Director, Business Development – USN​/USMC

Director, Business Development – USN/USMC

Title: Director, Business Development — U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps

Company: Heven Aero Tech

Location: Washington, DC metro area (hybrid); frequent CONUS travel, including Hampton Roads, Quantico, and Patuxent River

FLSA: Exempt

Reports To: Chief Growth Officer

At Heven Aero Tech (Heven), we don’t just believe in the power of people—we build our success on it. As a recognized leader in hydrogen‑powered drones, we’ve earned recognition for creating a workplace where innovation thrives, collaboration is second nature, and every employee feels valued. Our culture is anchored in trust and a shared commitment to excellence.

We believe great teams are built on individuals who are humble, hungry, and smart
—those who put team success first, take initiative to continuously improve, and demonstrate strong interpersonal awareness. At Heven, your voice matters, your ideas are heard, and your contributions make a tangible impact as you grow through hands‑on experience and collaboration across the team.

Heven Aero Tech is seeking a Director of Business Development to own and grow our pursuit strategy across the Department of the Navy — United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC). This individual will be responsible for building a qualified pipeline, shaping requirements ahead of formal solicitations, and converting early‑stage engagements such as Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) and prototype efforts into programs of record and sustained production contracts.

The role requires a demonstrated track record of navigating Navy and Marine Corps acquisition, budget, and requirements processes, along with the credibility and network to open doors at the right level.

• Own the USN/USMC business development strategy and pipeline, from opportunity identification through capture, proposal support, and award
• Build and convert a pathway from OTA and prototype efforts into programs of record, including transition planning, milestone documentation, and stakeholder alignment required for gate‑shift decisions
• Develop and maintain relationships with Program Executive Offices (PEO Unmanned and Small Combatants, PEO C4I, PEO LCS, PMA offices within NAVAIR) and Marine Corps equivalents (PEO Land Systems, MCSC, Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration)
• Identify and engage budget holders and resource sponsors (OPNAV N9/N2N6, HQMC Programs and Resources) to understand funding lines, POM cycles, and budget insertion timing windows
• Track and influence requirements generation through engagement with Navy and Marine Corps requirements officers, warfare centers (NUWC, NAWC, NSWC), and operational user communities
• Map and pursue relevant contract vehicles, including NavalX and DIU OTAs, SBIR/STTR transition pathways, and Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) prototyping efforts
• Lead or support customer call plans, Gate reviews, and capture strategy development in coordination with the growth team and executive leadership
• Represent Heven Aero Tech at Navy and Marine Corps‑focused industry days, conferences, and Fleet/MEF engagements, including events tied to INDOPACOM priorities
• Aggressively pursue opportunities to shape procurements and requirements ahead of formal competition — live and virtual demonstrations, white papers, consortium participation (e.g., IWRP, S²MARTS), trade shows, and government relations engagement
• Partner with Engineering, Product Development, and Program Management to ensure customer requirements and operational feedback inform the product roadmap
• Provide accurate, timely pipeline reporting and forecasting inputs consistent with the company‑wide BD operating rhythm

Required:

• 10+ years of business development, capture, or program experience supporting Department of the Navy customers, with a track record of driving wins
• Demonstrated success growing an early‑stage effort (OTA, prototype, SBIR) into a program of record or major program of record funding line
• Working knowledge of Navy and Marine Corps acquisition processes, including the roles of PEOs,…