Director, Business Development - Europe

The role

Lead business development for Foreign Military Sales and Direct Commercial Sales across Europe. Own the regional pipeline, country engagement plans, and relationships with partner-nation defense ministries and U.S. interagency partners, with a focus on RUSTY DAGGER and WHITE SPIKE.

What you will do

• Identify, qualify and develop FMS and DCS opportunities for RUSTY DAGGER, WHITE SPIKE, PEACEMAKER and ECLIPSE across European nations.
• Build and sustain the opportunity pipeline from country engagement through LOR for P&A and LOR for LOA.
• Develop country-level engagement plans aligned with partner-nation budgets and U.S. security cooperation priorities.
• Establish and maintain senior relationships with partner-nation Ministries of Defence and armaments agencies.
• Serve as primary advocate within U.S. interagency bodies such as DoS, DSCA and OUSW(P).
• Engage NATO bodies on multinational procurement and framework opportunities.
• Provide leadership with market intelligence on European budgets, procurement priorities and competitor activity.
• Partner with capture, proposal, contracts, legal and trade compliance teams.
• Represent the company at key defense exhibitions and bilateral forums in Europe.
• Conduct all engagement in strict compliance with ITAR, EAR, AECA, FCPA and OFAC.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in International Relations, Political Science, Business, Engineering or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in defense business development, security cooperation or government service supporting FMS or DCS, including at least one director-level or equivalent
• Demonstrable experience with and network within partner nations, not only U.S. agencies or commands.
• Demonstrated expertise across the FMS life cycle and the DCS licensing process.
• Established relationships with DoS, DSCA and OUSW(P) personnel at working and senior levels.
• Proven ability to build trust with senior officials in European Ministries of Defence and armaments agencies.
• Working knowledge of NATO capability development, the NATO Defence Planning Process, ESSI and allied weapons certification roadmaps.
• Experience operating in or alongside foreign embassies, defense attachés and in-country SCOs.
• Exceptional writing skills; writing samples will be requested.
• Ability to work across the priority countries listed in the posting.
• Working knowledge of and adherence to ITAR, EAR, AECA, FCPA and OFAC; no history of export compliance violations.
• Active U.S. Secret clearance required.

Nice to have

• Prior U.S. military, Foreign Area Officer, DoS Foreign Service or DSCA service in roles supporting European security cooperation.
• Prior assignment on a NATO staff, at EUCOM, or in an in-country ODC or SCO.
• Professional proficiency in one or more European languages.
• Prior experience living or working abroad in Europe.
• Existing relationships with named European armaments agencies.
• Experience with industrial participation, offset and co-production arrangements.
• Operational military experience with precision strike, UAS or counter-UAS systems is strongly desired.
• Direct experience managing high-value FMS cases greater than $100M.
• Familiarity with U.S. arms transfer policy, CAT policy, AECA Section 3 and SAMM.
• Experience with DCS structures complementary to FMS, including hybrid cases.

Benefits

• Competitive total compensation package.
• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance options, and more.
• 401k with company match.
• 3 weeks of paid time off each year.
• 40 hours of sick time.
• 12 annual company holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• Innovative environment working on cutting-edge defense and aerospace technology.

Before you apply

• U.S. citizenship is required for clearance eligibility and access to ITAR-controlled technical data.
• An active U.S. Secret clearance is required.
• Writing samples will be requested.
• All hires must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States through E-Verify.

About the company

Zone 5 Technologies develops precision weapons, interceptors and unmanned aircraft systems for the United States and its allies. The company is a federal contractor.