Role Overview for Vice President of Business Development & Marketing – Defense – Huntsville, AL
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a premier, high-growth technology and engineering services firm to identify a visionary Vice President of Business Development & Marketing for their Defense division. Based in the strategic hub of Huntsville, Alabama, this executive leadership role is critical to the company’s ambitious growth trajectory within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and related intelligence community markets. The successful candidate will be a dynamic and results-oriented leader, responsible for architecting and executing a comprehensive business development and marketing strategy that drives significant revenue growth, expands market share, and enhances brand positioning.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the VP will serve as a key member of the executive team, providing strategic guidance on market trends, competitive landscapes, and customer requirements. This individual will lead all aspects of the business development lifecycle, from opportunity identification and qualification through capture management and proposal submission, for complex, large-scale government contracts. The role demands a deep understanding of the Huntsville defense ecosystem, including key government agencies, prime contractors, and industry partners. You will be empowered to build and mentor a high-performing team, foster a culture of innovation and collaboration, and establish the company as a dominant force in its chosen technology domains. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a dynamic organization and make a tangible impact on national security missions.
Key Responsibilities of Vice President of Business Development & Marketing – Defense – Huntsville, AL
The Vice President of Business Development & Marketing will have a broad range of responsibilities focused on strategic growth and market leadership. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Strategic Planning & Market Analysis
- Develop and implement a multi-year strategic business plan for the Defense division, aligned with overall corporate objectives, to achieve aggressive revenue and profitability targets.
- Conduct continuous market analysis to identify emerging trends, technological advancements, and shifts in government acquisition priorities.
- Perform in-depth competitive intelligence to understand competitor strategies, strengths, and weaknesses, and develop effective counter-strategies.
- Identify and champion new market adjacencies and service offerings that leverage core competencies and address unmet customer needs.
- Lead the annual and quarterly pipeline development and review process, ensuring a robust and qualified portfolio of opportunities to support growth goals.
Business Development & Capture Management
- Lead the full business development lifecycle, including opportunity identification, qualification, positioning, and pursuit for prime and subcontracting opportunities.
- Develop and execute sophisticated capture strategies for key strategic pursuits, including developing win themes, value propositions, and pricing strategies.
- Build and maintain a robust, multi-billion-dollar pipeline of qualified opportunities, meticulously managing it within the company’s CRM system.
- Establish and cultivate strong, trust-based relationships with key government decision-makers, program managers, and contracting officers across the DoD and intelligence agencies.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders at major government installations, including the Redstone Arsenal, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
- Forge strategic partnerships, teaming agreements, and alliances with prime contractors, small businesses, and technology providers to enhance competitive positioning.
- Oversee the proposal development process, ensuring the creation of compelling, compliant, and high-quality proposals that clearly articulate the company’s value.
Marketing & Corporate Branding
- Develop and execute an integrated marketing and communications strategy to enhance brand awareness, thought leadership, and market visibility within the federal defense sector.
- Oversee the creation of all marketing collateral, including website content, white papers, case studies, press releases, and presentations.
- Manage the company’s presence at key industry conferences, trade shows, and events to generate leads and strengthen relationships.
- Direct digital marketing efforts, including social media engagement, content marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) to attract talent and customers.
Leadership & Team Management
- Recruit, train, mentor, and lead a world-class team of business development, capture, and marketing professionals.
- Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and ethical culture that aligns with the company’s core values.
- Establish clear performance metrics (KPIs) for the team and manage individual and team performance to achieve targets.
- Provide executive-level reporting and briefings to the CEO and Board of Directors on pipeline status, key pursuits, and market dynamics.
Requirements for the Vice President of Business Development & Marketing – Defense – Huntsville, AL
Required Qualifications:
Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in business development, capture management, and marketing within the federal government contracting industry, with at least 7 years in a senior leadership role.
Track Record
A demonstrable and verifiable track record of winning large, complex, single-award contracts and multi-award IDIQ vehicles (>$100M) with DoD and/or Intelligence Community customers.
Industry Knowledge
Deep expertise in the defense services market, including C5ISR, systems engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence/machine learning, and/or logistics.
Huntsville Market Acumen
Extensive experience and a strong professional network within the Huntsville, AL defense community, with established relationships at Redstone Arsenal, MDA, AMRDEC, SMDC, and other key organizations.
Leadership
Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire high-performing teams. Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Communication
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts to a variety of audiences, from engineers to C-level executives.
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field.
Security Clearance
Must be a U.S. Citizen and possess an active Secret security clearance, with the ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a related technical field.
- Formal training in capture and proposal methodologies (e.g., Shipley).
- Experience managing a multi-billion-dollar pipeline and leading pursuits across various contract types (FFP, T&M, Cost-Plus).
- Prior military or government service is a significant plus.
- Experience with both small and large business environments, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities of each.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier talent by offering a highly competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package. As a key member of the executive team, you can expect:
Executive Compensation
A highly competitive base salary commensurate with experience and market standards.
Performance-Based Incentives
A lucrative annual bonus plan and long-term incentive program (e.g., equity, stock options) tied to individual and company performance.
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents, along with Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.
Retirement Savings
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match and immediate vesting.
Work-Life Balance
A generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick leave, and paid federal holidays.
Professional Development
A significant budget for professional development, including industry certifications, executive coaching, and continuing education.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for qualified candidates moving to the Huntsville area.
Additional Perks
Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability coverage, and an employee assistance program.
How to Apply
This is an exclusive search conducted by JRG Partners. To be considered for this pivotal leadership opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and qualifications. We encourage you to highlight your specific achievements in winning major defense contracts and your familiarity with the Huntsville market.
JRG Partners specializes in placing top talent in high-demand sectors. For more information on our expertise and other opportunities, please visit our Aerospace & Defense practice area page. We look forward to reviewing your application.
