Head of Defense Growth

Head of Defense Growth

Federal / Department of War

Role Summary

Red Cell Partners is building something fundamentally different from any other organization in the defense innovation ecosystem: a venture builder designed to identify critical national security problems, build companies around them, and scale those companies into enduring capabilities for the U.S. Department of War and federal government.

The Head of Defense Growth is the senior leader responsible for translating that ambition into real-world impact. This role sits at the intersection of venture creation, mission problem‑solving, and federal scale‑up. You will define how Red Cell and the companies it builds identify opportunities, shape demand, win programs, and grow into long‑term solutions for the American warfighter.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who wants to build the system, not inherit one.

About This Role

This is not a conventional “VP of Sales” or “Head of BD” position. You are not being hired to sell a single product, manage a catalog, or inherit a stale pipeline. You are being hired to rewrite the playbook: to creatively combine capabilities across the Red Cell portfolio, uncover non‑obvious paths to adoption, and solve complex mission problems that do not fit neatly into existing acquisition models.

We are looking for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments with limited oversight. Someone who can look at an operational gap, a fragmented funding landscape, and an early stage capability and find a way through.

You will have broad ownership over Red Cell’s public sector growth strategy, with initial focus on Department of War, shaping where we play, how we play, and how we win. That means using the full suite of capabilities across the Red Cell portfolio to deliver next-generation solutions to the warfighter.

What You’ll Do

• Define, own, and operationalize Red Cell’s public sector and DoW growth strategy across priority missions, agencies, and acquisition pathways.

• Lead “left-of-bang” shaping with mission owners, program offices, contracting offices, and other acquisition stakeholders before solicitations exist.

• Set bid/no-bid decisions and prioritize opportunities across the portfolio.

• Architect creative solutions that may include leveraging capabilities from multiple portfolio companies with a focus on solving hard mission problems and accelerating adoption.

• Build and run a scalable BD → Capture → Close growth engine that portfolio companies can plug into.

• Recruit, mentor, and lead a high‑ownership growth team spanning BD, capture, proposals, and contracts.

What Success Looks Like

• A clear, differentiated Red Cell presence across priority DoW and federal mission areas.

• A portfolio‑wide pipeline that consistently converts early engagement into real programs.

• Faster transitions from pilot and prototype efforts into enduring programs of record.

• A repeatable federal growth engine that compounds across multiple ventures—not just one.

Who You Are

• A senior public sector growth leader with experience turning complex, technical capabilities into scaled programs.

• A creative problem‑solver who enjoys working at the edge of structure and inventing new approaches.

• Comfortable owning ambiguity, making hard calls, and being accountable for outcomes.

• Mission‑driven, operator‑empathetic, and motivated by solving problems that matter.

Your background should include senior growth, capture, or federal sales leadership roles at high-growth defense technology companies, next-generation primes, or elite GovCon organizations, but what matters most is your ability to build something new.

Required Qualifications

We are looking for a proven public sector growth leader who has personally built, shaped, and closed complex deals, not someone who has only supported the process.

Experience & Track Record

• 12+ years of private sector experience selling to public sector, at least some of that time in an executive position in either business development, capture, or federal sales, and ideally with a focus on defense or national security.

• Demonstrated ownership of the full lifecycle from early shaping (“left of bang”) through capture, award, and post‑award expansion.

• At least $100M+ in cumulative contract value influenced, captured, or closed over the course of a career.

• History of moving efforts from prototype / pilot / SBIR / OTA into enduring programs of record.

Contracting & Acquisition Depth

• Strong working knowledge of DoW and federal acquisition pathways, including hands‑on experience with: 

• FAR / DFARS‑based contracts (FFP, CPFF, T&M, hybrids)

• OTAs (both prototype and follow‑on production)

• IDIQs / GWACs / BPAs (e.g., task order strategy, on‑ramping, teaming)

• Innovation‑focused mechanisms such as SBIR/STTR, BAAs, CSOs, and rapid acquisition authorities

• Ability to creatively navigate acquisition constraints and identify non‑obvious paths to award and scale.

Domain & Customer Credibility

• Deep familiarity working with DoW stakeholders and mission owners, such as: 

• Program Executive Offices (PEOs) or Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs)

• PMOs / Requiring Activities

• Combatant Commands, services, or defense agencies

• Track record of engaging credibly with operators, acquisition professionals, and senior government leadership.

• Experience selling or scaling technically complex capabilities, such as software platforms, AI/data systems, cyber, EW, autonomy, advanced sensing, or mission‑critical infrastructure.

Leadership & Operating Model

• Proven experience acting as a player‑coach - setting strategy while personally driving the most important deals.

• Experience building or leading BD, capture, proposal, and contracting teams, either directly or in matrixed environments.

• Demonstrated ability to establish discipline without bureaucracy: clear bid/no‑bid decisions, win themes, pipeline rigor, and accountability.

Clearance

• Current U.S. security clearance strongly preferred 

Location & Travel

• Strong preference for the Washington, DC metro area (or willingness to relocate).
• Expect meaningful time in the field shaping, capturing, and closing. This role is a contact sport.
• Up to 30% travel.

First 90 Days (High‑Level)

• Develop a clear Red Cell public sector growth thesis and identify a small number of priority mission areas and pursuits.

• Launch disciplined shaping and capture efforts on the highest‑leverage opportunities.

• Stand up the initial BD → Capture → Close operating cadence across the portfolio.

• Create visible momentum with early wins, clear pipeline ownership, and leadership alignment.

Final Thought

Many roles in defense innovation talk about impact. This is one of the rare ones where you can actually create it - by building the growth system that turns bold ideas into real capability for the American warfighter. If you want a role you’re unlikely to find anywhere else in the defense ecosystem, this is it.

Salary Range: $250,000-$280,000 - This represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience, skills, and other factors.