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Business Development Director, Sr.

AeroVironment


Job Location:

Pottstown, PA - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 152000 - 243250
Posted: 22 July 2026 (30+ days ago)
Application Deadline: 19 October 2026
Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Worker Type

Regular


Job Description

Summary

The Senior Director International Business Development is responsible for driving internationalbookingsgrowth by identifying qualifying capturing and closing high-value business opportunities that achieve AeroVironments annual bookings objectives. This role focuses on accelerating near-term business opportunities while simultaneously developing targeted capture strategies for strategically important pursuits.

Working in partnership with senior Business Development leadership Product Line General Managers (PLGMs) Program Management Engineering Contracts and other cross-functional teams the Senior Director develops and executes customer engagement and capture strategies that position AeroVironment for contract awards. Success in this role requires building trusted relationships with senior government military and industry leaders understanding customer requirements and procurement priorities and translating opportunities into executable capture plans that deliver measurable business results.

Position Responsibilities

  • Own the identification qualification capture and successful closure of international business opportunities that achieve annual bookings and revenue objectives.

  • Develop and execute aggressive capture strategies focused on converting qualified opportunities into contract awards within established planning horizons.

  • Identify prioritize and drive high-probability opportunities through the business development lifecycle ensuring disciplined pipeline management and forecast accuracy.

  • Partner with Product Line General Managers Engineering Contracts Finance Operations and executive leadership to align resources and develop winning customer solutions.

  • Lead customer engagement activities throughout the sales cycle from opportunity identification through contract award.

  • Develop customer-specific win strategies based on operational requirements competitive positioning acquisition strategies and customer priorities.

  • Identify and develop strategic partnerships distributors resellers and industry relationships that improve market access and increase the probability of near-term business success.

  • Provide market intelligence and strategic insight by:

  • Identifying emerging customer requirements and procurement opportunities.

  • Monitoring competitor activities and market dynamics.

  • Assessing acquisition strategies funding sources and procurement timelines.

  • Evaluating the impact of U.S. Government policies export regulations and geopolitical developments on current opportunities.

  • Identifying key influencers and decision-makers to shape customer requirements toward AeroVironment solutions.

  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior military government industry and acquisition leaders to accelerate opportunity development and contract awards.

  • Maintain a disciplined opportunity pipeline with accurate forecasting regular status reporting and clear capture priorities aligned with annual operating objectives.

  • Represent AeroVironment at customer engagements industry conferences trade shows demonstrations and executive meetings.

  • Utilize Salesforce CRM to maintain opportunity data forecasts customer engagement activities and capture plans.

Basic Qualification (Required Skills & Experience

  • Minimum of 15 years of international business development capture management or defense industry experience with a demonstrated record of consistently achieving or exceeding annual bookings and sales objectives.

  • Proven success identifying qualifying capturing negotiating and closing complex international defense opportunities.

  • Strong understanding of international defense procurement processes acquisition organizations and government decision-making.

  • Demonstrated experience engaging senior military government and industry leaders at the General/Flag Officer Senior Executive Service (SES) Ministerial or equivalent executive level.

  • Demonstrated success developing winning proposals and executing capture strategies for both Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Direct Commercial Sales (DCS).

  • Experience with export compliance requirements including ITAR EAR and related U.S. Government approval processes.

  • Strong understanding of defense and security market dynamics customer operational requirements and procurement priorities across international markets.

  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex pursuits simultaneously while maintaining accurate forecasts and delivering near-term results.

  • Ability to operate in strict compliance withFCPA regulationswheninterfacing with pertinent foreign and US government channels in areas of operation

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

  • Masters degree in international relationsor foreign policy is a plus

  • Experience working with or around defense technology (e.g. UAS electronic warfare C-UAS)

  • Strongcommunications negotiation strategic planning and interpersonal skills

  • Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams

  • Able to excel in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment

  • Displays strong initiative and drive to accomplish goals and meet company objectives

  • Takes ownership and responsibility for assigned tasks

Physical Demands

  • Ability to work in an office environment as well as in the field with customers (Constant)

  • Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk hear and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Constant)

Special Requirements

  • U.S. Citizenship

  • Active US SECRET clearance preferred

  • Able and willing to travel both inside the US and outside the US at least 50% of time

  • Computer skills with proficiency in MS Office (Word PowerPoint Excel Outlook)and Salesforce

  • Must have a valid drivers license and clean DMV record


Clearance Level

Secret

The salary range for this role is:

$152000 - $243250

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer including but not limited to the location the role and associated responsibilities a candidates work experience education/training and key skills.

ITAR Requirement:

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironments determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironments business requirements. A U.S. person according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder) or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical dental vision 401K with company matching a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us.

Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.

About AV:

AV isnt for everyone. We hire the curious the relentless the mission-obsessed. The best of the best.

We dont just build defense technologywe redefine whats possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S. AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air land sea space and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve.

Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonianbut were not building history were building whats next.

If youre ready to build technology that matterswith speed scale and purposetheres no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer including disability/veterans. AeroVironment Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race sex color religion national origin age disability protected veteran status genetic datasexual orientation gender identity or other legally protected status.

ITAR

U.S. Citizenship required

Required Experience:

Director


About Company

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AV is a leading manufacturer of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Loitering Munition Systems, Unmanned Ground Vehicles used for surveillance and reconnaissance by the United States Military, U.S. allies and Commercial Industries. AV also manufactures High-Altitude P ... View more

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