Director, Defense BD | 50% Travel | Top Secret

Northrop Grumman; Elkton (MD); On-site; USD 242,000 - 363,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Savings plan

Paid holidays

PTO

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems Sector seeks a Director of Business Development 2 to shape and execute growth strategies for Weapon Systems Division. The role leads capture, builds customer relationships, and drives winning strategies across programs and pursuits.

The position emphasizes leading cross-functional teams, optimizing the pipeline, and aligning with sector objectives, with travel 50% and location in northern Virginia preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field
• 15+ years in business development, capture management, or program management in the defense or aerospace industry
• International experience with industry and government military of defense; process and compliance insight including ITAR, Offsets, etc.
• Demonstrated awards and pipeline growth leading at the OU and BU level
• Demonstrated success leading complex captures or growth initiatives, preferably in weapons systems, missiles, or related mission areas
• Proven ability to build and maintain senior-level customer and stakeholder relationships within DoW and/or other government agencies
• Strong understanding of government acquisition processes, competitive procurement, and proposal development
• Excellent strategic thinking, communication (written and verbal), and presentation skills
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, up to Top Secret SCI

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive business development and growth strategy for the Weapon Systems Division, aligned with sector and corporate priorities.
• Achieving awards to support the WSD annual operating plan and long range strategic plan.
• Building and managing a robust pipeline aligned with our key market focus areas
• Lead process for key stakeholder engagements, building and sustaining strong relationships with customer, stakeholder, and partner communities; represent the division in key customer engagements, reviews, and industry events.
• Coordinate with Communications to help lead development of our storyboard or narrative across the lifecycle of our stakeholder engagements (Own our Narrative)
• Actively support 'keep it sold' campaigns for existing and follow‑on programs
• Support and align with Enterprise / Sector gates, processes, training, and standardization as we approach our global stakeholders as One Northrop Grumman.
• Lead opportunity identification, qualification, and prioritization across assigned markets and customers (e.g., DoW, FMS, key primes/partners).
• Serve as capture lead or executive sponsor on high‑priority pursuits, including development of win strategies, competitive assessments, price-to-win inputs, and proposal themes.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and direction to business development and capture teams; help build BD talent and succession pipeline.
• Partner with program management, engineering, and functional teams to shape discriminating solutions and offerings responsive to customer missions and requirements.
• Monitor market, threat, and budget trends; provide insight to investment priorities, IRAD focus areas, and portfolio strategy.
• Prepare and deliver regular status updates, briefings, and recommendations to division and sector leadership on pipeline health, key pursuits, and growth performance.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication

Presentation skills

Cross-functional leadership

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Job description

Northrop Grumman Defense Systems Sector seeks a Director of Business Development 2 to shape and execute growth strategies for Weapon Systems Division. The role leads capture, builds customer relationships, and drives winning strategies across programs and pursuits.

The position emphasizes leading cross-functional teams, optimizing the pipeline, and aligning with sector objectives, with travel 50% and location in northern Virginia preferred.