Associate Director – Strategy & Customer Development {D} with Security Clearance

The ARKA Group is seeking a senior professional to lead our strategy, customer engagement and business development in our growing National Security Space (NSS) business. Demonstrated experience in the NSS community (Government and/or Industry), working knowledge of Government acquisition practices, and insights into NSS missions and priorities is a priority. Bring your passion, commitment and curiosity and come grow with us as together we work to make our world a safer place. We have a fantastic opportunity for a senior professional to lead strategy, customer engagement, and Business Development in our growing National Security Space (NSS) business. Our ideal candidate has extensive experience in the NSS community (in Government and/or Industry), is familiar with Government acquisition practices, and has insight into NSS missions and priorities. Effective communication and common sense are essential, with technical knowledge or engineering background and insight into Defense and National Intelligence stakeholders highly desired. Our size and specialization drives us to have a small, integrated Business Development team that is thoroughly incorporated into strategic planning, decision making, and new business capture. To succeed on this team, you must be adaptable, innovative, resourceful, and able to comprehend and condense complex information streams to communicate them with company leadership, while working effectively across the DMT enterprise to define and execute long-term strategies and near-term capture actions. Position Overview: Working closely with the VP of Strategy and Customer Development and other members of leadership, you will predict future market needs and guide the business to best align resources, opportunities, and actions for near-term performance and sustained growth, while driving Business Development identification and business capture activities for our NSS portfolio. This position combines external relationship management with internal-focused, hands-on activities. These actions all supporting new business capture and leading efforts to define and execute growth strategies. Overall success requires customer-focused and collaborative leadership qualities complimented with the ability to support sound technical judgements. Responsibilities: * Work directly with business leadership to define and implement strategies aligned with business goals and objectives.
* Support and conduct direct engagement with key government and industry customers, including engagements with executive branch agencies and Congressional staff to understand mission needs and program imperatives.
* Collaborate across programs and pursuits to lead identification and support execution of NSS campaigns and strategies to capture new opportunities.
* Lead and direct the pursuit of new business opportunities with a variety of defense and intelligence customers.
* Effect successful strategies in partnership with business leads and cross-functional teams to define and execute capture strategies to produce solutions that meet customer mission needs.
* Lead and support preparation of responses to customer opportunities, including white papers, proposals, rough order of magnitude estimates, and responses to requests for information.
* Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the business areas and across the business by interacting with others in a positive and productive work environment.
* Be embedded with the team to maximize effectiveness, business decisions, and guidance. Experience Required: * Customer mission understanding and focus.
* Insights into competitive forces and ability to make solid, effective judgements based on connection of disjointed information.
* Ability to identify key growth areas and develop new business aligned with the company’s growth strategies.
* Experience on new business capture activities in aerospace or related industry for defense and intelligence customers.
* Leadership experience organizing and executing all aspects of business development and capture, planning and execution.
* Proven ability to collaborate within and across organizational boundaries.
* Excellent presentation skills to technical and non-technical audiences.
* Strong written communication and proposal writing skills.
* Strong programmatic background within classified environments for government or industry.
* Business acumen and understanding of financial levers.
* Travel visiting acquisition officials, oversight authorities, customers, end users.
* Current TS//SCI clearance or ability to attain TS//SCI clearance is a necessity.
* BS/BA in a relevant technical field plus 10 years or more related experience. The position is located onsite at our facility in Danbury, CT. Generous relocation provided! Located in beautiful Fairfield County, Danbury offers a diverse economy, wonderful parks, cultural attractions, an impressive mix of private and public educational institutions and a vibrant arts scene. Our facility is nestled among a remarkable selection of communities to call home all with varying price points to fit many different budgets. We’re close to New York City, Boston, and other major cities – great for day trips and weekend getaways. Our lovely seasons along with award-winning institutions, colleges, cultural events, and a genuine sense of community brings a diverse population to the beautiful state of Connecticut! Collaborating with world class experts, you will have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions in fulfillment of our customers’ requirements. We believe in our mission, and we believe in supporting our employees. We offer policies and programs that provide opportunities for continual learning, career growth and work/life balance along with a full suite of health and welfare benefits. Employment with any of the ARKA Group companies in the US is contingent upon satisfactory completion of several pre-employment requirements to include a credit check, background check and drug screen. Position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance. For your information, here is the form the government requires to begin the process of obtaining a clearance: https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf86.pdf Due to contract requirements, US citizenship is required. Additionally, if you are a dual citizen (a citizen of the US and another country), the Company must obtain approval for you to have access to the information required for this position. You will not be able to begin employment until such approval is obtained and this may take several months. No visa sponsorship is available for this position. ARKA Group L.P. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.