Director, Business Development, Europe

Remote; San Francisco (CA); Remote; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

BlackSky is seeking a Director of Business Development Europe to lead sales across European defense and intelligence markets. The role reports to the GM, EMEA, with a preference for UK location and up to 50% travel.

You will drive capture efforts, build strategic partnerships, and oversee forecasts while expanding the customer base among government agencies, prime contractors, and commercial clients. Strong leadership and multilingual capability are valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or engineering.
• 10+ years selling to international defense and intelligence customers.
• 10+ years in the defense, geospatial, or satellite markets.
• Full-cycle direct business development with technical/government sales focus.
• Excellent negotiation and persuasive communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Set sales strategy, tactics, proposals, and negotiations for new product solutions.
• Lead sales capture for advanced programs and technical solutions.
• Drive penetration strategies with government agencies, commercial customers, systems integrators, and primes.
• Provide quarterly and monthly forecasts to management.
• Grow market presence and recruit talent for the territory.
• Monitor supply/demand trends and adjust pricing and product mix.
• Maintain professional knowledge through workshops and professional networks.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Defense sales

International markets

Negotiation

Presentations

English fluency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Zendesk

Salesforce

Job description

Director, Business Development Europe

About Us:

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. BlackSky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy. BlackSky's data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

As BlackSky continues to grow, we are looking for a driven business development individual to join our international business development team in Europe. This position will report to the General Manager, EMEA Strong preference is for candidates should be located in the UK but open to certain countries within Europe. This is a remote position with up to 50% travel anticipated.

Responsibilities:

• Work with internal division technology leaders and key internal stakeholders in the division on sales opportunities setting sales strategy, tactics, proposals, and negotiations for new product solutions as well as coordinating qualified new business capture and sales with government agencies commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors.
• Lead sales capture efforts for advanced programs and new technical solutions for the customer that align to the business growth strategies of the division.
• Lead penetration strategies to gain additional sales with all major government agencies, commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors by facilitating contacts to achieve sales objectives.
• Provide quarterly forecasts to management, and monthly forecasts within the current quarter.
• Responsible for market growth and expansion and recruiting the necessary talent to cover the territory.
• Maintain sales volume, product mix, and selling price by keeping current with supply and demand, changing trends, economic indicators, and competitors.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors’ Degree in business or an engineering field.
• At least ten years of experience selling to international defense and intelligence customers.
• At least ten years of experience in the Defense, geospatial, or satellite markets.
• Full-cycle direct business development experience with a concentration in technical and/or government sales (excluding sales support, account management, program management or engineering experience).
• Exceptional negotiation and persuasion skills.
• The ability to perform top quality presentations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, fluent in English.
• Strong organizational skills as a good time manager and effective multi-tasker.
• Superior complex problem solving and decision-making abilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in engineering/technology field or MBA.
• Experience managing opportunity pipeline in Zendesk, Salesforce or other similar established CRM systems
• Experience in multiplate international defense and intelligence agencies and joint assignment and NATO.
• Multilingual in a European language in addition to English.