Senior Business Development Manager

Prestwick Aerosystems; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Airbus Americas Customer Services, Inc. is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager for North America to identify and advance strategic growth opportunities that strengthen Airbus' services, competitiveness, and long-term performance in the region.

Reporting to the Head of Business Development North America, the role translates customer needs and market developments into executable business opportunities, leads opportunities from initial concept through investment decision, launch, and

Qualifications

• Degree in aeronautical or aerospace engineering.
• MBA or related advanced degree preferred.
• Experience with aerospace aftermarket and regional services.
• Experience with strategic partnerships, joint ventures, due diligence, or M&A processes.

Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate and advance North America growth opportunities and regional transformation initiatives.
• Lead opportunities from concept through business case, approval, launch, and handover with defined value proposition and roadmap.
• Coordinate governance, partnerships, and cross-functional delivery with Legal, Procurement, Finance, Strategy and other teams.

Skills

Strategic partnerships

M&A due diligence

Cross-functional leadership

North America market knowledge

Education

Bachelors in engineering, business, economics, aviation

MBA or related advanced degree preferred

Job description

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at [e-mail] Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (English) Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish)

Position Summary: North America is a critical region for the global growth ambitions of Airbus Customer Services. The Senior Business Development Manager for North America will identify, evaluate, and advance strategic growth opportunities and regional transformation initiatives that strengthen Airbus’ services offering, competitiveness, and long-term commercial performance in the region.

Reporting to the Head of Business Development North America for Airbus Americas Customer Services, the jobholder will translate customer needs and market developments into executable business opportunities, partnership strategies, business cases, and transformation projects. The jobholder will lead an assigned portfolio from initial identification through investment decision, launch, and implementation handover. The role serves as a key link between North American customers, regional stakeholders and Airbus’ global Customer Services business lines. Success requires strong strategic, commercial, and financial judgment, sufficient technical understanding of the aerospace aftermarket, and the ability to lead complex cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.

Primary Responsibilities

• Regional Growth and Opportunity Development (40%): Execute priorities established through the North American Customer Services strategic pipeline Identify and prioritize new services, capabilities, business models, and partnerships by translating customer needs and regional market developments into actionable recommendations. Engage customers, suppliers, MROs, technology providers, and potential partners in coordination with regional and global Customer Services stakeholders, and represent the team in relevant multi-functional forums.
• Opportunity Maturation and Project Leadership (40%): Lead assigned opportunities from initial concept through business case, approval, launch readiness, and implementation handover. Define the value proposition, service scope, operating and delivery model, route to market, partnership approach, and implementation roadmap in collaboration with relevant functions. Develop decision ready business cases covering demand, revenue, profitability, investment, cash flow, lifecycle returns, resource requirements, sensitivities, and risks, including evaluation of build, buy, and partnership alternatives. Lead cross-functional transformation and partnership projects, establishing appropriate governance and driving decisions, delivery, risk resolution, and realization of approved benefits. Coordinate partner evaluation, due diligence, and the development and negotiation of business and contractual frameworks with Legal, Procurement, Finance, M&A, and other responsible functions.
• Regional and Global Integration (20%): Serve as the North American focal for selected global and regional business development initiatives, providing relevant customer, market, competitive, regulatory, economic, and operational context. Ensure assigned initiatives align with the broader Customer Services growth and transformation portfolio, identifying dependencies and presenting concise recommendations to regional and global leadership.

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training

Degree in aeronautical or aerospace engineering. MBA or another relevant advanced degree. Experience with commercial aircraft upgrades, modification development, certification, MRO operations, or regional services capability development. Experience with strategic partnerships, joint ventures, due diligence, or M&A-related processes. Familiarity with the North American commercial aviation and aerospace aftermarket.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, economics, aviation, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. An aerospace engineering background and/or MBA is preferred.

Experience

Approximately 15 years of progressive relevant experience, including significant aerospace, aftermarket, business development, transformation, or complex program leadership experience.

Licensure/Certifications

None required. Relevant project-management, finance, or commercial certifications are beneficial but not required.

Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages)

Fluent in English. Demonstrated ability to communicate complex technical, commercial, and strategic matters clearly to customers, partners, project teams, and senior executives. French and/or Spanish proficiency is preferred.

Travel Required

Up to 40% domestic and international travel, including travel to customer, partner, and Airbus locations.

Decision Making, Complexity

The jobholder operates in an environment characterized by ambiguity, incomplete information, competing stakeholder interests, and significant technical, commercial, and organizational interdependencies. The jobholder is expected to exercise independent judgment in evaluating opportunities, structuring business cases, recommending partnership or delivery models, prioritizing work, and resolving project issues. The jobholder will make recommendations that may influence regional strategy, customer relationships, resource allocation, investment decisions, revenue, margin, and long-term Airbus capabilities. The jobholder has authority to lead assigned activities within approved project charters and delegated authorities. Final investment, pricing, contractual, and organizational commitments remain subject to applicable Airbus governance and delegations.

Organizational Information

The jobholder reports operationally to the Head of Business Development North America for Customer Services. This is a senior individual-contributor position with no direct reports. The jobholder regularly leads multi-functional teams, project work packages, and external-partner activities through influence and matrix leadership.

Job Dimensions, Contributions to Success

The position is responsible for an assigned portfolio of strategic growth opportunities, regional transformation initiatives, and partnership projects. These activities may materially influence Customer Services revenue, profitability, investment requirements, operating capabilities, and customer relationships. The jobholder develops business cases and recommendations affecting commercial opportunities, project resources, and capital or operating investment. The position does not carry direct P&L or contractual-signature authority unless separately delegated. Success will be assessed through measures such as:

• Quality, strategic relevance, and value potential of the qualified opportunity portfolio
• Progression and conversion of opportunities through defined decision gates
• Quality and timeliness of business cases and executive recommendations
• Delivery of projects against approved scope, milestones, resources, and risk parameters
• Successful establishment of partnerships or regional capabilities
• Effective implementation handover and realization of approved commercial or operational benefits
• Quality of customer, partner, and internal stakeholder engagement
• Portfolio value, influenced revenue, investment responsibility, and expected annual project volume should be quantified in this section based on approved regional targets

Nature of Contacts

The jobholder engages daily in high-level stakeholder management and frequently performs at negotiation level with internal and external stakeholders. Internal contacts include regional and global Customer Services leadership, Sales, Airbus Customer Services business lines, Engineering, Programs, Operations, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Strategy, M&A, Quality, and other Airbus entities. External contacts may include airline customers, lessors, MRO providers, suppliers, technology companies, prospective partners, consultants, and regulatory stakeholders, as applicable. Interactions may involve commercially sensitive information, competing priorities, executive-level communication, and complex negotiations. This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company

Airbus Americas Customer Services, Inc.

Employment Type: US - Direct Hire

Experience Level: Professional

Remote Type: On-site

Job Family: Customer Account and Service Management

Equal Employment Opportunity

Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.

Company Commitment

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief. Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [e-mail]. Airbus pioneers sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world. The Company constantly innovates to provide efficient and technologically-advanced solutions in aerospace, defence, and connected services. In commercial aircraft, Airbus offers modern and fuel-efficient airliners and associated services. Airbus is also a European leader in defence and security and one of the world's leading space businesses. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions and services worldwide.