Sr. Director, Business Development

**Worker Type** Regular **Job Description** **Summary** The Sr. Director for Business Development position is responsible for strategically leading the planning and execution of all business development activities for AeroVironment, including the regional business development strategy, capture planning and capture execution for winning contracts in the region, while leading a team responsible for regional growth. The SD, BD works in partnership with his chain of command, fellow AeroVironment Business Development Leaders, AeroVironment's Product Line General Managers (PLGMs), and key functional groups within AeroVironment. The SD, BD is responsible for proactively creating aggressive strategic capture plans and then working across the AeroVironment team and throughout the highest levels of customer organizations, including national leaders, to shape these efforts into contract wins for AeroVironment. This pivotal leadership role is one of the highest senior level positions within AeroVironment's Business Development Team and as such, holds a key leadership function within the organization. **Position Responsibilities** + Leads by example and inspires a team of AeroVironment employees charged with steadily growing product sales within the assigned region. + Builds trusted relationships with senior military and political leaders within the assigned international marketspace to grow strategic programs for AeroVironment to win. This role directly supports the company's long-term growth strategy by adding increasing numbers of key programs wins with multi-year revenues. + Acting in alignment with his manager's intent, takes proactive steps to identify strategic captures and leads the Business Development Team, regional representatives, and resellers, and closely works with regional global customers to help shape their requirements and proposals for AeroVironment's contract awards. + Advances brand recognition and thought leadership with senior regional leaders. + Helps identify new strategic opportunities for AeroVironment that might not be initially obvious in examining international tenders. Focuses on customers where security needs are the highest and the customers are adequately resourced for the advanced products from AeroVironment. + Works with select strategic business-to-business partnerships globally to promote major initiatives for AeroVironment and the partners to win, especially when offsets are required. + Institutes and manages a strategic review process for identifying, analyzing, and down-selecting major strategic key captures and helps create and manage focused efforts to execute these initiatives. + Performs other duties as assigned. **Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)** + Bachelor's degree is required in business, engineering or in a related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. + Advanced degree, MBA or MS is highly preferred. + Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience in the aerospace and defense industry or related fields. + Minimum of 7 years of experience in a leadership role. **Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies** + Excellent written and verbal communication skills + Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively. + Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships. + Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances. + Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees + Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness, and the creation of a shared vision + Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change. + Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks. + Is committed to learning from mistakes and driven to improve and enhance performance of oneself, others, and the company. + Focuses on teamwork and puts the success of the team above one's own interests. **Physical Demands** + Ability to work in an office environment as well as in the field with customers (Constant). + Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Constant). **Environmental Conditions Critical to Performance:** + Work is in an office environment, climate controlled through central air conditioning/heating. + May have some exposure to outside environment while traveling. **Special Requirements** + U.S. Citizenship. + Active US SECRET clearance preferred. + Able and willing to travel both inside the US and outside the US at least 50% of time. + Computer skills with proficiency in MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook). + Must have a valid driver's license and clean DMV record. **Clearance Level** Secret The salary range for this role is: $181,370 - $257,250 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills. **ITAR Requirement:** _T_ _his position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements._ **Benefits** : AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: . We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us. Principals only need apply. NO agencies please. **Who We Are** Based in California, AeroVironment (AVAV) is a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Founded in 1971 by celebrated physicist and engineer, Dr. Paul MacCready, we've been at the leading edge of technical innovation for more than 45 years. Be a part of the team that developed the world's most widely used military drones and created the first submarine-launched reconnaissance drone, and has seven innovative vehicles that are part of the Smithsonian Institution's permanent collection in Washington, DC. Join us today in developing the next generation of small UAS and tactical missile systems that will deliver more actionable intelligence to our customers so they can proceed with certainty - and succeed. **What We Do** Building on a history of technological innovation, AeroVironment designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and tactical missile systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. _We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status._ **ITAR** U.S. Citizenship required **About AV:** **AV isn't for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.** We don't just build defense technology-we redefine what's possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian-but we're not building history, we're building what's next. **If you're ready to build technology that matters-with speed, scale, and purpose-there's no better place to do it than AV.** **Careers at AeroVironment (