Sales Director

Akkar; California (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Akkar is seeking a Sales Director to drive growth in military aviation and defense across the United States and international government markets. The role is remote in the United States with up to 50% travel, and success hinges on developing the defense pipeline and building relationships across DoD and defense primes.

The successful candidate will own senior customer relationships, shape opportunities from early stages, and coordinate with engineering, product, program and commercial teams to

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience within military/government sales, business development, capture or avionics programs.
• Experience selling avionics, defense electronics, mission systems or related technologies.
• An established network across the DoD, U.S. military and/or major defense primes.
• A track record of capturing significant defense or government contracts.
• Strong understanding of U.S. federal procurement processes, including FAR/DFARS.
• Experience working with major defense primes and systems integrators.
• The ability to operate autonomously and develop new business rather than simply manage established accounts.
• Previous leadership experience or the capability to build and lead a sales organization as the business expands.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, technical or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute sales strategies across U.S. and international military and government markets
• Identify, shape and capture major new defense opportunities
• Lead capture and proposal activity for complex aerospace and defense technology solutions
• Develop senior-level relationships across the DoD, military customers, defense primes and systems integrators
• Leverage an established industry network to identify and influence opportunities early in the program lifecycle
• Own senior customer relationships throughout the sales and capture process
• Negotiate commercial terms, contracts and pricing alongside internal stakeholders
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, product, program and commercial teams
• Provide market intelligence and competitive analysis to support long-term growth strategy
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events and trade shows

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, technical or related discipline

Job description

Sales Director – Military Aviation & Defense

United States – Remote

Up to 50% travel

We are partnering with an established global technology group to appoint a Sales Director who will lead the growth of its military and defense business across the United States and international government markets.

Our client supplies advanced technology solutions into the aerospace and defense sectors, supporting customers across complex, mission-critical programs. This is a highly autonomous position with a clear growth mandate.

Initially operating as an individual contributor, you will take ownership of developing the defense pipeline, expanding relationships across the Department of Defense and major defense primes, and capturing significant new programs. As the business grows, there is scope to build and lead a wider regional sales team.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a strategically important growth market within an established global technology organization.

The successful individual will have the backing and resources of a major international group while retaining the autonomy to develop the military business and influence its future commercial strategy.

The position can be performed remotely from a number of locations across the United States, with travel of up to 50% expected.

The Role

• Develop and execute sales strategies across U.S. and international military and government markets
• Identify, shape and capture major new defense opportunities
• Lead capture and proposal activity for complex aerospace and defense technology solutions
• Develop senior-level relationships across the DoD, military customers, defense primes and systems integrators
• Leverage an established industry network to identify and influence opportunities early in the program lifecycle
• Own senior customer relationships throughout the sales and capture process
• Negotiate commercial terms, contracts and pricing alongside internal stakeholders
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, product, program and commercial teams
• Provide market intelligence and competitive analysis to support long-term growth strategy
• Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events and trade shows

About You

• 10+ years of experience within military/government sales, business development, capture or avionics programs
• Experience selling avionics, defense electronics, mission systems or related technologies
• An established network across the DoD, U.S. military and/or major defense primes
• A track record of capturing significant defense or government contracts
• Strong understanding of U.S. federal procurement processes, including FAR/DFARS
• Experience working with major defense primes and systems integrators
• The ability to operate autonomously and develop new business rather than simply manage established accounts
• Previous leadership experience or the capability to build and lead a sales organization as the business expands
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, engineering, technical or related discipline

U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance are required.