Senior Director, Growth Initiatives - DoD bei Merlin International, Inc.

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Merlin provides and invests in best-in-class and next-generation cybersecurity solutions, offering a broad portfolio of solutions that secure government and commercial enterprises from endpoints to networks, governance to risk management, and infrastructure to information. We encourage team members to be creative, collaborative, and nimble as we pursue innovative paths to delivering the cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions our customers need.

 SUMMARY:

We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Growth Initiatives to lead our growth initiatives within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and broader federal market. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to expand our defense business, cultivating key relationships, and driving capture of high-value contracts. The ideal candidate is a seasoned professional with deep knowledge of the DoD ecosystem, proven business development success, and the ability to translate customer needs into actionable opportunities.

 MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Growth: Develop and implement business development strategies to drive revenue growth across the DoD, including Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and defense agencies.
• Opportunity Identification & Capture: Proactively identify, qualify, and pursue opportunities within the DoD procurement cycle, including RFPs, RFIs, and sole-source opportunities.
• Relationship Management: Build and strengthen trusted relationships with senior DoD officials, acquisition officers, program managers, industry partners, and primes.
• Partnerships & Alliances: Establish and manage strategic partnerships and teaming arrangements to enhance competitiveness.
• Proposal Development: Collaborate with proposal, contracts, and technical teams to develop winning proposals, pricing strategies, and compliance documentation.
• Market Intelligence: Monitor defense spending priorities, acquisition trends, and policy shifts to inform business strategies.
• Executive Reporting: Provide regular updates and forecasts to senior leadership, ensuring alignment of growth initiatives with corporate goals.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience: 10+ years of business development, capture management, or program management experience in the defense sector.
• Expertise: Deep knowledge of the DoD acquisition process, FAR/DFARS regulations, and government contracting practices.
• Network: Established relationships across DoD agencies, commands, and industry partners.
• Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success leading business development efforts resulting in awarded defense contracts.
• Skills: Strong leadership, negotiation, communication, and executive presence.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Political Science, or related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Clearance: Active U.S. security clearance (Secret or above) strongly preferred.

 SUCCESS ATTRIBUTES:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate defense market shifts.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong initiative and results orientation.
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Passion for supporting national security and defense missions.
• Commitment to personal and professional integrity and respect for others
• Roll-up your sleeves attitude and low-ego approach
• Commitment to teamwork and professional relationship development
• Passion for lifelong learning, growth, and development
• Flexible and nimble; comfortable with ambiguity and rapid change
• Strong communication and functional project management skills
• Ability and desire to innovate, try new things, and creatively explore novel solutions to business challenges
• Professional and respectful approach to the diversity of thought, action, identity, and attributes

 BENEFITS AND PERKS:

At Merlin, we want to empower and inspire employees to be and do their best. Workdays are dynamic, collegial, and fun. Our office features multiple places to work unconstrained by typical office barriers. Our wellness package provides access to an on-site gym and includes medical, dental, and vision insurance along with options for FSA and EAP. We offer 401(k) with employer match, unlimited PTO, and a culture respectful of the reality that not everything in one's personal life is guaranteed to happen only after hours.

Merlin International, Inc. does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law or regulation.  It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.