Mission Director - Navy/Marine Corps
This position offers a base salary of $145,000 - $185,000. (Total on-target earnings of $290,000 to $370,000)
Role Description:
The Mission Director is a quota-carrying, full-lifecycle business owner responsible for identifying, shaping, closing, and executing new business within the Navy or Marine Corps.
You will build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes (our customers), identify meaningful problems, shape solutions using Defense Unicorns products, and lead opportunities from initial discovery through contract award. Once awarded, you will remain accountable for the contract throughout its lifecycle, including cost, schedule, performance, staffing, margin, and customer satisfaction.
This role is designed for someone who wants broad ownership. As the portfolio grows in size and complexity, Mission Directors will increasingly lead through program managers and delivery leaders while retaining accountability for portfolio outcomes.
Responsibilities:
The listed responsibilities are not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be assigned based on the evolving needs of the organization. We are seeking a dynamic individual who is able to adapt and take on new responsibilities as they arise.
1. Build the Business
Identify and develop net-new Navy and Marine Corps opportunities and build trusted relationships with Mission Heroes and key stakeholders.
Own a quota and grow a diversified portfolio of business.
2. Shape and Close Opportunities
Define customer problems, scope, and desired outcomes to shape solutions using Defense Unicorns products and the right acquisition approach.
Lead opportunities through proposal, negotiation, and contract award.
3. Own Contract Execution
Serve as the program leader for new contracts you close, with direct responsibility for execution until the portfolio reaches the scale where additional program management support is warranted.
Manage delivery risks, scope changes, and mission outcomes.
4. Build and Lead the Team
Define and build the team required to execute each contract. Personally lead contract execution and, as the portfolio grows, lead program managers and other delivery leaders across the portfolio.
5. Grow the Portfolio
Maintain an active pipeline and continue developing new opportunities while executing existing contracts by identifying follow-on work, expansions, and adjacent opportunities.
Own customer retention, portfolio growth, and gross margin.
Grow from individual contract ownership into a broader portfolio leadership role.
Preferred Experience and Qualifications:
Experience within the Navy, Marine Corps, or a closely related defense environment.
Strong understanding of the culture, mission, stakeholders, and terminology within the domain you support.
Experience in one or more of the following: military operations, government program management, acquisition, contracting, business development, or defense industry program leadership.
Working knowledge of federal acquisition, including contract vehicles, acquisition strategies, and contract negotiations.
Strong commercial judgment and comfort owning revenue-generating activities.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and hold accountability for outcomes.
Willingness to operate across business development, contracting, staffing, and execution, personally driving critical work while building and leading the teams required to scale.
Comfortable operating with ambiguity, identifying opportunities, and creating a path forward without a predefined playbook.
Technical fluency sufficient to understand and communicate Defense Unicorns products, cloud-native technologies, DevSecOps, Kubernetes, and modern software delivery concepts.
Candidates located near major Navy and Marine Corps hubs, including San Diego, Norfolk, Washington, D.C., Charleston, Patuxent River, and Quantico, are preferred.
Ability to travel approximately 25-40%.