Business Development Director – SOCOM, CENTCOM

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Florida.

📋 Description

• Develop and implement Firestorm’s growth strategy for SOCOM and CENTCOM accounts.

• Identify, assess, and secure contested logistics and sUAS opportunities throughout the RFI/RFP, proposal, and award processes.

• Manage pipeline integrity, formulate win strategies, conduct gate reviews, and provide bid/no-bid recommendations.

• Cultivate trustworthy relationships with operators, program managers, acquisition leaders, and senior personnel.

• Participate in demonstrations, exercises, AARs, and interactions with warfighters at MacDill and other forward locations.

• Convert mission deficiencies into capability briefs, white papers, and demonstration concepts tailored for engineering and product teams.

• Propel opportunities through SOFWERX, SOCOM Vulcan, DIU, AFWERX, OTAs, CSOs, and conventional FAR-based channels.

• Collaborate with contracts and finance teams to devise executable agreements.

• Establish partnerships with primes, non-traditional firms, and integrators.

• Represent Firestorm at SOF Week, AUSA, AFA, NDIA, and other customer-oriented industry events.

• Uphold CRM standards and provide precise forecasts.

• Present updates to the VP of BD and executive team regarding pipeline status, risks, and competitive insights.

• Compose executive communications, proposals, capability briefs, white papers, and talking points.

• Execute additional duties as necessary.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or a related field.

• U.S. Citizenship is mandatory due to ITAR regulations.

• Active Secret Clearance (SC) with the capability to acquire a Top Secret (TS) Clearance.

• Over 5 years of experience in business development, capture, and/or program management within the defense sector, or equivalent military/civilian experience in acquisition, requirements, and/or operations for SOCOM and/or CENTCOM.

• Familiarity with Combatant Commands, their components, key stakeholders, and budget cycles concerning SOF and CENTCOM clients.

• Proven track record of advancing opportunities from lead to funded contracts, including non-traditional avenues like OTAs, CSOs, SOFWERX, DIU, AFWERX, and rapid prototyping.

• Working knowledge of contested logistics, sUAS, autonomy, and relevant capability areas.

• Proactive attitude, adaptability to ambiguity, and the ability to work independently in a startup atmosphere.

• Previous service in SOF, Army Aviation, USMC, USAF, or Navy with operational experience in the CENTCOM AOR is preferred.

• Pre-existing relationships with SOCOM PEO-SOF Warrior, PEO-Fixed Wing, PEO-Rotary Wing, SOF AT&L, or CENTCOM J-codes are advantageous.

• Practical knowledge of sUAS deployment, Group 1–3 platforms, or contested/expeditionary logistics concepts is preferred.

• Experience establishing a new account from the ground up within a growth-stage defense company is favorable.

• MBA, M.S., or relevant graduate-level education in defense/policy is preferred.

• Willingness and capability to travel approximately 30–50%, including occasional OCONUS travel to forward-deployed clients.

🏝️ Benefits

• Meaningful equity grant in a growth-stage defense technology company.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan.

• Equity grants available for new hires.

• Unlimited paid time off (PTO).

• Generous company holiday schedule, including holiday breaks in July & December.

• Generous parental leave policy.

• Lifestyle Spending Account.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA).

• Health Savings Account (HSA).

• Hospital Indemnity insurance.

• Critical Illness insurance.

• Accident insurance.

• Basic Life/AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, fully covered by Firestorm.

• Option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.

• Access to free mental health resources 24/7, including therapy and more.

• Free legal and financial support work-life services.

• Relocation assistance may be included in the offer package.

• Opportunities for career advancement.