Business Segment Director

Business Segment Director, Defense

Lead the strategic growth, market expansion, and execution of STELIA’s defense business segment. Drive business development initiatives, strengthen customer relationships, identify new opportunities, and ensure financial success across both new and existing programs. Serve as a senior leader for Program Management and Business Development within the segment and align segment performance with organizational goals.

• Business Development
  • Responsible for Business Segment strategy aligned with overall STELIA strategy.
  • Develop and execute business development and capture strategies targeting aerospace, defense and space opportunities.
  • Lead segment customer interfaces, strategic relationships, and industry partnerships with government stakeholders, OEMs, and contractors.
  • Responsible for business/competitor intelligence, market analysis, and monitoring procurement and regulatory trends.
  • Identify, assess, and qualify new opportunities including RFPs, RFIs, and RFQs.
  • Lead bid/no-bid decisions, capture strategy, proposal development, and bid/quote execution in collaboration with Program Managers and cross-functional teams.
  • Accountable for Business Segment revenue growth including in-year and Flight Plan (5y) sales forecasts.
  • Lead negotiations for new contracts, contract changes, and strategic agreements.
  • Represent the organization at industry events, trade shows, customer meetings, and defense-related forums.
  • Support identification and pursuit of government funding, grants, and innovation opportunities.
• Program Delivery and Customer Service
  • Accountable leader for segment financial performance including orders, revenue, profit, cash flow, and customer delivery performance.
  • Foster close collaboration with Program Managers and cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, supply chain, quality and finance) to ensure alignment and successful execution.
  • Lead operational and commercial coordination across programs to ensure successful execution and customer satisfaction.
  • Lead and support defense development and production programs across the full program lifecycle.
  • Ensure effective program governance through established lifecycle, gate, review, and reporting processes.
  • Lead business segment team activities, ensuring action identification, planning, execution, and issue resolution through Program Reviews and related meetings.
  • Responsible for proactive identification, escalation, and mitigation of program risks, performance issues, and recovery plans.
  • Serve as senior point of escalation for internal and external stakeholders, including customers and executive leadership.
  • Responsible for effective and timely internal and external program communications.
  • Typically act as Program Manager for select complex or early-phase programs within the portfolio.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Accountable for recommending and implementing business segment improvement initiatives and operational efficiencies.
  • Lead program remediation, recovery planning, and cost re-baselining initiatives as required.
  • Drive continuous improvement across program execution, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Formal Outputs
  • Program Segment Summary (program reviews & executive reporting).
  • Sales & New Business Forecasts (in-year and 5y).
  • Revenue, Profit, and Cash Flow O&R.
  • Capture plans, bid reviews, and formal Gate documentation.
  • Customer and business development pipeline reporting.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Marketing, or related field; MBA considered an asset.
• Extensive experience in Program / Project Management, Business Development, or customer-facing leadership roles within aerospace and defense.
• Proven success in capture management, proposal development, contract negotiation, and securing complex, high-value opportunities.
• Strong knowledge of government procurement and defense contracting processes is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to drive revenue growth, develop strategic customer relationships, and identify new business opportunities.
• Proven leadership and ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong financial, analytical,…