Director of Government Relations & Business Development

Bascom Hunter; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Bascom Hunter seeks a Director of Government Relations & Business Development to represent our interests before DoD, Congress, and federal stakeholders while supporting defense business development and capture activities.

The role builds relationships with DoD offices, members of Congress and staff, and industry partners, translating Bascom Hunter's capabilities into federal funding and acquisition opportunities. A strong DoD/Capitol Hill background is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, engineering, or related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in government relations, legislative affairs, DoD acquisition, defense business development, or capture management.
• Experience with DoD and Capitol Hill strongly preferred.
• Established relationships with defense-focused congressional offices, committee staff, and relevant DoD organizations.
• Strong understanding of the federal budget cycle, defense authorization and appropriations process, and DoD acquisition system.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for senior leadership and government audiences.
• Willingness to travel regularly between Bascom Hunter facilities, Washington, D.C., and customer locations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a government relations strategy to advance Bascom Hunter's priorities.
• Build and sustain relationships with congressional members/staff, defense committees, and DoD offices.
• Monitor defense authorization, appropriations, budget, and acquisition developments; advise leadership.
• Educate policymakers on Bascom Hunter's capabilities; coordinate briefings and demonstrations.
• Align congressional outreach with growth priorities with the Chief Growth Officer.
• Represent Bascom Hunter in industry associations and coalitions (NDIA, AFCEA, AIA).
• Identify and pursue congressional add requests and program funding opportunities; prepare briefs and position papers.
• Ensure compliance with lobbying disclosure, ethics, and export-control requirements.
• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities across DoD/federal agencies; cultivate relationships.
• Support and lead capture efforts: customer engagement, opportunity assessments, win strategies, capture plans.
• Coordinate with engineering, program management, pricing, and proposals on bid/no-bid decisions.

Skills

DoD acquisition knowledge

Capitol Hill experience

Defense industry relationship building

Written and verbal communication

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor's degree in political science or related field

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Bascom Hunter is seeking a Director of Government Relations & Business Development to represent the company's interests before the Department of Defense, Congress, and other federal stakeholders while supporting defense business development and capture activities. This individual will build relationships with DoD offices, congressional members and staff, and industry partners; connect Bascom Hunter's technical capabilities with federal funding and acquisition priorities; and help turn emerging opportunities into competitive pursuits. The ideal candidate brings experience with DoD and Capitol Hill, knowledge of defense electronics, and an understanding of federal defense spending and acquisition processes.

Company Overview

Bascom Hunter is an aerospace and defense contractor delivering mission-critical solutions to the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and prime contractor partners. Our team supports national security priorities through engineering, technical, and program services performed under strict compliance with U.S. Government contracting, security, and export-control requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a government relations strategy advancing Bascom Hunter's legislative, regulatory, appropriations, and growth priorities.
• Build and sustain relationships with congressional members and staff, defense committees, DoD offices, program executive offices, and acquisition organizations.
• Monitor defense authorization, appropriations, budget, and acquisition developments; advise leadership on implications and opportunities.
• Educate policymakers and government stakeholders on Bascom Hunter's capabilities; coordinate briefings, site visits, and technology demonstrations.
• Partner with the Chief Growth Officer to align congressional outreach, program funding initiatives, and government relations activities with business development priorities.
• Represent Bascom Hunter in relevant industry associations and coalitions, including NDIA, AFCEA, and AIA.
• Identify and pursue congressional add requests and program-specific funding opportunities, where appropriate, and prepare supporting briefings and position papers.
• Ensure government relations activities comply with lobbying disclosure, procurement integrity, ethics, and other applicable federal requirements.
• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities across DoD, federal agencies, and prime contractors; cultivate customer and teaming-partner relationships.
• Support and lead selected capture efforts, including customer engagement, opportunity assessments, competitive positioning, win strategies, and capture plans.
• Coordinate with engineering, program management, pricing, and proposals teams on bid/no-bid decisions, teaming strategies, and proposal development to improve pursuit competitiveness.

Reports To: Chief Growth Officer

Location: Washington, D.C. or Baton Rouge, LA. Limited travel required.

Clearance: Active or reinstateable U.S. Government security clearance preferred; must be able to obtain and maintain a clearance as a condition of employment

Citizenship: U.S. Citizenship required per contractual and export-control requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in political science, public policy, engineering, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
• 8+ years of experience in government relations, legislative affairs, DoD acquisition, defense business development, or capture management; direct DoD and Capitol Hill experience strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of defense electronics systems, technologies, or programs (e.g., RF/microwave, sensors, EW, avionics, or related subsystems).
• Established relationships with defense-focused congressional offices, committee staff, and relevant DoD organizations.
• Strong understanding of the federal budget cycle, defense authorization and appropriations process, and DoD acquisition system.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing briefings and position papers for senior leadership and government audiences.
• Ability to travel regularly between Bascom Hunter facilities, Washington, D.C., and customer locations.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior service as active-duty military, DoD civilian, or congressional staff with direct exposure to defense acquisition or authorization/appropriations processes.
• Existing active security clearance.
• Engineering or technical background in defense electronics, with the ability to translate technical capabilities into policy-relevant terms.
• Experience registered as a federal lobbyist or supporting registered lobbying activity.
• Familiarity with Bascom Hunter's core markets and existing DoD customer base; experience developing defense opportunities and capture plans preferred.

Compliance Notice

This position may require access to Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), classified information, or export-controlled technical data. Employment is contingent upon the ability to meet all applicable eligibility, citizenship, and government security requirements. All government relations and lobbying activities must be conducted in full compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act, federal ethics and gift rules, procurement integrity regulations, and Bascom Hunter's internal compliance policies. Bascom Hunter is committed to full compliance with all export control (ITAR/EAR) and government contracting regulations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Bascom Hunter is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.