Director of Naval Programs at Element U.S. Space & Defense

, , United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

31 Mar, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

31 Dec, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Business Development, Contract Acquisitions, Program Management, Naval Programs, Testing Solutions, Customer Engagement, Market Analysis, Strategic Thinking, Technical Acumen, Relationship Building, Capture Management, Proposal Development, Government Contracts, Cybersecurity, Weapon Systems, Autonomous Systems

Industry

Defense and Space Manufacturing

Description

About Company: Element U.S. Space & Defense stands at the forefront of testing innovation, serving as a trusted partner to NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, government agencies, and prominent industry leaders across the space and defense sectors. Founded as NTS Technical Systems, our company brings over 60 years of experience and expertise in handling the most complex projects and programs in the world. From centrifuge testing for the latest Mars rover, vibration testing for the Space Launch System (SLS), to environmental simulations for next-generation missiles, we are the pioneering partner for highly custom, end-to-end testing design and implementation. By advancing our state-of-the-art testing technologies, subject matter expertise, and service to critical missions, Element U.S. Space & Defense has become the go-to partner for ground-breaking industries. What We Offer: Growth & Development: * Opportunities for professional development and career advancement. * A collaborative and innovative work environment. * The chance to work on groundbreaking projects that shape the future of space and defense. Benefits: Employees are eligible to participate in the benefits offered throughout their availability, including the following: * Medical, Dental, Vision, Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts * Seven (7) paid holidays and four (4) paid floating holidays, depending on your hire date * Paid Time Off (PTO), accrued biweekly * 401k with employer match * Twelve (12) hours of Paid Volunteer Time Off (PVTO) each year * Tuition reimbursement and other employee programs * Flexible schedules offered at some of our labs * Monthly Lab Bonus plans (Based on position) Salary: At EUSSD, compensation is determined through a comprehensive approach that considers candidate qualifications, role responsibilities, market benchmarks, and organizational needs. Pay may vary by location; for this position, with potential eligibility for bonuses or commission depending on the role. About the Role: As Director of Naval Programs, you are empowered to lead strategic growth in Naval markets by selling innovative testing solutions and forging key relationships with external customers, including the government. In this role, you will evaluate, manage, and execute strategic opportunities, initiatives, and teaming ventures within the Navy and its supply chain. You will oversee our Naval market analysis, monitor competitive activity, and identify customer testing needs. You are responsible for planning, execution, and capture of strategic opportunities to expand our presence throughout the Naval market. This position demands a blend of technical acumen, strategic thinking, and strong relationship building. Primary Responsibilities: Capture Management * Identify, cultivate, and close testing opportunities. * Develop and manage an opportunity pipeline and key account roadmap. * Formulate capture plans including technical, management, past performance, pricing strategies, and win themes for leads and opportunities. * Move leads and opportunities through the sales cycle in CRM, including forecasting, tracking revenue, and regularly reporting on progress. * Identify, plan and execute new Naval Program testing initiatives, supporting new market segments such as unmanned systems and advanced weaponry. * Develop and implement strategic business development plans to achieve business viability, revenue growth, market penetration, and other objectives. * Provide technical acumen concerning Naval engineering principles, integration of complex systems, and testing requirements. With understanding of qualification processes for Naval applications, guide teams in aligning technological innovations with Navy standards and operational requirements. Customer Engagement * Represent EUSSD at Naval conferences, industry events, and technical groups. * Advocate with key U.S. Government and industry customers on issues of importance to Element U.S. Space & Defense, and identify the functional impact of program, budget, and acquisition issues. * Build and maintain strong, robust customer relationships with key decision-makers and influencers within customer organizations, and Navy Commands (NAVSEA, NAVAIR, NAVFAC, NAVWAR). * Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, program management, and marketing, to develop compelling proposals and presentations for customers. Market Analysis * Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and customer requirements to ensure Element U.S. Space & Defense capabilities remain competitive and relevant. * Identify Government sponsored initiatives that align with EUSSD’s capabilities and strategic goals. * Research, analyze, and monitor the development of customer priorities, program requirements, budget formulation, acquisition strategy and program execution. * Provide market and competitive analysis to inform product development and strategic decision-making. Minimum Qualifications: * Have a working network of contacts throughout the Navy and its prime contractors * Business development, contract acquisitions, or program management experience within U.S. Navy organization for a minimum of 12 years. * Prior US Naval experience and/or acquisition experience for a minimum of 4 years. * Experience discussing test and evaluation with senior program managers, engineers, and corporate executives. * Have a working knowledge of Naval programs, contracting, and procurement activities. * Knowledge of leading-edge capability expansion in Naval market, including cybersecurity, weapon systems, advanced communication systems, or integration of autonomous systems. * Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Program Management, Business Administration, or related field. * Position is remote and 50% travel will be required. * US person required. Preferred Qualifications: * Active SECRET security clearance. * Have a working knowledge of Naval programs, including requirements development, acquisitions, test and evaluation, and operations. * Proven capture experience within the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) market, including relevant entities such as the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) or the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC). * Demonstrated experience of successful capture of Federal opportunities with a value exceeding $50M for single-award contracts and exceeding $100M for multiple award IDIQ contracts. * Deep understanding of government contracts and financial vehicles used to facilitate program wins. Knowledge and Skills: * Strong research skills and resourcefulness – ability to synthesize data from multiple sources. * Able to formulate capture plans and close multimillion dollar opportunities. * Self-motivated and comfortable working in a goal-oriented environment. * Strong organizational skills, able to effectively manage multiple tasks, meetings, and deadlines. * Strong strategic thinking and analytical skills. * Excellent leadership and management skills. * Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and CRM software. * Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage customers from diverse backgrounds and education levels, as well as negotiate and communicate confidently with high‑level executives. Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; climb stairs; balance; stoop; kneel; crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. EEO Policy Statement: It is the policy of Element US Space & Defense to offer Equal Employment Opportunity to all individuals without regards to race, creed, ancestry, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, physical disabilities, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V recruitingteam@elementdefense.com [recruitingteam@elementdefense.com]

Responsibilities

The Director of Naval Programs is responsible for leading strategic growth in Naval markets by selling innovative testing solutions and managing key relationships with external customers. This role involves overseeing market analysis, competitive activity, and customer testing needs to expand the company's presence in the Naval market.