Senior Manager, Strategic Growth

AeroVironment•Arlington, VA

3d•$147,500 - $225,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Strategic Growth (described in the posting as Sr. Manager, Growth Execution) is a high-impact strategic role responsible for shaping and executing growth initiatives, driving organizational alignment, and acting as an extension of the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) across critical opportunities. The role combines project ownership, strategic advising, and coordination across business units to help the Growth organization execute enterprise priorities with clarity and discipline. The role partners with the CGO to improve the effectiveness of Business Development, Marketing, Communications, Government Relations, and Strategy. It identifies organizational friction, integrates processes, drives policy, and positions the organization for scaled growth. The position is on-site in Arlington, Virginia, requires modest travel of less than 10%, and involves working in an office environment. The listed salary range is $147,500–$225,000. Applicants must meet the stated U.S. person or export-license eligibility requirements for access to ITAR- and/or EAR-controlled information. A SECRET or higher clearance is preferred; the listed clearance level is No Clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Public Policy, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 8 years of experience in strategy, product or portfolio management, program management, business operations, or similar cross-functional roles in technology or defense-adjacent environments.
At least 5 years of experience in a leadership role.
Ability to structure ambiguous problems, align diverse stakeholders, and drive complex initiatives to completion.
Strong communication skills and ability to distill complex topics into clear, executive-ready insights.
Ability to work in fast-paced, technical, or defense-tech environments.
High emotional intelligence and credibility with senior stakeholders.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with a track record of cross-functional alignment and delivery.
Meet the stated U.S. person eligibility requirement or be eligible for an export license to access ITAR- and/or EAR-controlled information.
Ability to work in an office environment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree such as an MBA, MPP, or technical MS.
Experience in aerospace, defense, or government sectors.
Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to speak and write persuasively.
Experience integrating tools and workflows across CRM, portfolio planning, business intelligence, and collaboration platforms.
Familiarity with M&A or post-merger integration activities.
Comfort introducing pragmatic automation or AI-assisted workflows to reduce cycle time and improve quality.
Experience working with cross-functional teams and developing and maintaining trusting professional relationships internally and externally.
Ability to look beyond immediate circumstances, explore multiple paths, and make adaptive, situational decisions.
Ability to inspire, motivate, and empower teammates to achieve organizational goals.
Ability to lead change management, promote a culture of quick adaptation, and help others navigate change.
Bias toward action, ownership mentality, and resilience amid competing priorities.
Commitment to continuous learning and improving personal and team performance, with a focus on integrated team success.
SECRET or higher security clearance.

Responsibilities

Coordinate high-priority cross-functional projects, including organizational integrations, forecasting and pipeline improvements, and deployment of new tools and processes.
Support execution of long-range planning outputs and market strategies, aligning business units and growth teams around shared objectives.
Identify and resolve bottlenecks across business development and growth operations.
Advise on growth initiatives by framing risks and providing recommendations, while taking ownership when appropriate.
Convene and align stakeholders across Growth, P&L, Finance, Strategy, Engineering, and People & Culture to deliver enterprise priorities.
Lead tool and process integrations, improve data accessibility, and establish operating mechanisms that reduce friction and cycle time.
Prepare structured decision support by framing options, tradeoffs, risks, and resource needs, and creating concise executive materials and recommendations.
Connect business, technical, and financial perspectives to inform corporate strategy, partnerships, and integration planning.
Establish and track milestones for critical projects to demonstrate progress and impact.
Lead and manage ad hoc teams, set goals, allocate resources, and provide team members with guidance and support.