Director of Capture

Director of Capture is responsible for increasing the quality and volume of qualified opportunities and clients through disciplined relationship-building, clear communication of Grant Engine’s value, and rigorous pursuit of funding demand across both science & technology funding support and capture traction inside key federal agencies. Given our focus in defense/dual-use, life sciences, and adjacent deep-tech markets, relevant domain experience is essential to succeed in this role. You will establish, own, and continuously foster strategic relationships inside the Department of War and other research-based centers of excellence to help position our exceptional clients to secure federal interest and commitments. This role is ideal for a self-starter who is passionate about emerging technology and defense solutions and is looking for a role where they can autonomously operate and grow a team. The key for Grant Engine is to have someone on our team that can effectively pursue deeper and wider relationships within the US military and federal branches of government to support the business development efforts of our clients and of Grant Engine at large. Grant Engine secures non-dilutive funding for high impact innovators across life sciences, defense and dual use, energy, and other advanced technology domains. We partner with companies that have the potential to make a meaningful difference in their field and the discipline to translate that potential into fundable, credible programs. Our vision is to improve, protect, and extend human life by supporting selected clients whose work advances the state of the art. We work selectively with teams that demonstrate clear differentiation, whether against the clinical standard of care, current operational baselines, or prevailing technical approaches, and who can articulate a realistic path to validation, adoption, and impact. In this pursuit, we hold the following core values in high regard: Trust, Customer Success, Excellence Without Bias, Teamwork. We realize that to build this vision, Grant Engine must be a leader in the field. We identify innovation from every corner of our company, and we are committed to innovation in every facet of our work. Each of us works to get results by employing, or pioneering, cutting-edge techniques in communication and program management to realize our vision. A key tenet of the Grant Engine team is that we work well together! We trust one another’s judgment and have established an effective dynamic of delivering on our individual goals to the point that trust has been built of being able to count on each other to deliver. Status Full Time Location US Based, remote work with selected travel Reporting & Structure This role reports directly to Grant Engine’s Executive Director and the company’s CEO. While this role is senior role with ability to set company processes and influence company culture, the role is currently not a management role; instead, it is a autonomous operator-type role. It is projected that this role will evolve to a management role with a team developed underneath the Director of Capture. Own revenue outcomes for a portfolio of clients by driving new pathways for federal integration Build and execute capture plans that convert into funded awards and follow-on work , positioning client technologies for adoption and transition across DoD buyers and budget owners. Identify, qualify, and prioritize high-probability opportunities by analyzing DoD requirements, timelines, stakeholders, and acquisition pathways to maximize win-rate and contract value. Capture Execution & Pipeline Generation Drive pipeline creation through targeted outreach to mission owners, end-users, program offices, primes, integrators, and OTA consortia to generate meetings, advocacy, and concrete next steps. Run revenue-focused client strategy reviews to align on opportunity priorities, close decisions quickly, remove blockers, and maintain momentum from interest to submission to award. Influence decision-makers through high-impact briefings and presentations that clearly articulate value, differentiation, and mission fit to accelerate adoption and funding. High-Impact Support & Internal Knowledge Development Support Delivery team with developing deal-enabling collateral (one-pagers, capability statements, white papers, slide decks, transition narratives) that increases conversion and shortens sales and capture cycles. Execute additional revenue-critical initiatives as assigned to support growth, win-rate, and client lifetime value. Support and advise our consulting team in formulating proposals narratives that address real defense pain points and challenges Provide new intel and awareness about DoD operations that can help our consulting team better align their proposals with defense priorities and interests Represent the business at conferences and industry events to source leads and partnerships , expanding network reach and generating qualified pipeline for clients and Grant Engine. Forecast, report, and elevate pipeline risks and deal blockers with clear mitigation plans to protect revenue targets and delivery timelines. Necessary Qualifications 5 years minimum of combined Department of Defense (DoD) and Industry experience Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience Experience managing client relationships Self-starter can effectively self-manage and establish broad company practices Ability to strategically leverage DoD Acquisition knowledge to drive revenue growth for small businesses Ability to breakdown strategic ideas into actionable tasks Demonstrated track record of excellent client management skills Experience working with new technologies and government grants experience is preferred Passion for advancing innovative technologies from conception to commercialization Proven track record of managing defense and dual-use clients in a milestone-driven environment Proven experience in scientific and technical writing; experience either writing, supporting, or funding SBIR proposals, in the DoD and/or experience with other funding mechanisms is preferred. Intimate knowledge of the inner workings of government agencies and business practices Additional Qualifications and Competencies Relationship Building: Trustworthy, intuitive, objective, proactive, able to anticipate problems before they arise, responsiveness, team-oriented, respectful. Project Management: Milestone-driven, project risk management and timeline oriented, effective communication in multiple modalities to ensure effective management of internal and external personnel. Critical Evaluation: Critical thinking, problem solving, curiosity, inquisitiveness, research methodology, knowledge management, & online search skills. Communication for Impact: Exceptional verbal and written communications skills, presentation skills, diplomacy, perceptual objectivity, active listening and command of the English language. Flexibility: Ability to handle changing priorities and multiple deadlines while maintaining high quality of workmanship. Ethical Practice: Rapport building, trust building, personal and professional integrity, credibility, professional and personal courage. Compensation Competitive salary commensurate with experience. Bonus eligible. #J-18808-Ljbffr