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AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, is seeking a VP of Business Development to drive revenue generation, pipeline development, and strategic market expansion for a cutting-edge defense company specializing in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), advanced drone technologies, and high-end program support services.
In this senior executive role, you will serve as the primary growth architect and cultivate key customer relationships with defense acquisition organizations including the Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO), Big Safari, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), and affiliated special operations and intelligence community stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Business Development & Growth: Develop and execute comprehensive business development strategies to expand the company's UAV solutions within U.S. Government markets, including the Department of Defense and related offices. Identify, qualify, and pursue new contract opportunities across multiple acquisition pathways, OTA agreements, sole-source awards, and strategic partnerships. Build and manage a robust, multi-year pipeline of qualified opportunities ensuring sustained revenue growth and market diversification. Lead long-range strategic planning, market analysis, and competitive intelligence to identify emerging gaps and adjacencies in the UAS and defense services landscape.
Customer Engagement & Relationship Management: Serve as the company's senior-most relationship executive with priority customers including USSOCOM, RCO, Big Safari, AFSOC, JSOC, and related program offices. Establish and maintain trusted advisor relationships with senior government officials, program managers, contracting officers, and operational end-users. Represent the company at high-level customer engagements, industry conferences, mission briefings, and government forums. Engage proactively with customer stakeholders to shape requirements and influence acquisition strategies well ahead of formal solicitations.
Capture Management & Proposal Strategy: Lead and oversee capture efforts for strategic opportunities, including development of win strategies, competitive assessments, teaming strategies, and price-to-win analysis. Partner with capture managers, program managers, and proposal teams to ensure cohesive, compelling, and compliant submissions. Evaluate and recommend teaming arrangements and strategic partnerships that strengthen competitive positioning. Maintain accountability for opportunity gate reviews, bid/no-bid decisions, and capture investment recommendations.
Internal Collaboration: Serve as liaison between government customers and internal teams, translating operational requirements into actionable technical, programmatic, and commercial strategies. Collaborate closely with marketing, engineering, product management, legal, and program management teams. Monitor and analyze defense policy, budgetary trends, and legislative developments impacting UAV programs. Provide accurate forecasting, pipeline management, and performance reporting to executive leadership.
Leadership: Directs and provides expert knowledge in the strategic function of the department. Develops short and long-term people and organizational strategy in alignment with AEVEX goals. Leads with impact and influence, establishes credibility, and achieves important objectives collaboratively. Identifies, recruits, and retains top-notch talent. Champions AEVEX's culture and empowers employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree required; Master's Degree preferred. Additional years of relevant experience may substitute for formal education.
- 12+ years of progressively increasing functional experience in the Federal government or industry equivalent required.
- Established relationships within the Defense and Defense Adjacent Marketplace.
- Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance; U.S. Citizenship required.
- Current presence and network within professional circles and associations.
- Demonstrated experience managing diverse teams.
- Highly competitive and driven to win.
- Financially literate with understanding of cost structures and ROI.
- Excellent ability to develop, retain, and maximize focus on client needs.
- Exceptional ability to acquire and rapidly apply knowledge of company operations and core competencies.
- Incisive thinker; creative problem-solver; strong resource integration abilities.
- Excellent communication skills for developing and presenting integrated solutions to decision-makers in public and private sectors.
- Excellent ability to establish and maintain successful working relationships with clients, corporate leaders, project managers, staff, and business partners.
- Strong knowledge of trends in government and industry affecting corporate business areas.
