What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Manager, Business Development position at Sparton?
Sparton is an innovative defense contractor headquartered in DeLeon Springs, Florida, with a rich heritage dating back to 1900. Renowned for our exceptional manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in producing high-quality sonobuoys critical to the United States’ undersea warfare arsenal, enhancing national security against current and future adversaries. But we are more than manufacturers; we are problem solvers. Our team of dedicated engineers and skilled professionals' tackles some of the most challenging issues in defense technology. Our expertise includes advanced research systems, maritime solutions, sophisticated sensor technologies, and payload delivery capabilities.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager, Business Development – Maritime, is responsible for identifying, shaping, and capturing new maritime opportunities that align with Department of Defense priorities and Sparton’s long-term strategy. Leveraging more than a century of experience delivering advanced undersea warfare systems, this role translates corporate vision into executable business pursuits. The Senior Manager drives customer engagement, develops capture strategies, leads proposal efforts, and aligns internal technical capabilities to emerging mission needs. This highly visible position requires deep familiarity with U.S. Navy operations, undersea warfare mission areas, acoustic systems, and the naval research and development ecosystem. Prior military experience or direct experience supporting U.S. Navy programs is strongly preferred. This hybrid role may be based in FL, DC, MD, or VA, with DC/MD/VA preferred given customer proximity.
Responsibilities And Tasks
This role may lead cross-functional capture teams but does not initially include direct reports.
Travel And Physical Requirements
Up to 30% travel required.
Work is performed in a professional office environment with periodic visits to customer sites, conferences, and company facilities.
This job operates in both office and manufacturing environments and may involve exposure to noise, mechanical equipment, and occasional movement throughout plant areas.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, talk, and communicate, use hands/finger, feel, and reach with arms. This position requires the ability to lift, bend or stoop as necessary up to 20lbs.
Benefits Highlights
Healthcare
Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage.
Healthcare concierge to help you navigate your benefit selections.
Virtual health solutions for physical therapy, menopause, and diabetes.
Company paid Basic Life Insurance. Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available.
On-site wellness clinic.
Paid Benefits
Competitive compensation.
401k program to plan for your future with company match 75% up to 8% plus 1% Employer contribution.
Company Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick).
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Fertility and family building assistance.
Additional Benefits
Flexible work schedules available based on position:
9/80 schedule providing every other Friday off
5/8s
4/10s
3/12s
Lifestyle spending account.
Perks at work.
Generous employee referral program.
Tuition reimbursement.
Voluntary benefits available: longer term care, legal, identity theft, pet Insurance, and many more options
These are highlights of Elbit America benefits. If there is a conflict with these highlights, company policy or benefits plan documents shall govern. Benefits are subject to change.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Accessibility
Sparton DeLeon Springs, LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email us at Accessibility@Sparton.com
Disclaimer
This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.
Job Summary
The Senior Manager, Business Development – Maritime, is responsible for identifying, shaping, and capturing new maritime opportunities that align with Department of Defense priorities and Sparton’s long-term strategy. Leveraging more than a century of experience delivering advanced undersea warfare systems, this role translates corporate vision into executable business pursuits. The Senior Manager drives customer engagement, develops capture strategies, leads proposal efforts, and aligns internal technical capabilities to emerging mission needs. This highly visible position requires deep familiarity with U.S. Navy operations, undersea warfare mission areas, acoustic systems, and the naval research and development ecosystem. Prior military experience or direct experience supporting U.S. Navy programs is strongly preferred. This hybrid role may be based in FL, DC, MD, or VA, with DC/MD/VA preferred given customer proximity.
Responsibilities And Tasks
- Participate in business planning activities including pipeline reviews, operating plan development, bid agenda development, opportunity gate reviews, black-hat assessments, and win-theme workshops.
- Lead all capture and proposal activities required to mature qualified opportunities into successful wins.
- Develop market initiatives, conduct competitive assessments, maintain capture strategies, and execute detailed call plans.
- Identify and shape research and development opportunities within U.S. Navy, RDT&E, and international maritime communities.
- Engage with OPNAV, NAVAIR, ONR, NRL, ONI, and other naval stakeholders to understand mission needs and emerging technology areas.
- Draft technical concepts, white papers, RFI/RFP responses, and proposals that align customer requirements with Sparton’s advanced technologies.
- Maintain strong customer relationships and cultivate new accounts in alignment with corporate growth objectives.
- Leverage technical knowledge of acoustic sensors, undersea warfare systems, and Navy operations to support solution development.
- Work across internal teams—including engineering, contracts, security, and production—to position resources for capture success.
- Support long-term planning to transition R&D efforts into formal programs of record.
- Track opportunities through CRM tools such as Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics.
- Represent Sparton at customer meetings, industry events, and technology demonstrations.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by senior leadership.
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, finance, or a related technical field (advanced degree preferred).
- 10 years of relevant experience, including at least 5 years in business development or capture roles supporting Navy RDT&E or maritime missions.
- Experience in Airborne ISR, ASW, Undersea Warfare, or related naval operational domains.
- Knowledge of FAR-based contracts and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs).
- Demonstrated experience generating and capturing R&D programs and transitioning development efforts into DOD programs.
- Strong customer relationships within the U.S. Navy and naval research communities.
- Experience writing white papers, responding to RFIs/RFPs, and developing C4ISR or maritime technical concepts.
- Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, or Office 365 tools.
- Must currently possess an active U.S. Secret clearance and be able to obtain a Top Secret/SCI.
- U.S. citizenship required.
- Strong understanding of U.S. Navy operations, platforms, and mission areas.
- Technical acumen in acoustics, undersea warfare, or maritime sensor systems.
- Demonstrated ability to lead capture efforts, establish customer relationships, and create winning proposals.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
- Ability to work across small, agile, cross-functional teams to support rapid and innovative solution development.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
- Ability to translate customer needs into actionable requirements and executable strategies.
This role may lead cross-functional capture teams but does not initially include direct reports.
Travel And Physical Requirements
Up to 30% travel required.
Work is performed in a professional office environment with periodic visits to customer sites, conferences, and company facilities.
This job operates in both office and manufacturing environments and may involve exposure to noise, mechanical equipment, and occasional movement throughout plant areas.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, talk, and communicate, use hands/finger, feel, and reach with arms. This position requires the ability to lift, bend or stoop as necessary up to 20lbs.
Benefits Highlights
Healthcare
Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage.
Healthcare concierge to help you navigate your benefit selections.
Virtual health solutions for physical therapy, menopause, and diabetes.
Company paid Basic Life Insurance. Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available.
On-site wellness clinic.
Paid Benefits
Competitive compensation.
401k program to plan for your future with company match 75% up to 8% plus 1% Employer contribution.
Company Paid Time Off (Vacation and Sick).
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Fertility and family building assistance.
Additional Benefits
Flexible work schedules available based on position:
9/80 schedule providing every other Friday off
5/8s
4/10s
3/12s
Lifestyle spending account.
Perks at work.
Generous employee referral program.
Tuition reimbursement.
Voluntary benefits available: longer term care, legal, identity theft, pet Insurance, and many more options
These are highlights of Elbit America benefits. If there is a conflict with these highlights, company policy or benefits plan documents shall govern. Benefits are subject to change.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
Accessibility
Sparton DeLeon Springs, LLC is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please email us at Accessibility@Sparton.com
Disclaimer
This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not a contract for employment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.