Senior Director of Customer Programs

ZP Group; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachary Piper Solutions seeks a Senior Director of Customer Programs with an active TS/SCI clearance to lead strategic customer programs across government, defense, intelligence, and commercial markets. This executive will supervise Sales Engineering, Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management, driving long-term growth and mission success.

Responsibilities include building executive relationships, guiding capture and proposals, and aligning customer missions with technical

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• 12+ years of leadership experience in customer programs, business development, account management, capture management, or program management.
• Experience supporting organizations within space, aerospace, defense, intelligence, or technology sectors.
• Proven experience managing complex Federal customer engagements and strategic customer programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build executive-level customer relationships and drive account growth.
• Strong understanding of Federal contracting environments and mission-focused government organizations.
• Experience leading customer success initiatives, strategic account management efforts, or growth-focused program organizations.
• Exceptional communication, relationship management, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate across technical, operational, and business organizations to deliver customer-focused solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex Federal and commercial customer programs from opportunity pursuit through execution, expansion, and renewal.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with government agencies, industry partners, and key stakeholders.
• Drive customer satisfaction, contract growth, strategic account development, and long-term business partnerships.
• Oversee Sales Engineering, Bid & Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management teams to support customer delivery and business growth.
• Support capture and proposal efforts by aligning customer mission requirements with technical capabilities and solution offerings.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customers while collaborating with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Sales leadership teams.
• Develop and execute account growth strategies focused on expanding customer adoption and mission impact.
• Manage customer program performance, ensuring successful delivery of contractual requirements and customer expectations.
• Identify growth opportunities within existing accounts and support expansion into new mission areas and customer organizations.
• Provide strategic guidance to internal leadership regarding customer priorities, market trends, and competitive positioning.
• Facilitate executive briefings, customer reviews, and strategic planning sessions with senior government and commercial stakeholders.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure customer requirements are translated into successful outcomes.

Skills

Executive leadership

Customer relationship management

Strategic account management

Proposal management

Business development

Federal programs

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Aerospace, Information Technology, or related discipline

Job description

Senior Director of Customer Programs

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Senior Director, Customer Programs with an active TS/SCI Security Clearance to support a leading space-based data and analytics organization delivering innovative solutions to Federal and commercial customers. This executive leadership position will oversee strategic customer programs, strengthen executive-level customer relationships, and drive long-term account growth across Government, Defense, Intelligence, and commercial markets. The Senior Director will lead Sales Engineering, Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management functions while ensuring successful program execution and customer mission success.

Responsibilities of the Senior Director of Customer Programs Include:

• Lead complex Federal and commercial customer programs from opportunity pursuit through execution, expansion, and renewal.
• Build and maintain executive-level relationships with government agencies, industry partners, and key stakeholders.
• Drive customer satisfaction, contract growth, strategic account development, and long-term business partnerships.
• Oversee Sales Engineering, Bid & Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management teams to support customer delivery and business growth.
• Support capture and proposal efforts by aligning customer mission requirements with technical capabilities and solution offerings.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customers while collaborating with Product, Engineering, Operations, and Sales leadership teams.
• Develop and execute account growth strategies focused on expanding customer adoption and mission impact.
• Manage customer program performance, ensuring successful delivery of contractual requirements and customer expectations.
• Identify growth opportunities within existing accounts and support expansion into new mission areas and customer organizations.
• Provide strategic guidance to internal leadership regarding customer priorities, market trends, and competitive positioning.
• Facilitate executive briefings, customer reviews, and strategic planning sessions with senior government and commercial stakeholders.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration to ensure customer requirements are translated into successful operational and technical outcomes.

Qualifications of the Senior Director of Customer Programs Include:

• Active TS/SCI Security Clearance.
• 12+ years of leadership experience in customer programs, business development, account management, capture management, or program management.
• Experience supporting organizations within the space, aerospace, defense, intelligence, or technology sectors.
• Proven experience managing complex Federal customer engagements and strategic customer programs.
• Demonstrated ability to build executive-level customer relationships and drive account growth.
• Strong understanding of Federal contracting environments and mission-focused government organizations.
• Experience leading customer success initiatives, strategic account management efforts, or growth-focused program organizations.
• Exceptional communication, relationship management, and executive presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate across technical, operational, and business organizations to deliver customer-focused solutions.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Aerospace, Information Technology, or related discipline preferred.

Preferred Qualifications Include:

• Experience with space-based services, satellite-enabled solutions, Earth observation data, or related technologies.
• Familiarity supporting agencies such as the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), U.S. Space Force, NGA, NOAA, NASA, or similar organizations.
• Experience supporting proposal, capture, and strategic growth initiatives for government customers.
• Understanding of mission-focused technology programs, analytics solutions, or advanced aerospace capabilities.
• Experience managing high-value customer portfolios and executive-level stakeholder engagements.

Compensation for the Senior Director of Customer Programs Includes:

• Compensation: $190,000 to $230,000

Keywords:

Senior Director, Customer Programs, Customer Success, Strategic Account Management, Federal Programs, Business Development, Capture Management, Proposal Management, Sales Engineering, Government Programs, Executive Leadership, Account Growth, Customer Engagement, Aerospace, Space Industry, Satellite Solutions, Space-Based Services, Earth Observation, Analytics Solutions, Department of Defense, DoD, Intelligence Community, IC, NGA, NOAA, NASA, Space Force, Government Contracting, Federal Customers, Strategic Partnerships, Program Management, Mission Success, Customer Delivery, TS/SCI Clearance.

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