Director of Strategic Growth – Defense, Aerospace & Surveillance

Job Description

Position Overview

A leading defense and aerospace technology organization is seeking an accomplished Director of Strategic Growth to drive business expansion across advanced aerospace, surveillance, and defense technology markets.

This senior-level position will focus on identifying new market opportunities, developing strategic partnerships, strengthening customer relationships, and helping transition emerging technologies and concepts into funded development and long-term production programs.

The ideal candidate will bring an established network across the aerospace and defense community, strong knowledge of the U.S. defense acquisition environment, and demonstrated success working with major prime contractors, government organizations, and emerging technology companies.

Key Responsibilities To Include

• Develop and execute strategic growth plans across defense, aerospace, aircraft, surveillance, and related technology markets.
• Identify market trends, emerging customer requirements, competitive threats, and new business opportunities to help shape long-term strategy.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with U.S. government customers, major aerospace and defense prime contractors, technology companies, and industry partners.
• Develop strategic partnerships and teaming relationships that strengthen competitive positioning and expand access to new customers and markets.
• Identify opportunities to transition emerging technologies and advanced concepts into funded development initiatives and long-term production programs.
• Engage with government and end-user communities to understand operational challenges, influence future requirements, and develop solutions addressing evolving mission needs.
• Support major capture and proposal efforts by shaping customer strategies, competitive positioning, teaming approaches, value propositions, and win themes.
• Evaluate strategic growth alternatives including partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions, internal development, and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Develop business and investment cases supporting new technologies, partnerships, market opportunities, and strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate across engineering, program management, operations, finance, and executive leadership to align business opportunities with organizational capabilities and long-term objectives.
  
  

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Active Top Secret (TS) security clearance is required.
• 10 years of demonstrated success in business development, strategic growth, partnerships, or related leadership roles within the aerospace and defense industry.
• Proven experience developing partnerships or collaborative relationships with major aerospace and defense prime contractors.
• Experience building relationships with emerging technology companies within aerospace, surveillance, sensors, or related defense markets.
• Demonstrated success working with U.S. government organizations to advance emerging technologies and secure development funding.
• Strong knowledge of advanced aircraft, surveillance, sensor, or related mission technologies.
• In-depth understanding of the U.S. defense acquisition lifecycle and defense industrial supply chain.
• Demonstrated ability to develop emerging technologies or concepts into sustainable, long-term programs and production opportunities.
• Experience creating new business opportunities through government, customer, supplier, industry, and technology-partner relationships.
• Experience evaluating or executing M&A, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or other inorganic growth initiatives.
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Established relationships across U.S. defense, government, and aerospace customer communities.
• Experience working directly with end users to shape requirements and develop solutions to operational challenges.
• Strong strategic and financial acumen, including investment analysis and business-case development.
• Knowledge of current and emerging aerospace and surveillance programs, technologies, and market dynamics.
• Experience developing concepts of operations (CONOPS) for defense or aerospace applications.
• International aerospace or defense market experience.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate effectively across complex, cross-functional and matrixed organizations.
• Recognized thought leadership or domain expertise within aerospace, surveillance, sensors, or advanced defense technologies.
  
  

Why Is This a Great Opportunity

• High-impact leadership role with the ability to directly influence long-term growth strategy across defense, aerospace, and surveillance markets.
• Shape next-generation programs by helping move emerging aircraft, surveillance, and advanced defense technologies from concept and development into major production programs.
• Executive-level exposure working across senior leadership, government customers, major defense primes, and emerging technology partners.
• Strategic influence beyond traditional BD, with involvement in partnerships, technology commercialization, investment decisions, M&A, and market expansion.
• Opportunity to shape customer requirements and develop solutions around evolving mission needs and future defense capabilities.
  
  

The organization offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with employer contributions
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Tuition and student loan assistance programs
• Employee stock purchase opportunities
• Professional development and career growth opportunities