Senior Director, National Security Space (Clearance Required)

Sierra Space

10d

About The Position

As our Senior Director of National Security Space & Advanced Programs, you will lead efforts to define and execute Sierra Space’s National Security Space growth strategy, oversee key customer interactions, and drive business development activities critical to accelerating the company’s presence in this dynamic market. You'll report directly to the Vice President for Strategy, Business Development, and Growth while exercising full responsibility and authority for developing strategies, managing capture efforts, and overseeing proposal activities for opportunities with key customers, including the Department of War and the Intelligence Community. In this role, you will shape the National Security Space thesis, build a robust pipeline of opportunities, and partner across technical, product, and operational teams to architect solutions that meet U.S. Government mission needs. You’ll also work with a team of Business Development Managers to identify, capture, and deliver innovative solutions, turning mission needs into a focused portfolio, winning contracts, and scaling capabilities into operations. Additionally, you’ll establish industry partnerships and drive the development of compelling customer messaging and strategies to enable success in highly competitive markets.

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.
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.

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

Lead efforts to define and execute Sierra Space’s National Security Space growth strategy
Oversee key customer interactions
Drive business development activities critical to accelerating the company’s presence in this dynamic market
Develop strategies, managing capture efforts, and overseeing proposal activities for opportunities with key customers, including the Department of War and the Intelligence Community
Shape the National Security Space thesis
Build a robust pipeline of opportunities
Partner across technical, product, and operational teams to architect solutions that meet U.S. Government mission needs
Work with a team of Business Development Managers to identify, capture, and deliver innovative solutions, turning mission needs into a focused portfolio, winning contracts, and scaling capabilities into operations
Establish industry partnerships
Drive the development of compelling customer messaging and strategies to enable success in highly competitive markets