Director of Business Development (U.S. Defense)

Director of Business Development (U.S. Defense) We are helping our client, a leading defense technology company specializing in AI-enabled situational awareness and targeting solutions for military platforms. As part of a critical global expansion strategy, the company has established a US entity to scale into the US defense market and support strategic cooperation with Tier-1 prime channel partners We are looking for a professional who will be the company's first US-based commercial hire and senior point of contact for all DoD engagement. You will drive the success of market expansion from the ground up, from shaping customer requirements through leading capture strategies and closing major agreements with DoD program office Responsibilities Spearhead the development and execution of the US Business Development strategy across Army, Navy/USMC, Air Force, and SOCOM customers Own the senior relationship layer with DoD program offices, PEO directorates, PM shops, Army Futures Command cross-functional teams, and innovation hubs like DIU and RCC Partner tightly with Leonardo DRS's US capture organization to align core technology into major program pursuits and directly manage independent contract vehicles Build and execute the annual US bookings plan, targeting $20M+ in year-one signed commitments, with a long-term trajectory into a nine-figure portfolio Build, coach, and hold accountable a local commercial team by hiring and managing four Sales Managers directly under this role Represent the company at premier defense forums and classified events, including AUSA, SOFIC, Modern Day Marine, and Sea-Air-Space Translate US customer requirements into product roadmap input for the Israel HQ, ensuring validated demand signals shape development prioritization Requirements MUST: 15+ years of defense BD, capture, or program management experience with a proven track record of closing major DoD contracts (OTAs, IDIQs, sole-source) MUST: Deep, active relationships at the PEO / PM level across at least two major military branches (Army, Navy/USMC, Air Force, SOCOM) MUST: Demonstrable success closing individual contracts worth $10M+ and managing large-scale annual bookings portfolios MUST: An active Secret clearance, with a strong preference for an active TS clearance Experience working within or alongside a prime-subcontractor structure to maintain direct vendor-to-government visibility Fluency across key tactical product areas such as Counter-UAS, tactical UAVs, armored vehicle modernization, or weapon station integration ADV: Prior military service (O-5+ retired from Army, Marine Corps, Navy SOF, or joint/OSD acquisition) ADV: Direct experience scaling a foreign defense company's US subsidiary ADV: Working knowledge of defense compliance frameworks for foreign-parent entities, including FMS, DCSA, CFIUS, and NISPOM #J-18808-Ljbffr Expert Executive Recruiters (EER Global)