Senior Manager, Aerospace Defense – Government Advisory

Jobtailor; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor in Arlington, VA is seeking a senior strategy and corporate development professional to lead high-impact M&A projects and evaluate growth opportunities across U.S. government and commercial aerospace sectors.

You will build market models in Excel, present to executives, manage projects and teams, and leverage AI tools to accelerate insights and deliver client-ready recommendations.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of total experience in defense, aerospace, or related strategy/BD roles.
• MBA or Master’s degree required/preferred.
• Proven ability to build market models and financial projections in Excel.
• Strong written and verbal communication with client-facing experience.
• Track record leading teams and delivering concise, persuasive client briefs.

Responsibilities

• Support client engagements from proposal through planning and delivery.
• Lead high-impact strategy and M&A projects evaluating growth and investment opportunities across U.S. government and commercial aerospace sectors.
• Support data collection, research and analysis of macroeconomic, policy, financial, industry and technology trends; market dynamics; company financials; customer requirements; technology, product and service portfolios; and competitive dynamics.
• Lead evaluations of organic and inorganic growth opportunities in U.S. government and aerospace markets.
• Synthesize workstream insights into coherent client-ready messaging and delivery.
• Manage project economics, lead the team, coordinate with clients, and manage logistics.
• Support business development through research and first-draft proposals for new client work.
• Make process and quality improvement recommendations.
• Leverage AI tools to accelerate workstream execution and extend insights into client opportunities, fact-checking and providing AI quality assurance.
• Build clean Excel models and worksheets and help with financial and market models under guidance.
• Review junior-level staff work for quality and consistency.
• Edit and revise team slides and support presentations for senior industry leaders and investment professionals.

Skills

M&A Strategy Development

Financial Modeling in Excel

Client Engagement and Presentation

Project Management and Leadership

AI Tools Utilization

Education

Master's Degree

MBA Preferred

Tools

AI Tools

Job description

• Support client engagements from proposal writing through planning and delivery
• Lead high-impact strategy and M&A projects evaluating growth and investment opportunities across U.S. government and commercial aerospace sectors
• Support data collection, research and analysis of macroeconomic, policy, financial, industry and technology trends; market dynamics; company financials; customer requirements; technology, product and service portfolios; and competitive dynamics
• Lead evaluations of organic and inorganic growth opportunities in U.S. government and aerospace markets
• Synthesize workstream insights into coherent client-ready messaging and delivery
• Manage project economics, lead the team, coordinate with clients, and manage logistics
• Support business development through research and first-draft proposals for new client work
• Make process and quality improvement recommendations
• Leverage AI tools to accelerate workstream execution and extend insights into client opportunities, fact-checking and providing AI quality assurance
• Build clean Excel models and worksheets and help with financial and market models under guidance
• Review junior-level staff work for quality and consistency
• Edit and revise team slides and support presentations for senior industry leaders and investment professionals

Requirements

• 6+ years of total experience working in relevant fields, with at least 2+ years working for a management consulting firm, investment bank or in a corporate strategy, M&A or business development/capture role in the defense, aerospace and national security sectors
• Masters degree; MBA preferred
• Demonstrated ability to build market models and conduct financial projections in Excel
• Demonstrated interest in aerospace, defense, and U.S. government markets
• Ability to analyze and forecast U.S. government budgets and/or commercial aerospace spending
• Ability to develop clear, concise and persuasive PowerPoint briefs used for strategic decision-making
• Excellent presentation skills and client-facing disposition
• Experience managing projects and leading teams in the execution of short-turnaround deliverables
• Strong communication skills and executive presence to brief client-ready material direct to clients and ability to iterate on client commentary and feedback
• Experience in and ability to leverage and further develop AI tools preferred
• Experience developing team members preferred

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in managing high-impact strategy and M&A projects within the aerospace and defense sectors, with strong capabilities in financial modeling, data analysis, and client engagement. Proficient in leveraging AI tools to enhance project execution and deliver client-ready presentations.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• M&A Strategy Development
• Financial Modeling in Excel
• Client Engagement and Presentation Skills
• Project Management and Team Leadership
• AI Tools Utilization

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Financial Projections
• Market Analysis
• Data Collection and Research
• Excel Modeling
• PowerPoint Brief Development

Soft Skills

• Strong Communication Skills
• Client-Facing Disposition
• Team Development

Certifications & qualifications

• Masters Degree
• MBA Preferred

Industry Keywords

• Aerospace
• Defense
• U.S. Government Markets
• Business Development
• Management Consulting

Tools & technologies

• AI Tools