Defense Business Development Director — Strategic Growth

Aretum, Llc; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD

Job summary

Aretum in McLean, VA is seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to drive growth in the Defense market, building a qualified pipeline and shaping opportunities from early identification through pursuit.

The role requires a deep understanding of the federal marketplace, established Defense relationships, active Top Secret clearance, PMP certification, and a track record of opening doors and collaborating across Capture, Proposals, Pricing, and Operations.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Active Top Secret Clearance required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification required.
• 8+ years of federal business development, growth, capture, or related GovCon experience, with significant experience supporting Defense customers.
• Proven success identifying, developing, and advancing new business opportunities within the federal market.
• Established Defense customer and industry relationships, with demonstrated ability to open doors and develop new customer relationships.
• Strong understanding of the Defense market, including agency missions, acquisition processes, funding priorities, contract vehicles, and competitive landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to engage customers early, uncover requirements, gather actionable intelligence, and help shape opportunities before solicitation.
• Experience developing and managing a qualified pipeline and progressing opportunities from early identification into capture.
• Ability to work across Sector, Capture, Solutions, Pricing, Proposal, and Operations teams to advance strategic pursuits.
• Strong executive presence, relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to maintain an active in-person customer presence throughout the DMV and travel approximately 25%, with additional travel as business needs require.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business growth within assigned federal markets by identifying, developing, qualifying, and advancing opportunities.
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline aligned with Aretum’s growth priorities, capabilities, and revenue objectives.
• Maintain a highly visible, active presence in the federal marketplace through frequent customer-site visits, in-person meetings, industry events, conferences, networking, and other customer engagements throughout the DMV and National Capital Region.
• Build and leverage relationships to open doors, gain early customer intelligence, identify emerging requirements, and position Aretum for the right opportunities.
• Develop strategic teaming relationships with large and small business partners, evaluating capability fit, customer and contract vehicle access, past performance, and workshare value.
• Gather customer, market, and competitive intelligence to shape opportunities and strengthen Aretum’s position to win.
• Lead and participate in pipeline reviews, gate reviews, capture activities, solutioning sessions, pricing discussions, and executive pursuit reviews.
• Recommend bid/no-bid, investment, teaming, and pursuit strategies based on customer access, competitive position, solution strength, and probability of win.
• Partner with Capture and Proposal teams to translate customer intelligence, win strategy, and competitive differentiators into compelling pursuit and proposal strategies.
• Coordinate pursuit activities across executives, technical leaders, Pricing, Contracts, Recruiting, Operations, Proposals, and external partners.
• Support strategic proposal efforts as needed, including win themes, solution and staffing strategies, past-performance positioning, executive summaries, and oral presentations.
• Maintain accurate and timely customer, pipeline, and opportunity information in Salesforce.

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master’s degree

Job description

Aretum in McLean, VA is seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to drive growth in the Defense market, building a qualified pipeline and shaping opportunities from early identification through pursuit.

The role requires a deep understanding of the federal marketplace, established Defense relationships, active Top Secret clearance, PMP certification, and a track record of opening doors and collaborating across Capture, Proposals, Pricing, and Operations.