Sr. Growth Manager, Defense & National Security

FedTech

$120K — $140K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years in business development or capture in defense or national security markets.
  • Proven success in closing business with DoD, Intelligence Community, or federal organizations.
  • Strong knowledge of defense innovation ecosystems, including SBIR/STTR and OTAs.
  • Experience managing the entire business development lifecycle from identification to contract award.
  • Established relationships within defense and federal innovation sectors are a plus.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficient with CRM and modern collaboration tools; security clearance preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Lead business development for FedTech's defense and national security portfolio.
  • Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities to grow revenue.
  • Expand FedTech's pipeline through existing and new relationships.
  • Meet quarterly revenue and pipeline targets with measurable performance.
  • Lead capture efforts for federal proposals from assessment to submission.
  • Build strategic partnerships to enhance competitiveness on projects.
  • Represent FedTech at industry events to promote visibility and build partnerships.

Benefits

  • 401K with employer match
  • Health, dental, and vision plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Accrued PTO and professional development funds
  • Employer paid disability insurance and parental leave
  • Transportation and wellness reimbursements
Full Job Description
Job Description

If you're experienced in closing deals across the defense and national security community and want to directly shape growth in a mission-driven organization, we'd love to connect!

What you'll do:

You will lead business development for FedTech's defense and national security portfolio, driving growth across the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, and service-level innovation organizations. In this role, you will identify, shape, and close new business opportunities while owning the full business development lifecycle-from pipeline generation and opportunity capture to contract award. You'll also collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to develop winning strategies, deliver compelling proposals, and ensure successful execution throughout the sales process.

Typical functions include:
  • Business Development and Sales
    • Manage and grow a portfolio of relationships across the defense and national security ecosystem, including key stakeholders within the Department of Defense, service branches (Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force), and innovation-focused organizations such as DIU, AFWERX, and OSD R&E, as well as the broader intelligence community.
    • Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities, with a focus on building long-term customer relationships and generating new revenue streams for FedTech.
    • Expand FedTech's pipeline by leveraging both existing organizational relationships and independently developed connections within the defense and national security community.
    • Meet quarterly revenue and pipeline targets, with performance measured against defined business development objectives and key results.
    • Qualify and prioritize opportunities using structured evaluation criteria and maintain accurate, up-to-date records in CRM systems.
  • Capture and Proposal Strategy
    • Lead capture efforts for federal opportunities, including RFPs and BAAs, from initial opportunity assessment through proposal submission.
    • Participate in key capture activities such as bid/no-bid decisions, teaming strategy, proposal development, pricing coordination, and submission planning in collaboration with internal stakeholders.
    • Build and manage strategic partnerships with prime contractors, federal integrators, and specialized firms to strengthen competitive positioning on major pursuits.
    • Contribute to the development and refinement of new service offerings within the defense and national security practice.
  • Stakeholder and Account Management
    • Develop and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, prime contractors, venture partners, national laboratories, and other key organizations within the defense and national security ecosystem.
    • Collaborate closely with internal delivery teams to ensure alignment on account strategy, customer engagement, and post-award transition.
    • Represent FedTech at industry events, conferences, and government/defense innovation forums to strengthen visibility and partnerships.
    • Identify and support new growth opportunities that may evolve into recurring programs or long-term partnerships.

Successful candidates will have the following qualifications:
  • 8+ years of business development, capture, or growth experience within defense, national security, or adjacent federal markets.
  • Proven track record of winning and closing new business opportunities with the Department of Defense (DoD), Intelligence Community (IC), or related federal organizations.
  • Strong understanding of the defense and national security innovation ecosystem, including SBIR/STTR, OTAs, BAAs, federal laboratories, major contract vehicles, and technology transition pathways.
  • Experience leading the full business development lifecycle, from opportunity identification and capture strategy through proposal development, customer engagement, and contract award.
  • Established relationships within the defense, national security, or federal innovation community, including organizations such as DIU, AFWERX, service innovation units, OSD R&E, federal laboratories, or IC innovation offices, are highly desirable.
  • Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage senior government leaders and communicate complex technical, business, and contracting concepts.
  • Ability to operate across multiple functions, including business development, partnerships, capture, proposals, and customer-facing engagements in a fast-paced environment.
  • Experience using CRM, collaboration, productivity, and AI-enabled tools (e.g., HubSpot, Google Workspace, Slack, Unanet, Claude, and similar platforms) to drive efficiency and business outcomes.
  • Active or recent security clearance preferred (Secret minimum; TS/SCI a plus).
  • Highly organized, adaptable, entrepreneurial, and results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and commitment to continuous learning.

Our Values:
  • Boldness: We have the fortitude to forge new paths and push beyond our comfort
  • Unity: We treat our clients, team members and partners as we would like to be treated - we are one united team
  • Introspection: We recognize introspection is the necessary ingredient in which self-improvement flourishes
  • Leadership: We embrace servant leadership - putting the interests of client, team partners and partners first
  • Decisiveness: We have a strong bias towards action

Compensation:
  • Base salary range: $120-140k
    • The salary range listed for this position is based on market data and internal compensation structure. The final compensation package will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills and education. This range is not a guarantee of compensation, and offers may fall outside this range in exceptional cases.
  • In addition to the base salary, compensation includes performance-based bonus (OTE) and ability to earn equity
  • A competitive benefits package including 401K with employer match, health/dental/vision plans through Blue Cross Blue Shield, accrued PTO, professional development funds, employer paid disability insurance, parental leave, transportation and wellness reimbursements, amongst others.

Location: The position will be set up as a hybrid work arrangement in any of the following locations:
  • 3 days in person at our headquarters in Arlington, VA, and 2 days remote
  • 2 days in person at our office in Boston, MA and 3 days remote
  • 2 days in person at our office in Austin, TX and 3 days remote

Travel: Up to 20-30% based on business needs

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