Director, USG Growth, National Security Space

Northwoodspace
US
RemoteCareer-pivot friendly

Why this role

Pace
Fast Paced
The fast-paced nature of this role is evident in the requirement to drive end-to-end business development and growth across U.S. national security space customers, indicating a high-velocity environment where quick decision-making and action are essential.
Collaboration
High
Collaboration is a key aspect of the job, as the Director will need to partner closely with product, engineering, mission management, and leadership teams to translate customer mission needs into company strategy and successful program execution.
Autonomy
High
This role requires a high degree of autonomy, as the Director will be tasked with developing and executing account and campaign strategies independently, while also maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.
Decision Impact
Company
Decisions made in this role will have significant impact, as the Director will help shape the company’s strategy in support of critical classified missions and inform product direction and long-term growth plans.
Role Level
Strategic
The complexity of the role is highlighted by the need to understand national security space priorities, mission environments, and acquisition dynamics, while also translating these into actionable business strategies.
Career Pivot Friendly
Welcomes transferable skills
Individuals with experience in business development, growth, or program strategy roles within the defense or intelligence sectors will find this role a natural progression, leveraging their existing skills to drive strategic growth in a high-stakes environment.

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • Drive significant growth in U.S. national security space customer base
  • Develop and maintain deep relationships with key stakeholders in the classified space ecosystem
  • Shape Northwood’s strategy and investments in support of critical classified missions
Typical background
10+ years of experience in business development, growth, capture, program strategy, intelligence operations, or related rolesExperience with classified or national security customers, including NRO and related mission stakeholders

Transferable backgrounds

  • Coming from Business Development Manager at a defense contractor
    business development · program strategy · customer relationship management
    The experience in managing complex technical programs and developing deep relationships with key stakeholders in the defense sector directly aligns with the responsibilities of this role.
  • Coming from Consultant in national security space operations
    strategic planning · acquisition dynamics · mission shaping
    A background in consulting, particularly in national security space operations, brings valuable insights into mission environments and acquisition pathways, which are critical for success in this role.

Skills & requirements

Required

Business DevelopmentGrowth StrategyNational Security Space PrioritiesClassified Space CommunicationsAcquisition DynamicsRelationship Management

Preferred

Intelligence OperationsNational Security OperationsEarly-stage Company ExperienceITAR Compliance

Stack & domain

National SecurityIntelligence OperationsClassified Space Communications

About the role

This role involves driving strategic growth and shaping the company's approach to meet the unique needs of national security space customers, requiring a blend of business acumen, technical understanding, and deep industry relationships.

Original posting from Northwoodspace via Ashby

About Northwood:

Northwood is on a mission to transform connectivity between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you are energized by building at a high-velocity company and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

Role:

Northwood Space is seeking a Director, USG Growth, National Security Space to drive growth across U.S. national security space customers and help shape the company’s strategy in support of critical classified missions. This person will lead Northwood’s engagement across priority intelligence and national security accounts, develop deep relationships across the classified space ecosystem, and serve as a strategic partner to leadership, product, engineering, and mission teams as we expand our footprint in this market.

This role is focused on intelligence and other national security space organizations, with particular emphasis on customers such as NRO and other classified mission stakeholders. The right candidate will bring a strong understanding of national security space priorities, mission environments, and acquisition dynamics, and will help Northwood not only win new business, but also shape where and how the company invests, prioritizes, and delivers in support of this mission set.

Responsibilities:

  • Drive end-to-end business development and growth across U.S. national security space customers, from early customer engagement and mission shaping through contract award and follow-on expansion
  • Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across intelligence and national security space organizations, including mission users, program managers, acquisition officials, technical leaders, and industry partners
  • Create and execute account and campaign strategies for priority national security customers, mission areas, and adjacent partner organizations
  • Identify, shape, and pursue opportunities aligned to Northwood’s capabilities in areas such as classified space communications, mission networking, sensing, transport, and other critical national security priorities
  • Partner closely with product, engineering, mission management, and leadership teams to translate customer mission needs into company strategy, technical positioning, capture, and successful program execution
  • Provide insight into national security space priorities, funding dynamics, acquisition pathways, and customer requirements to inform Northwood’s product direction and long-term growth plans

Basic Qualifications:

  • 10+ years of experience in business development, growth, capture, program strategy, intelligence operations, national security operations, or related roles supporting or serving U.S. national security missions
  • Experience developing, shaping, or executing complex technical programs or opportunities relevant to classified or national security customers, with knowledge of intelligence and national security space organizations, mission priorities, and acquisition dynamics
  • Ability to maintain or obtain a TS/SCI clearance and work in-person in Washington, DC; remote possible for the right candidate

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience working with or within intelligence and classified national security space organizations, including NRO and related mission stakeholders
  • Experience supporting or operating in mission areas such as classified space communications, sensing, mission networking, data transport, or other critical national security space functions
  • Experience engaging with or serving alongside intelligence community stakeholders, classified acquisition organizations, or other national security customers on mission-relevant needs
  • Experience with acquisition pathways used to procure commercial capabilities in classified or national security environments
  • Experience at an early-stage space, defense-tech, or national security company
  • Established relationships across intelligence, classified space, and broader national security stakeholders, prime contractors, and mission partners

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Source: Northwoodspace careers (Ashby)

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