Account Manager

Location: Crane
Title:

Account Manager

K 's Mission Engineering Division partners with the U.S. Navy and Joint Forces to address their most complex and time-sensitive operational challenges. Our teams integrate mission engineering, rapid prototyping, and digital transformation to accelerate the delivery of decisive capabilities that strengthen the Nation's defense posture.

Through our focused collaboration with NSWC Crane Division, we align our efforts with the Division's strategic vision and evolving mission priorities to advance innovation across critical technology domains. Through close collaboration with the Naval

X Midwest Tech Bridge, West Gate@Crane Technology Park, the Applied Research Institute (ARI), and the Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG), we help connect the region's innovation ecosystem with K 's global engineering and integration expertise - turning emerging technologies into operational advantage.

The Account Manager will play a pivotal role in driving strategic growth and mission alignment for K 's Mission Engineering Division, leading engagement and capture efforts focused on NSWC Crane Division and its regional innovation ecosystem. This leader will identify, shape, and secure opportunities that advance Crane's priorities, develop and execute integrated account strategies, and expand K 's presence across Crane's technical organizations and technology transition initiatives.

Serving as a trusted connector and advocate, the Account Manager will bridge NSWC Crane's mission objectives with K 's engineering, prototyping, and digital-integration capabilities. Success in this role requires close collaboration with Crane leadership, regional innovation partners, and internal K  technical, capture, and operations teams to deliver timely, mission-ready solutions that enhance the Navy's and Joint Force's operational advantage.

This position requires a minimum of 25 % travel.

Roles and Responsibilities

* Serve as the voice of the customer:
Act as the primary liaison between NSWC Crane and K 's internal teams, ensuring Crane's mission needs and priorities are fully represented in K 's engineering and capture strategies.

* Engage the regional innovation ecosystem:
Build and sustain relationships with organizations that drive Crane's innovation mission - including the Naval

X Midwest Tech Bridge, West Gate@Crane Technology Park, the Applied Research Institute (ARI), and the Crane Regional Defense Group (CRDG) - to strengthen collaboration and accelerate technology transition.

* Shape and capture opportunities:
Identify, shape, and pursue opportunities under Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) such as S²MARTS, EMC², and LEAN Power, as well as through traditional NAVSEA contracting authorities.

* Promote innovation and prototyping:
Support the development of white papers, CSOs, and technology demonstrations that advance K 's role as a rapid problem-solving partner to Crane.

* Maintain an internal engagement plan:
Track leadership changes, organizational shifts, and department-level focus areas across Crane's expanding structure; ensure contact management, visit schedules, and engagement reporting are current.

* Engage NSWC Crane leadership:
Proactively engage senior leaders across NSWC Crane to validate priorities, refine problem statements, and shape opportunities and prototypes aligned to the Division's evolving needs.

* Coordinate K  internal alignment:
Translate NSWC Crane leadership guidance into concrete actions - synchronizing K 's investments, R&D activities, and technical capabilities with capture and delivery plans.

* Develop and execute account strategy:
Create customer-specific plans that integrate business development, engineering, and operations to deliver a consistent message and measurable results.

* Lead market awareness efforts:
Coordinate with industry and consortium members to gather insight on upcoming acquisition strategies, program timing, and contracting pathways.

* Assess customer trends:
Provide senior leadership with 3-5-year horizon analysis on customer direction, technology priorities, and partnership opportunities to inform capture campaigns.

* Monitor and strengthen performance:
Conduct customer assessments on current contract and task performance, ensuring internal teams maintain responsiveness, quality, and customer trust.

* Achieve measurable outcomes:
Drive growth in pipeline quality, awards, and partnerships that advance K 's NSWC Crane account objectives and Mission Engineering Division growth targets.

Basic Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in a technical, business, or related discipline.

* Minimum of 10 years of experience supporting the Department of Defense or U.S. Navy; direct experience with NSWC Crane Division or other NSWC divisions strongly preferred.

* Demonstrated understanding of government acquisition processes, OTAs, and NAVSEA contracting authorities.

* Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with government, industry, and academic partners across complex organizations.

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