Senior Director, Business Development; Defense

Senior Director, Business Development (Defense)

Arlington, VA

Position Title: Senior Director, Business Development (Defense)

Location: Arlington, VA (Crystal City)

Category: Funded

Schedule (FT/PT): FT

Travel Required: 25%

Shift: Day

Clearance required: Secret / TS Eligible Preferred

Division: Growth

Salary: $200,000 - $230,000 - Plus generous cash incentive plan (GIP), and participation in LTIP & ESOP

ACT1 Federal seeks a strategic, execution‑focused Senior Director of Business Development to lead growth initiatives across the Defense markets. This individual will identify, qualify, shape, capture, and help win strategically aligned opportunities supporting ACT1’s long‑term growth objectives.

The successful candidate must be able to shape opportunities pre‑RFP, build trusted customer relationships, execute disciplined capture processes, and maintain a strategic teaming ecosystem.

This position reports to the CEO and works collaboratively with leadership, operations, pricing, contracts and proposal team.

• Execute strategic growth initiatives across targeted DoD markets.
• Maintain a qualified pipeline aligned with ACT1’s strategic growth objectives.
• Identify and shape opportunities in acquisition support, program management, financial management, engineering, logistics and FMS/security cooperation.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with government officials, acquisition leaders, program offices, and industry partners.
• Lead capture efforts, including competitive assessments, customer engagement, teaming, and win themes.
• Contribute to the development of compliant, compelling, and differentiated proposals.
• Collaborate with Operations to align growth strategies and execution capabilities.
• Represent ACT1 at industry events, conferences, and executive forums.

The successful candidate’s mission is to help ACT1 become a premier mid‑sized defense services firm by expanding in USAF Space, Security Cooperation, and AI‑enabled mission support portfolio.

• 10+ years of Federal business development, capture, or strategic growth supporting Defense or the Intelligence Community, demonstrated success winning competitive Federal opportunities.
• Proven experience shaping opportunities pre‑RFP and influencing acquisition environments.
• Understanding of FAR/DFARS, Federal acquisition lifecycle, and Defense procurement processes.
• Experience supporting organizations such as USAF, USN (NAVAIR or NAVSEA), USSF, SSC, OSD, DSCA, or Combatant Commands.
• Demonstrated ability to build customer and industry relationships.
• Experience leading pursuits greater than $25M total contract value.
• Strong communication and briefing skills.

• Prior military service or direct experience supporting Defense acquisition organizations.
• Experience supporting Security Cooperation/FMS environments.
• Knowledge of major contract vehicles such as OASIS+, GSA MAS, Sea Port NXTG, etc.
• Familiarity with Shipleymethod.
• Familiarity with OTAs, AI‑enabled service delivery, engineering, or unmanned aerial systems.

The ideal candidate demonstrates high integrity, strategic thinking, disciplined execution, collaborative nature, operational credibility, and the ability to operate within a lean‑growth team. The successful candidate must be capable of building trust with customers, partners, and internal teams.

Why experienced growth leaders join ACT1:

• Direct access to the CEO and executive leadership.
• Ability to shape company strategy, not just individual pursuits.
• Established reputation with Exceptional CPARS across prime contracts.
• Existing portfolio provides significant recompete and expansion opportunities.
• Learn organization where decisions happen quickly.
• 100% employee ownership (ESOP).
• Opportunity to build a business beyond simply managing a pipeline.
• ACT1 Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Company Paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Company Paid Short‑Term Disability
• Voluntary Long‑Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• 401K with employer match
• Paid Time Off
• Paid Holidays
• Military Leave
• Education, Training & Professional Development
• Voluntary Accidental Injury/Critical Illness/Hospital Care
• Voluntary Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, and Identity Protection

Remote or hybrid positions require periodic work from a ACT1 Federal or client site facility. Onsite roles require in‑person collaboration as needed.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.