Senior Director, Business Development - Civil & Commercial

Rocket Lab’s Business Development team is responsible for connecting customers across government and commercial sectors with our industry leading mission solutions spanning launch and space systems. They work closely with new and existing customers to understand their needs and develop tailored solutions to deliver ...

SENIOR DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – CIVIL & COMMERCIAL

Based at Rocket Lab's headquarters in Long Beach, CA, as the Senior Director, Business Development, you will drive Rocket Lab’s growth in the satellite market. You will work with a range of customers, but primarily focused on civil and commercial opportunities such as government civil space agencies, research instit...

Lead business development initiatives focused on satellite solutions for civil and commercial applications
Develop and execute capture strategies for securing large commercial or civil space contracts,
Engage with key customer stakeholders to build and maintain long-term relationships, ensuring Rocket Lab’s solutions align with their evolving needs
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to prepare and deliver compelling proposals that meet customer requirements and win new business
Monitor industry trends and competitor activities to inform and adapt our business development strategies
Grow existing business opportunities and nurture relationships with existing customers to develop additional business opportunities
Create new business opportunities and relationships by presenting Rocket Lab’s capabilities/experience to provide satellite solutions – including bus offerings and complete satellites to meet mission requirements
Lead and/or participate in proposal activities, including generation of technical, management, cost, schedule, and proposal content for new business
Develop strong relationships across all levels of the business to ensure alignment, efficiency, and collaboration, including coordinating with stakeholders
Represent Rocket Lab at industry conferences and customer meetings
Travel as needed for business opportunities
Other duties as assigned or required

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or other technical discipline
15+ years of experience in business development, program management, or systems engineering within the aerospace sector
In-depth knowledge of commercial acquisition processes, government contracting, and the commercial space landscape
Proven track record of securing large (>$20M) contracts and managing strategic relationships within the aerospace industry
Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance
Ability to support frequent domestic and international travel (up to 50%) to meet with clients, attend industry events, and support capture efforts
Master’s degree in aerospace engineering or related engineering field; or business
Specialization in civil and commercial business development
Demonstrable record of success in business development, sales, program management and/or engineering of satellite systems, payloads, or platforms
Extensive awareness of current/ongoing commercial space satellite programs
Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
Experience leading, managing, and growing geographically dispersed teams on fast-paced projects
Proficient in all Microsoft Suite products, including MS Project
General knowledge of industry specific technical requirements and quality requirements
Experience using customer relationship management (CRM) software
Experience with proposal development, writing, and best practice capture processes, and ability to independently complete cost and technical proposals
Experience working with subject matter experts to collect and create compelling proposal content and detailed responses

Citizenship of AU / NZ / EU / NATO