RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available
CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: No
CLEARANCE TYPE: None
TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time
DescriptionNorthrop Grumman's Corporate Strategy & Technology organization is seeking a Director of Corporate Strategic Ventures & Partnerships to support the company's growth strategy. Reporting to the Vice President of Corporate Strategy, this role leads the strategy, prioritization, structuring, negotiation, and execution of enterprise strategic partnerships and venture relationships with external companies — including technology providers, startups, adjacent-market players, investors, and complementary primes — to accelerate growth, expand capability, close strategic gaps, and expand market access across the sectors. This role works in close partnership with the technology partnerships lead in the CTO office. In that collaboration, the CTO office provides leadership on technical partnership alignment, technology relevance, and transition considerations, while this role leads enterprise partnership strategy, investment and transaction framing, cross-sector prioritization, governance, and business value realization.
The Director serves as the enterprise integrator across Corporate Strategy, sector leadership, Business Development, the CTO office, Legal, Finance, and other functional leaders to identify strategic capability, portfolio, and market-access gaps and lead external partnership and venture actions to address them through formal business relationships, investment structures, and governance mechanisms. Success in this role means developing and governing an enterprise partnership and venture pipeline; shaping and prioritizing opportunities aligned to growth objectives; leading business case development, diligence, transaction structuring, and negotiation; and delivering, along with other internal stakeholders, measurable strategic, financial, capability, and market-access outcomes across the sectors. Note: This position will be located in Falls Church, VA. A hybrid on-site work arrangement may be considered.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead enterprise-wide identification, prioritization, and governance of strategic partnership and venture opportunities across all Northrop Grumman sectors to create differentiated capabilities, accelerate growth, and advance sector and corporate strategic objectives
Own the enterprise partnership and venture pipeline, including opportunity sourcing, prioritization, executive decision support, and resource alignment against sector and corporate growth priorities
Structure partnership models (JV, licensing, teaming agreement, minority investment, supplier/co-development) and negotiate agreement terms
Working with internal stakeholders, establish and oversee post-signing efforts, performance management, value capture, expansion, renewal, and exit decisions to ensure partnerships deliver sustained strategic and business value; coordinate with the CTO office and sector stakeholders on adoption, transition, and technical execution considerations as applicable
Advise corporate and sector leadership, including VP-level stakeholders, on partnership strategy, venture activity, market landscape, competitive positioning, strategic tradeoffs, and portfolio implications affecting growth and long-range objectives
Establish enterprise frameworks, decision criteria, and governance mechanisms for partner sourcing, evaluation, approval, integration, and performance management, in coordination with the CTO office where technical partnership standards and transition considerations apply
Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and with external ecosystem players (e.g. VCs and industry associations)
Oversee the corporate venture relationship portfolio and lead new investment execution, while working across sectors and with CTO office
Partner closely with the technology partnerships lead in the CTO office to align enterprise partnership strategy with technology roadmaps, technical differentiation priorities, ecosystem insights, and technology transition opportunities
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of professionals, to meet the broad demands of corporate strategy
Basic Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree with 14 years of experience OR Master's degree with 12 years of experience
Experience in corporate development, strategic partnerships, business development, or related roles in industrial, aerospace/defense, or adjacent technical sectors
Significant experience shaping enterprise strategy, growth initiatives, market development, strategic partnerships, or venture/investment activity in large, complex organizations
Track record structuring and managing complex external agreements
Strong financial and commercial acumen, with comfort in deal structuring and negotiation
Demonstrated ability to influence senior executives and align complex, matrixed cross-functional stakeholders across Corporate Strategy, sectors, the CTO office, Legal, Finance, Engineering, Business Development, and operating leadership Excellent executive communication skills — this role regularly briefs senior leadership
Experience leading projects and cross-functional teams in large, complex organizations
Proven ability to drive alignment across all levels of management and to lead through influence among senior corporate, sector, and functional leaders
Experience working in close partnership with technical leadership to translate emerging technology opportunities into enterprise partnership, investment, or growth decisions
Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret-level (or higher) security clearance as a condition of continued employment
Preferred Qualifications:
Current U.S. Government Top Secret / TS/SCI clearance
Creative and strategic thinker with the ability to shape enterprise partnership and venture strategies involving emerging technology companies in a rapidly evolving competitive environment Outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
Ability to synthesize business, market, competitive, partnership, and technology-transition insights from multiple internal and external sources to support enterprise decision-making
Strong program and leadership skills, with the ability to drive complex initiatives from opportunity framing through transaction execution and post-close value realization
Primary Level Salary Range: $242,100.00 - $363,100.00
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.
Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.
The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.
