Senior Director, International Business Development - Defense Sector

Leidos•Reston, VA

About The Position

Leidos is seeking a Senior Director, International Business Development to join the Defense Sector Growth Organization. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving the Defense Sector's international growth agenda across all Business Areas. The selected candidate will serve as the principal architect of Leidos' international defense growth strategy, partnering with sector and business area leadership to shape and win high-value Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) opportunities worldwide. This mission-critical role reports directly to the Defense Sector Growth SVP and carries enterprise-wide accountability for international pipeline generation, pursuit qualification, capture leadership, and long-term strategic planning. The Defense Sector International Business Development function has a mission to expand Leidos' presence in international defense markets by developing enduring government-to-government and commercial relationships, leading winning capture strategies, and ensuring alignment between international opportunity pursuit and the sector's strategic growth objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 15+ years of experience working in defense/government markets
Demonstrated track record of winning international defense business through FMS and/or DCS channels at contract values exceeding $100M
5+ years of direct experience managing U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) international programs, contracts, and relationships
Deep knowledge of export regulations including ITAR, EAR, and the Foreign Military Sales process
Proven expertise drafting and executing export licenses (DSP-5, DSP-85, TAA, MLA)
Demonstrated senior executive-level relationships with foreign government defense customers, U.S. defense attaches, and in-country partners
Strong ability to develop and align cross-functional teams and work across organizational boundaries within a large, matrixed corporation
Experience managing new business funds or equivalent BD investment budgets
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to C-suite and senior government executives
Proven ability to coach and mentor BD professionals and instill drive, discipline, and strategic thinking into a geographically dispersed team
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally on short notice
Must be eligible for clearance

Nice To Haves

Master's degree with 12+ years preferred
Prior U.S. military service or Government experience with direct engagement with foreign nations and militaries
Formal capture and proposal training (Shipley or equivalent)
Experience with international coalition and partnership programs (Five Eyes, NATO, INDOPACOM partners)
Experience and comfort operating at C-suite levels domestically and internationally
Established network within the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC) and Security Cooperation community
Top Secret desired

Responsibilities

Lead the Defense Sector's international growth strategy, serving as the primary point of accountability for international pipeline development, pursuit qualification, and capture outcomes
Partner with all Defense Sector Business Areas to identify, qualify, and pursue international opportunities aligned to their portfolios and capabilities
Build and maintain executive-level relationships with foreign military customers, foreign government officials, U.S. Government foreign military representatives, and key industry partners worldwide
Lead and execute end-to-end capture strategies for high-value FMS and DCS opportunities, including win strategy development, teaming, pricing, and proposal oversight
Obtain and synthesize market intelligence and competitive data to inform pursuit decisions and develop marketing strategies that guide capture teams
Draft, facilitate, and manage export license processes including DSP-5, DSP-85, TAA, and MLA submissions in support of Defense Sector capabilities
Drive participation in bid decisions, gate reviews, and cost strategy development for international pursuits
Develop and recommend business development and marketing strategies for maximum customer and market penetration in target international markets
Lead development of the long-term international strategic plan for the Defense Sector, including identification of adjacent market opportunities
Manage international new business funds and ensure responsible stewardship of BD investment resources
Represent Leidos at international defense conferences, trade shows, and industry engagements to promote capabilities and build relationships
Collaborate across Leidos sectors and corporate functions to bring the full breadth of Leidos capabilities to international opportunities