Director of Business Development

Title: Director of Business Development Status: Exempt (Administrative, Supervisory, Learned Professional (Engineer); Outside Salesperson)Reports to: CEORate of Pay: As Described in Offer LetterPlease Note: To conform with the United States Government Space Technology Export Regulations, the applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., conditional resident, asylee or refugee (protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.The Organization:Imagine combining the excitement of building something new with the confidence of joining a company that already knows how to win. As a globally established organization with a strong history of success abroad, we are expanding into the United States and forming a new division designed for growth, innovation, and long-term impact.Sodern America has come to Colorado! Backed by Sodern’s 60+ years of cutting-edge innovation as an internationally recognized space equipment manufacturer and leader in optronic systems including star trackers and space cameras, Sodern America will feature a production line and operations dedicated to the U.S. market to better serve its growing North American customer base and strengthen partnerships across the region.This is more than a job; it is a chance to be part of a founding team. You will help establish processes, shape culture, and influence strategy, all while supported by an experienced international parent company that has already demonstrated sustainable success. For those who thrive in dynamic environments and want to leave a tangible mark, this is a unique opportunity to build with purpose.The Position:The Director of Business Development is responsible for leading and executing the company’s U.S. revenue growth strategy through the development, management, and successful close of complex sales opportunities. This role owns the full sales lifecycle, from market development and prospect identification through contract negotiation and implementation, ensuring disciplined execution and sustainable revenue expansion.The Director of Business Development will exercise discretion and make decisions with significant independence. The Director of Business Development has some authority to hire and fire, and in other circumstances the Business Development Director’s recommendations will be given significant weight.The Director of Business Development will build, supervise, lead, and mentor a high-performing sales team while personally driving strategic customer engagements. This role serves as the primary commercial leader for the U.S. market and is accountable for establishing strong customer relationships, structuring competitive commercial proposals, and securing profitable agreements aligned with the company’s long-term objectives.The Director of Business Development will oversee customer relationships throughout the sales process and into implementation, partnering closely with a Mission Manager who will lead post-contract delivery. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, strong executive presence, negotiation expertise, and the ability to navigate complex, commercial sales environments.Essential Functions:

• Demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills and follow-through
• Communicate clearly and frequently with the CEO about activities, duties and developments
• Identify and create opportunities to originate and close upon Sodern America sales within the U.S. market
• Develop and execute annual and multi-year sales strategy aligned with company growth objectives
• Develop and manage sales forecasts
• Maintain relationships with Sodern’s existing U.S. customers
• Perform opportunity identification and lead generation
• Build relationships with customers and prospects
• Drive customer retention and expansion strategies
• Develop and implement processes supporting the full sales business cycle
• Lead CRM implementation and ensure effective adoption and utilization
• Develop and manage proposals involving coordination across necessary internal resources
• Manage complex commercial offers with the support of the Sodern France technical team
• Oversee the post-contract implementation process with the support of a Mission Manager
• Participate in the follow-up of offers to achieve annual order intake targets
• Maintain performance tracking & reporting / KPI management
• Perform competitive intelligence (competition, market evaluation, etc.)
• Participate in trade shows and events
• Participate in the execution of the commercial roadmap for star trackers and space cameras
• Manage and develop the sales team
• Communicate clearly and frequently with Sodern France leadership about activities, duties and developments
• Perform other duties as may be assigned from time to time.

• Past business development / sales experience required; experience in aerospace and defense required
• Past management experience required
• Background in engineering preferred; knowledge of AOCS engineering in the space industry is an advantage
• Knowledge of star tracker system architecture and optronics is an advantage
• Post-sales implementation and support experience preferred
• Strong presentation and negotiation skills and experience interacting with contractors, buyers and customers
• Strong understanding of formal procurement processes and RFP response / proposal management
• Financial acumen including pricing models, margin analysis and contract structures
• Ability to synthesize technical and commercial information into compelling value propositions
• Proficiency in CRM systems and sales analytics tools
• Relationship building skills that inspire confidence, trust, collaboration, and respect with all stakeholders
• Strong leadership, coaching and performance management capabilities
• French language competency is an advantage

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