Senior Defense BD Director – Federal Growth

Aretum; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental & Vision

Job summary

Aretum is seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to drive strategic growth across the Defense market. This role is responsible for building and advancing a qualified pipeline, developing strong customer and industry relationships, and positioning Aretum for long-term growth.

The ideal candidate brings federal marketplace expertise, a proven ability to open doors and develop new business, and the ability to collaborate across Capture, Proposal, Solutions, Pricing, and Operations

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience is required.
• Active Top Secret Clearance is required.
• PMP certification is required.
• 8+ years of federal business development, growth, capture, or related GovCon experience, with significant experience supporting Defense customers.
• Established Defense customer and industry relationships, with demonstrated ability to open doors and develop new customer relationships.
• Strong understanding of the Defense market, including agency missions, acquisition processes, funding priorities, contract vehicles, and competitive landscape.

Responsibilities

• Drive new business growth within assigned federal markets by identifying, developing, qualifying, and advancing opportunities.
• Build and manage a qualified pipeline aligned with growth priorities, capabilities, and revenue objectives.
• Maintain visibility in the federal marketplace through customer-site visits, industry events, and engagements in the DMV and National Capital Region.
• Build relationships to open doors, gain early customer intelligence, identify emerging requirements, and position Aretum for opportunities.
• Develop strategic teaming relationships with large and small partners, evaluating fit, access, past performance, and work-share value.
• Gather customer, market, and competitive intelligence to shape opportunities and strengthen position to win.
• Lead and participate in pipeline reviews, gate reviews, capture activities, solutioning, pricing discussions, and pursuit reviews.
• Recommend bid/no-bid and pursuit strategies based on access, competition, and win probability.
• Partner with Capture and Proposal teams to translate intelligence into pursuit and proposal strategies.
• Coordinate pursuit activities across executives, technical leaders, Pricing, Contracts, Recruiting, Operations, Proposals, and external partners.
• Support strategic proposal efforts including win themes, staffing strategies, and oral presentations.
• Maintain accurate customer, pipeline, and opportunity data in Salesforce.

Skills

Executive presence

Relationship building

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Travel willingness

Education

Master's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Active Top Secret Clearance required

Project Management Professional (PMP) certification required

Job description

Aretum is seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to drive strategic growth across the Defense market. This role is responsible for building and advancing a qualified pipeline, developing strong customer and industry relationships, and positioning Aretum for long-term growth.

The ideal candidate brings federal marketplace expertise, a proven ability to open doors and develop new business, and the ability to collaborate across Capture, Proposal, Solutions, Pricing, and Operations