Capture Director / Business Development

Macdonald, Dettwiler And Associates Corporation; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 156,000 - 257,000; Full time

Job summary

49North is seeking a senior leader to drive strategic Capture Management for multi-hundred-million opportunities in Canada\'s defence sector. You will establish a dedicated capture team, shape win strategies, and coordinate with BD, engineering, and business leads to deliver technically compliant, winning solutions.

Successful candidates will manage governance, lead review processes, and mentor staff while aligning opportunities with national defence priorities.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in aerospace/defence sectors with 5+ years in dedicated senior Defence management or capture roles.
• Engineering degree or equivalent; advanced degrees in engineering or business are assets.
• Experience with RCAF fighter training/operations; knowledge of CF bases is a plus.
• Strong analytical, commercial acumen and ability to manage complex pursuits.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; French is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic project Capture Management for high-value opportunities.
• Establish and lead the capture capability team and governance.
• Develop capture plans with win themes and cost-to-win strategies.
• Architect deal structures and Price to Win models across contract types.
• Collaborate with BD, Engineering and business leads to develop compliant, winning solutions.
• Lead reviews and mentor staff to scale capture capabilities.
• Identify and support teaming agreements and align with Defence Industrial Strategy.
• Present briefs to executives on pursuit status, risk, and win probability.
• Handoff won opportunities to program execution with plan, cost, schedule and value proposition.

Skills

15+ years aerospace/defence exp

Senior Defence management

Interpersonal skills

Team player & integrity

Analytical & commercial acumen

English communication

French proficiency a plus

Education

Engineering degree or equivalent

Advanced degrees in engineering/business (asset)

Job description

Job Category: Business Development and Sales

49North is a Canadian defence company delivering secure, multi-domain C4ISR capabilities that provide decision advantage in complex and contested environments. A wholly-owned subsidiary of MDA Space, building on more than five decades of trusted Canadian defence delivery, 49North operates as a sovereign Canadian provider of mission-critical C4ISR systems, bringing disciplined prime-contractor execution to defence and security programs.

49North is rooted in the execution of large, complex, and mission-critical programs developed within 49NORTH. This legacy reflects a record of delivery where engineering rigour, operational reliability, and national trust are non-negotiable.

49North Defence strengthens Canada’s sovereign defence capability by delivering integrated mission systems and multi-domain C4ISR integration, enabling trusted Canadian and coalition operations, assured interoperability, and sustained readiness.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic project Capture Management for specific high value opportunities ($100M+)
• Establish and lead the 49North Capture Management capability team – including capture managers, proposal managers, cost estimators, proposal writers and editors
• Establish capture discipline, governance models and corporate gate controls for all pursuits
• Lead development & execution of capture plans mapping out win themes, competitor ghosting strategies and value propositions
• Architect optimal deal structures and Price to Win models across diverse contract types
• Work closely with Business Development, Engineering and Business leads to develop technically compliant, winning solutions
• Lead Black Hat, Blue Team, Read Team reviews
• Mentor internal resources to scale 49North’s enterprise-level capture capabilities
• Identify and support negotiation of teaming agreements
• Align industrial benefits with Defence Industrial Strategy priorities
• Present regular briefs to Executive Leadership on pursuit status, financial risk and win probability
• Support negotiation of won opportunities, and ensures a handoff to the program execution team that passes the plan, cost, schedule, and ethos, value proposition, and project goals that were proposed to the Customer

Required Qualifications:

• 15+_years of experience in aerospace/defence sectors with 5+ years in dedicated senior Defence management or capture roles
• Degree in Engineering or equivalent technical/business education
• Advanced degrees in engineering and/or business administration would be an asset
• 5+ Years experience of RCAF Fighter aircraft training and/or operations
• Experience working with Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Cold Lake and/or Bagotville would be an asset
• Self-motivated with good interpersonal skills
• Team player and demonstrates a high level of integrity
• Strong analytical skills along with commercial acumen
• Thorough knowledge of relevant technologies, products, services and methods
• Focuses strongly on achieving agreed upon outcomes and ensures that key objectives are met
• Balances ownership of outcomes with interdependency and excellent critical thinking
• Works well in a dynamic environment where some of the parameters are unknown and some change regularly
• Strives to provide customers/clients with personalized and efficient service
• Industry and market awareness
• Ability to cope with significant workload peaks
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, French proficiency would be an asset

We’re a dream team of purpose-driven, collaborative and passionate people, and we are constantly looking for others to join 49North to ignite new and innovative approaches to problem-solving that push us forward.

Comments/Special Considerations:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold security clearance at the reliability level, and pass security assessment for the Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

Benefits statement:

49North provides competitive compensation and benefits packages for its employees at all locations. As a team member of 49North, you and your qualified dependents are eligible to participate in a benefit plan that ensures a comprehensive level of protection through competitive health care including; extended healthcare and flexible drug plans, dental and vision benefits, disability income protection, life insurance, group retirement savings plans; and an employee and family assistance program.

Equal opportunity statement:

49North is an equal opportunity employer prizing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity. If you require assistance and/or reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please feel free to notify us.

Accommodations

49North is proud to provide accommodation(s) during the recruitment process. Should you require any accommodations, please indicate this on your application/cover letter and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

The compensation range for this position is $156,000.00 - $257,000.00 annually. The specific compensation offered will be based on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate.