Sr. Principal, Business Development & Head of Air Force Strategy

About the role

Divergent is seeking a Senior Principal, Business Development and Head of Air Force Strategy to lead the company's strategic engagement with the Department of the Air Force and drive long-term business growth with key industry partners.

Responsibilities

• Own the company's most strategic Air Force and defense industry relationships, establishing executive-level engagement strategies and driving long-term account growth aligned with corporate objectives and revenue priorities.
• Develop and execute account growth strategies that position Divergent for expanded adoption across Department of the Air Force organizations and mission areas.
• Develop, own, and continuously evolve Divergent's long-term Air Force strategy by identifying emerging mission needs, acquisition pathways, funding opportunities, executive stakeholders, and strategic partnerships that position the company for sustained growth.
• Advise executive leadership on market trends, competitive positioning, customer priorities, and strategic investment opportunities that support the company's long-term Aerospace & Defense growth strategy.
• Lead enterprise-level business development initiatives, establish strategic partnerships, influence customer investment priorities, and expand Divergent's presence across the Department of the Air Force and the broader defense ecosystem.
• Identify and cultivate new markets, strategic partnerships, and growth opportunities that expand the adoption of Divergent's technologies.
• Lead the capture and negotiation of strategically significant partnerships and programs while shaping capture strategies that position Divergent for long-term growth across the Air Force portfolio.
• Support proposal strategy, customer engagement planning, and opportunity maturation through contract award.
• Provide strategic leadership across Business Development, Capture, Engineering, Program Management, Finance, and Executive Leadership to align priorities and successfully execute complex growth initiatives.
• Ensure alignment between customer requirements, technical capabilities, and business objectives.
• Serve as an executive representative of Divergent with senior Department of the Air Force leadership, industry executives, and strategic partners.
• Prepare executive briefings, customer engagement strategies, and presentation materials that support senior leadership interactions and strategic decision making.
• Identify strategic risks, competitive threats, and relationship challenges early and develop mitigation strategies that maintain momentum on critical partnerships and growth opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records within CRM systems, action trackers, and program documentation. Ensure compliance with ITAR, DFARS, and applicable aerospace and defense industry standards.
• Develop executive-level reporting, pipeline forecasting, strategic growth metrics, dashboards, and KPIs that enable data-driven decision making and measure business performance.
• Lead initiatives that improve business development, capture, and strategic partnership processes while helping establish best practices across the Corporate and Strategic Partnerships organization.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience within or supporting the U.S. Air Force with a deep understanding of Air Force strategy, acquisition pathways, organizational structure, funding, and operational priorities.
• Proven success leading business development, strategic partnerships, and growth initiatives within the national security or defense sector.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing long-term business strategies that drive measurable organizational growth.
• Demonstrated experience influencing executive-level decision making and shaping long-term business strategy within the U.S. Department of Defense ecosystem.
• Strong understanding of advanced manufacturing, defense innovation ecosystems, sustainment, and modernization programs.
• Exceptional communication and executive presence with the ability to effectively engage senior government leaders, industry executives, engineering organizations, and executive leadership teams.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams and guiding complex strategic initiatives from concept through execution.
• Ability to lawfully access information and technology subject to U.S. export controls.