Senior Director, Strategic Customer Programs

Piper Companies; Illinois; 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 engagements across government, defense, intelligence, and commercial markets.

The role oversees Sales Engineering, Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management to ensure successful program execution and customer mission success. Strong leadership and government-facing experience are required.

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 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.

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 operational and technical outcomes.

Skills

Executive leadership

Account management

Strategic account management

Capture management

Customer programs

Government contracting

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

Zachary Piper Solutions seeks a Senior Director of Customer Programs with an active TS/SCI clearance to lead strategic customer engagements across government, defense, intelligence, and commercial markets.

The role oversees Sales Engineering, Proposal Management, and Strategic Account Management to ensure successful program execution and customer mission success. Strong leadership and government-facing experience are required.