Interim VP, Business Development

Employment Type: Interim / Contract Executive Engagement (immediate start) Location: Southern California on-site / hybrid with national travel to customer programs Reports To: Chief Executive Officer Compensation: Competitive interim executive day-rate / engagement fee; performance components available

Value Driven Solutions is retained by a PE-backed precision machining and large-structures manufacturer serving aerospace & defense primes and tier-1 suppliers. The business runs large capital-intensive machining centers and is positioned to capture long-cycle structural programs.

We are seeking an interim commercial rainmaker a senior business development leader who can move fast to build qualified backlog win design-in positions on long-cycle programs and keep high-value machine capacity loaded. This is a hands-on hunter-oriented engagement reporting directly to the CEO with real influence over pipeline strategy and deal structure.

• Asset-loading growth (priority). Treat spindle hours and machine-center utilization as the north star. Pursue work that keeps large capital-intensive centers loaded not just PO count or raw volume.
• Long-cycle program capture (priority). Position the business early at the requirements and make-vs-buy stage to be designed into programs where large structures are specified.
• Targeted hunting in the right grounds (priority). Work the primes and tier-1s that consume large precision structures leveraging trusted access into the relevant programs and supply-chain organizations.
• Displacement & market take (priority). Monitor competitor exits capacity gaps and at-risk programs; run qualification campaigns to win second-source positions.
• Backlog building. Own a backlog-and-loading report tied to the capacity curve. Qualify hard pursue only what fits the work envelope technology roadmap and cash profile.
• Risk-based deal shaping. Structure commercial terms progress/milestone billing material pass-through cancellation protection escalation to protect margin and cash on long-cycle work.

• Large-envelope technical fluency (priority). Ability to speak credibly to work envelope single-setup capability on large parts fixturing large-part metrology and material behavior.
• A proven hunter commercial / business development track record in precision machining large-part fabrication or complex aerospace & defense structures measured in captured programs and backlog not relationships alone.
• An active trusted network across aerospace & defense primes and tier-1s with genuine access into live programs and supply-chain organizations.
• Command of long-cycle commercial structures and working-capital / risk-based deal shaping.
• Comfort operating with urgency in a PE-backed environment and reporting directly to the CEO.
• US Person status required (ITAR-controlled work).

• Interim / contract executive engagement with immediate start; duration scoped to the capture campaign.
• On-site / hybrid in Southern California with national travel to customer sites and programs.
• Confidential NDA required. Client and platform identity disclosed to qualified shortlisted candidates.

Value Driven Solutions is a premium talent and advisory partner serving the industrial and manufacturing sectors. We connect organizations with the precise expertise they need from interim leadership and specialized operators to subject matter experts supporting time-sensitive strategic initiatives.