple layers of management. Key responsibilities include driving enterprise-level partnerships, overseeing major strategic pursuits, and advising on market expansion and business growth. This position demands sophisticated strategic thinking, exceptional leadership presence, and the ability to translate complex market dynamics into actionable business development initiatives that deliver substantial and sustainable growth.

Requirements

Active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility and full-scope polygraph is required.
20+ years of experience in the National Security industry, including 10+ years of program management experience and a proven track record of managing contracts exceeding $100M annually.
Bachelor’s degree in a technical or space-related field (e.g., engineering, physics, computer science); MBA preferred.
Thorough knowledge of U.S. Government acquisition strategies, processes, and contract vehicles.
Extensive experience across the system development lifecycle, from concept design to deployment.
Proven success in capturing, organizing, producing, delivering, and winning competitive proposals.
Strong leadership skills, with the ability to organize, coordinate, and lead diverse teams (program management, technical, and business development) through the capture and proposal process.
Deep understanding of National Security Space missions, stakeholders, and acquisition pathways.
Demonstrated ability to engage with senior business and government leaders, providing strategic guidance and leadership.
Experience defining capture plans and leading proposal development for U.S. Government customers.
Must be able to occasionally travel to domestic locations to support capture and business development efforts.

Nice To Haves

15+ years of relevant experience in proposal and capture leadership, including 10+ years of demonstrated National Security Space (DoD/IC) experience.
Experience architecting solutions and leading tradespace analyses for end-to-end systems that meet the requirements of the Department of War and the Intelligence Community.
Expertise in establishing industry partnerships and developing complex solutions for national program acquisitions, both as a subcontractor and prime contractor.
Working knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations (DFARS), and Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) compliance.
Experience working with or managing various contract types, including Level-of-Effort, CPAF, CPFF, FFP, OTA, and commercial sales.
Demonstrated ability to develop and execute technical roadmaps, particularly for commercial products in the National Security Space domain.
Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, U.S. Department of Defense, NASA, or commercial space markets.
Strong analytical and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to guide and motivate teams through challenges to optimize results.
Passion for working on high-technology applications for space missions.

Responsibilities

Build out enterprise-level business development strategy; identify and implement the steps needed to execute on the strategy across multiple business areas, market segments, and global regions.
Be responsible for one or more components of a division, program, or function at a group level or a key enterprise focus area within business development, including strategic accounts, market segments, or capability portfolios.
Establish strategic and tactical business development plans for functions/areas owned based on corporate strategy, market analysis, and competitive intelligence.
Make strategic decisions about pursuit strategies, resource allocation, and market positioning that are critical to business development performance with likely short-term and long-term impact.
Provide direction and lead activities through subordinate managers who have overall responsibility for the successful operation of assigned business development areas and major client relationships.
Be accountable for meeting financial plans, goals, and schedules for business development activities with a consistent focus on value creation, win rates, and return on business development investment.
Embody company culture and great leadership; serve as a catalyst for transformational change in business development approaches, systems, and organizational capabilities.
Drive enterprise-level business development initiatives that align with corporate strategic objectives and position the organization for sustainable competitive advantage.
Establish and oversee strategic partnerships and alliances that create significant business opportunities and market access across multiple segments.
Direct the development of innovative business models and approaches to capture new markets or expand existing ones, including adjacent market strategies and capability development.
Lead cross-functional teams to identify and pursue major business opportunities that require enterprise-wide coordination and executive sponsorship.
Interact with internal and external executive-level management on strategic matters related to business growth, market positioning, and competitive strategy.
Mentor and develop senior business development leaders to ensure organizational capability and succession planning for critical business development roles.
Uphold and model company values; hold others accountable to values in all business development activities, strategic decisions, and client interactions.
Builds out the strategy; identifies and implements the steps needed to execute on the strategy over their business area/function.
Accountable for being on cost and on schedule with a consistent focus on value creation.
Embodies our culture and great leadership; acts as a catalyst for change.
Is accountable to meet financial plans, goals, and schedules.
Upholds and models company values; holds others accountable to values.