Director, Account Management

MP Materials; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

MP Materials in Washington, DC, seeks a Director, Account Management to lead government customer engagement and defense contractor relationships. You will be MP’s primary contact for procurement professionals and will guide strategic government contracts from initial contact through rollout.

Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, you will coordinate with capture, proposal, and contracts teams to ensure compliant, competitive submissions and strong customer partnerships across the defense

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree or higher.
• 7+ years of government procurement, government solicitation response, and/or customer management roles, including direct experience with DoW or broader defense sector.
• Demonstrated expertise navigating U.S. federal government solicitation processes (FAR/DFARS), including RFP/RFI/RFQ response and proposal development.
• Established network of existing relationships with DoW, program offices, and the broader defense‑industrial base.
• Experience with large, complex contract negotiations, and a deep knowledge of how specific contractual terms translate into operational and commercial reality.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and leverage an existing network of relationships with potential customers, including the DoW, military service branches, government stakeholders, and defense and aerospace contractors (and their tier one suppliers).
• Lead MP Materials’ response to government solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, BAAs, and OTAs), partnering with capture, proposal, and contracts teams to ensure compliant, competitive, and timely submissions.
• Serve as the Company’s primary customer‑relationship manager for DoW, military service branches, and other defense and aerospace contractors.
• Provide subject matter expertise in U.S. and Allied nations’ procurement process and acquisition strategies.
• Own account management of key customers, from initial contact, to contract negotiations, to product roll‑out, to ongoing supply.
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers, government stakeholders, commercial partners, and market segment thought leaders to build the voice of the customer.
• Ensure that customer needs are internally communicated, understood, and strategically executed upon throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support product development and innovation, to meet customer objectives.
• Be an active leader in building a respectful, collaborative, mission‑driven, unwavering culture.

Skills

Relationship management

Proposal development

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Project management

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

ERP systems

Quality management systems

LIMS

CRM software

Job description

Company Overview:

MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification. We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.

We hire ambitious, mission-driven people who want to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of strategic industries. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, resiliency, and integrity, with a deep commitment to operational excellence and national purpose. MP is rapidly evolving from a materials producer into a leading U.S. manufacturer—and our people are driving that transformation.

Position Overview:

MP Materials is seeking a dynamic and experienced Director, Account Management for our Washington DC Office to lead engagement with government customers and defense and aerospace contractors. This role will serve as MP Materials’ primary point of contact for building and managing relationships with key government‑procurement professionals and will take the lead in responding to government solicitations. Reporting to the [Chief Commercial Officer] and working closely with leadership, the Director, Account Management will be responsible for managing strategic government contracts and stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a recognized expert in U.S. government solicitation and procurement processes, with an existing network of relationships and credibility across the Department of War (DoW), military service branches, and the broader defense‑industrial base, along with experience in sales/purchasing, contract negotiation, and customer and product management. This position will require on‑site work at our Washington, DC office as well as regular live visits to key accounts and MP production facilities.

Position Responsibilities:

• Build, maintain, and leverage an existing network of relationships with potential customers, including the DoW, military service branches, government stakeholders, and defense and aerospace contractors (and their tier one suppliers).
• Lead MP Materials’ response to government solicitations (RFPs, RFIs, RFQs, BAAs, and OTAs), partnering with capture, proposal, and contracts teams to ensure compliant, competitive, and timely submissions.
• Serve as the Company’s primary customer‑relationship manager for DoW, military service branches, and other defense and aerospace contractors.
• Provide subject matter expertise in U.S. and Allied nations’ procurement process and acquisition strategies
• Own account management of key customers, from initial contact, to contract negotiations, to product roll‑out, to ongoing supply
• Build and maintain relationships with key customers, government stakeholders, commercial partners, and market segment thought leaders to build the voice of the customer
• Ensure that customer needs are internally communicated, understood, and strategically executed upon throughout the organization
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support product development and innovation, to meet customer objectives
• Be an active leader in building a respectful, collaborative, mission‑driven, unwavering culture

Basic Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree or higher
• 7+ years of experience in government procurement, government solicitation response, and/or customer management roles, including direct experience with DoW or broader defense sector
• Demonstrated expertise navigating U.S. federal government solicitation processes (FAR/DFARS), including RFP/RFI/RFQ response and proposal development
• Established network of existing relationships with DoW, program offices, and the broader defense‑industrial base
• Deep knowledge of the requirements and process to holistically serve and manage government stakeholders and other strategic defense‑related customers across commercial, quality, and engineering needs
• Experience with large, complex contract negotiations, and a deep knowledge of how specific contractual terms translate into operational and commercial reality
• Understanding of the commercial requirements for the systems and tools required in a manufacturing environment, including ERP, quality management systems, LIMS, etc.
• Skilled in creating and delivering clear, concise briefings, presentations, and communications for internal and external communications
• Analytical, strategic, and structured thinker with entrepreneurial drive
• Proactive, resourceful, self‑motivated, and possessing exemplary interpersonal skills
• A tireless work ethic, willing to do whatever it takes whenever it is needed to ensure success

Desired Qualities:

• Knowledge of magnet applications and markets
• Experience with commercially managing the rollout of highly sophisticated new products and facilities to serve demanding end use markets
• Prior experience within DoW, a military service branch, or a prime defense contractor directly responsible for responding to government solicitations
• Active U.S. government security clearance, or ability to obtain one

MP Materials is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position’s requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Your Right to Work

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.