Northrop Grumman is a global aerospace and defense company developing technologies for air, cyber, land, sea and space missions. Its work includes military and satellite communications, microelectronics manufacturing and other advanced systems designed to address complex challenges across the defense sector. The company supports careers for professionals at different stages, including veterans and entry-level candidates, while also pursuing sustainability initiatives.
Director of Business Development, Weapon Systems
Lead Northrop Grumman’s Weapon Systems business development, capture, and growth strategy. Build defense customer relationships, develop opportunity pipelines, and guide competitive pursuits.
Description
- Set and execute growth strategy for the Weapon Systems Division.
- Secure awards that support annual operating targets and long-range plans.
- Build and manage a pipeline focused on priority markets.
- Lead stakeholder engagement and maintain relationships with customers, partners, and other stakeholders.
- Represent the division in customer meetings, reviews, and industry events.
- Work with Communications to create stakeholder engagement storyboards and narratives.
- Support campaigns to retain existing business and win follow-on programs.
- Follow Enterprise and Sector gates, processes, training, and standards.
- Identify, qualify, and prioritize opportunities across assigned markets and customers.
- Lead captures or serve as executive sponsor for priority pursuits.
- Create win strategies, competitive assessments, price-to-win inputs, and proposal themes.
- Lead, mentor, and direct business development and capture teams.
- Collaborate with program management, engineering, and functional teams to shape differentiated solutions.
- Track market, threat, and budget trends and advise on investment priorities, IRAD focus areas, and portfolio strategy.
- Deliver status updates, briefings, and recommendations to division and sector leaders.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field.
- At least 15 years of business development, capture management, or program management experience in defense or aerospace.
- International experience with industry and government military or defense organizations.
- Knowledge of process and compliance requirements, including ITAR and offsets.
- A record of securing awards and growing pipelines at the OU and BU levels.
- Success leading complex captures or growth initiatives, preferably in weapons systems, missiles, or related mission areas.
- Ability to build and maintain senior customer and stakeholder relationships within the Department of War and/or other government agencies.
- Strong knowledge of government acquisition, competitive procurement, and proposal development.
- Excellent strategic thinking, written and verbal communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance up to Top Secret SCI.
- Experience in weapons, ammunition, and fire control systems preferred.
- Experience with international pursuits and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or offsets preferred.
- Uniformed military experience preferred.
- Experience with lifecycle management, gate reviews, and enterprise capture processes preferred.
- Existing relationships with key customers and stakeholders in the weapons systems mission area preferred.
- Current active Top Secret clearance preferred.
- U.S. citizenship required for positions requiring a government clearance and certain other restricted roles.
Benefits
- Relocation assistance may be available.
- Discretionary bonus.
- Long-term incentives may be available for Vice President or Director positions.
- Health insurance coverage.
- Life and disability insurance.
- Savings plan.
- Company-paid holidays.
- Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.