Head Of Defense Growth (Defense)

TL;DR

Head of Defense Growth (Defense): Leading the public sector and Department of War growth strategy for a venture builder, translating national security problems into scalable companies with an accent on venture creation and federal scale-up. Focus on "left-of-bang" shaping, architecting creative acquisition solutions, and building a repeatable federal growth engine to scale capabilities for the warfighter.

Location: Must be based in the Washington, DC metro area, be willing to relocate, or be located in the Continental U.S.

Salary: $250,000–$280,000

Company

A venture builder incubating technology-led companies in healthcare, cyber, and national security to solve the Nation’s most pressing problems.

What you will do

• Define and operationalize the public sector and Department of War (DoW) growth strategy across priority missions and agencies.
• Lead "left-of-bang" shaping with mission owners, program offices, and acquisition stakeholders before solicitations are issued.
• Architect creative solutions by leveraging capabilities from multiple portfolio companies to accelerate adoption.
• Build and run a scalable BD → Capture → Close growth engine that portfolio companies can utilize.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-ownership growth team spanning BD, capture, proposals, and contracts.

Requirements

• 12–20+ years of private sector experience selling to the public sector, including executive leadership in BD or federal sales.
• Proven track record of capturing $100M+ in cumulative contract value.
• Deep expertise in FAR/DFARS, OTAs, IDIQs, and innovation mechanisms such as SBIR/STTR.
• Established credibility and network with DoW stakeholders, including PEOs, PAEs, and Combatant Commands.
• Active U.S. security clearance or ability and willingness to obtain one.
• Strong preference for the Washington, DC metro area or willingness to relocate.

Nice to have

• Experience scaling technically complex capabilities such as AI/data systems, cyber, EW, autonomy, or mission-critical infrastructure.

Culture & Benefits

• 100% employer-paid comprehensive healthcare including medical, dental, and vision for employees and their families.
• 14 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave at normal pay.
• Unlimited PTO with management approval.
• Optional 401K, FSA, and equity incentives.
• Mental health benefits via Tara Mind and cost-effective GLP-1 solutions via Crux.