Senior Vice President, International Sales

About the role

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that provides satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring to global defense and government customers. We are seeking a Senior Vice President, International Sales to lead our global sales and business development strategy.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a unified global sales strategy to achieve or exceed revenue and profitability targets across international defense and intelligence markets.
• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing international sales and business development organization that delivers measurable, sustained growth.
• Oversee pursuit and capture of complex, multi-stakeholder opportunities across defense and intelligence customers.
• Demonstrate a consistent record of closing major international contracts ($10M+) through disciplined, long-cycle capture management.
• Partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Program Management teams to align evolving customer requirements with BlackSky’s capabilities.
• Drive penetration strategies in priority markets and cultivate executive-level relationships with defense and intelligence organizations, commercial partners, and system integrators.
• Establish accurate forecasting and reporting mechanisms that provide data-driven insights into international pipeline performance.
• Implement standardized global sales processes, metrics, and accountability frameworks to ensure consistency and operational excellence.
• Represent BlackSky at key global industry events, strengthening the company’s visibility and thought leadership in the defense, ISR and geospatial sectors.
• Monitor competitive activity, market dynamics, and emerging technologies to guide strategic planning and positioning.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related technical field.
• At least 15 years of progressive experience in international sales, business development, or capture management, including at least five years in a senior executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading and scaling global sales organizations in the defense, ISR or geospatial sectors.
• Proven ability to manage long, complex sales cycles and close large, high-value international contracts with government customers.
• Deep understanding of international procurement, contracting, and defense procurement processes, including Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and direct commercial sales (DCS).
• Strong executive presence with outstanding communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Financial acumen with the ability to forecast, budget, and analyze global sales performance.
• Exceptional leadership, organizational, and cross-cultural management skills.
• Established network across the international government market, specifically defense and intelligence organizations focused on ISR and geospatial missions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success leading and scaling global sales organizations to deliver complex, sovereign solutions.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience integrating and managing enterprise-level CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Zendesk) to improve pipeline visibility and forecasting accuracy.
• In-depth familiarity with international trade compliance, export controls, ITAR/EAR, and FMS procurement.
• Proven ability to operate effectively across diverse geopolitical and cultural environments.

Life at BlackSky

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out-of-pocket expenses!
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro-rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre-tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC? Your choice!
• Awesome swag

Pay & Benefits

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Seattle, WA is $200,000-250,000 per year with eligibility for variable pay as well. The final compensation package offered to a successful candidate will be dependent on specific background and education. BlackSky is a multi-state employer, and this pay scale may not reflect salary ranges in other states or locations outside of Seattle, WA.

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