Director, Defence & Security (Maritime)

Rocket Lab; Ottawa; Remote; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket Lab is seeking a Director for Defence & Security who will play a key role in growing our business in the maritime security sector. This position requires extensive experience in business development and leadership, with responsibilities including team management and strategic client engagement. The ideal candidate will help shape our approach to addressing maritime risk, providing impactful solutions while leading partnerships with major clients across Canada and internationally.

Benefits

Remote-first culture

Comprehensive health coverage

Continuous learning opportunities

Work-life balance initiatives

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in leadership roles within defence and security.
• Fluency in English is mandatory; additional languages are an asset.
• Deep understanding of maritime security operational requirements.

Responsibilities

• Leading the Defence & Security sales team and developing revenue strategies.
• Cultivating relationships with new and existing customers.
• Engaging with Canadian government procurement processes.

Skills

Leadership

Business Development

Customer Relationship Management

Strategic Thinking

Job description

WHAT WE DO

Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS) is a fast growing, leading-edge Artificial Intelligence company developing solutions for the global maritime sector, our solutions process large volumes of satellite and terrestrial data in real-time to provide decision-making intelligence to save lives, energy and the environment.

We are expanding our team to support the global roll-out of this new capability that will have a major impact on maritime risk and compliance management. We seek individuals with drive, initiative and motivation to join our team in making the world a safer, cleaner place for all.

THE ROLE

The Director Defence & Security is responsible for growing GSTS’s business within the defence and security industry by developing capture strategies that align with corporate objectives. You will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies that drive revenue, foster strategic partnerships, and leverage our technical lead in AI related to maritime risk and security.

You will be expected to build and manage a team tasked with growing GSTS’s defence and security business. This includes building new client relationships, maintaining existing client relationships, following up with prospective customers, and supporting the product development team by identifying future operational requirements. You will also be tasked with creating opportunities for expansion within client accounts across Canadian and international customers and leading maritime defence and security prime contractors.

You will have a demonstrated track record, with an extensive background in defence and security sales and a solid understanding of maritime security and Canadian Industrial & Technological Benefits (ITB) policy.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and mentor the Defence & Security sales and BD team
• Develop and implement capture strategies to drive revenue growth
• Develop and cultivate opportunities with new and existing customers
• Lead major engagements with potential customers to define the product configuration requirements
• Gain an in-depth understanding of our products and their value propositions, and effectively communicate this knowledge to prospects and to the customer community
• Drive product awareness by actively expanding, cultivating, and sustaining strong relationships with prospects and customers
• Think strategically to develop new business solutions and successfully influence outcomes
• Work intensively to increase and improve product awareness by building and maintaining relationships with prospects and customers
• Liaise with the operations team on pricing/RFQ/RFP preparation and contracts
• Ensure seamless transitioning of customer to operations in line with customer requirements
• Identify and support international conferences and trade shows

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 15+ years of experience in business development, sales, or related leadership roles, with at least 10 years in the maritime security sector.
• Extensive experience in leading and mentoring teams, with a proven track record of developing and implementing successful business strategies in defence and security industries
• Proven experience interacting with the Canadian government procurement and RFP/RFQ processes
• Understanding of maritime security issues, operations and technologies
• A dynamic and energetic presence with strong ability to engage and influence stakeholders
• Demonstrated strength in strong customer relationship skills
• Able to work effectively in a team and in a diverse / multiple stakeholder environment
• Must be fluent in English (written and oral), additional languages an asset
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• The ability to work in a team in a diverse / multiple stakeholder environment

WHY WORK WITH US?

• Remote-first culture: Enjoy the flexibility of working from anywhere in Canada, allowing you to balance your professional and personal life. Prefer to be in office? We also have Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Quebec offices offering flexible hybrid options.
• Have a meaningful impact: Join a dynamic environment where your contributions directly influence our products and company growth.
• Collaborative team: Be part of a small, agile team that values positivity, creativity, and open communication.
• Comprehensive health coverage: We offer competitive health benefits for you and your family, including a wellness incentive to support your overall well-being.
• Continuous learning: We’re committed to your professional growth, providing opportunities for skill development and staying current with industry trends.
• Exciting industry: Work on cutting-edge projects in a rapidly evolving field, applying your skills to solve real-world challenges.
• Work-life balance: We respect your time outside of work and strive to maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal commitments.

We are committed to creating a sense of belonging amongst our team. We have placed an emphasis on fostering a diverse, collaborative, and inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from qualified candidates irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

GSTS offers a competitive salary and benefits package, if you think this challenge is right for you, we encourage you to apply. Please address any questions to [e-mail].

Comments/Special Considerations

Candidates must be Canadian citizens and hold or be able to obtain Secret Security and Controlled Goods clearances. Willingness and ability to travel internationally. Travel expectations for this role are between 20-30%.

We thank all candidates that apply, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.