Senior Vice President – Government Business Development

The Senior Vice President (SVP), Government Business Development, develops and drives strategic business activities globally for every appropriate sector within the designated market.  The position is responsible for aligning global business and technology plans with market conditions, defining strategic positioning/focus, and supporting business development activities globally for the market.  The Senior Vice President works in collaboration with other ABS enterprise leaders, as well as leveraging global client networks to strategically develop and execute an overall market strategy across all sectors to ensure successful business outcomes. Global Markets include but may not be limited to Marine, Offshore, and Government Services.

What You Will Do:

• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute a global business development strategy to expand in existing markets but also to grow into new markets, focusing on maritime-related technical services for government departments, military branches, agencies, or ministries in the US and internationally, especially in Canada, Latin America, and Europe.
• Market Research: Conduct in-depth market analysis to identify emerging opportunities, trends, and competitive landscapes within the maritime and defense sectors globally.
• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders in national government entities, including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and international counterparts.
• Proposal Development: Lead the preparation of high-quality proposals and bids, ensuring compliance with government procurement requirements and alignment with client needs.
• Sales Pipeline Management: Establish and manage a robust sales pipeline, tracking opportunities from initial contact through contract award.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with operations and subsidiary counterparts to ensure seamless delivery of services and alignment with client expectations.
• Contract Negotiation: Negotiate contracts and agreements with government entities, ensuring favorable terms while adhering to organizational policies and legal standards.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the organization at industry events, conferences, and meetings to promote services and establish thought leadership in the maritime sector.
• Performance Metrics: Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to business development activities, ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure all business development activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, and ethical standards, including those related to government contracts.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing business development team, fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
• Guide the development of marine-related ABS publications and marketing methods/collaterals.
• Ensure an appropriate presence and participation, both individually and organizationally, at industry events, conferences, and trade shows, including the coordination of presentations and papers.
• Maintain awareness of the overall ABS service portfolio and promote services/products across the region when appropriate, ensuring peers and teams outside your core responsibility are aware of potential opportunities and needed action.

What You Will Need:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree.
• Ten years of experience leading cross-functional teams, including technical experts, sales professionals, and support staff toward growth targets preferred. The track record will include setting strategic initiatives, driving results, and achieving large-scale growth in government sales.
• US Military Experience in a relevant maintenance field preferred (O-6 or higher is preferred).
• Prior experience working in a maritime Business Development role within the United States, Canada, and other countries preferred. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Relationship Building: A history of cultivating long-term partnerships and leveraging networks to drive business growth for federal government focused technical consulting firms is key, particularly if focused on maritime or defense related departments, agencies or ministries.  Success in this role requires exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with senior government officials, industry partners, and internal stakeholders. 
• Sales, Negotiation & Contracting Skills: The candidate should be skilled in consultative selling, with the ability to understand client needs and tailor solutions accordingly. Deep knowledge of government contracting and strong negotiation skills are essential for securing favorable terms and resolving challenges during the contracting process.
• Technical Acumen: While not necessarily a technical expert, the candidate should have enough technical knowledge to understand and communicate the value of the organization’s services. This includes familiarity with maritime engineering, regulatory compliance, and emerging technologies such as autonomous systems and digital solutions.
• Global Perspective: Experience working in a multinational environment, with an understanding of geopolitical factors that impact government contracting and maritime operations, will be advantageous.
• Corporate Development: The candidate will have experience in identifying partnering and acquisition opportunities to capitalize on markets.
• Personal Attributes: The ideal candidate will be a proactive, results-driven leader with strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative mindset. They should thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and be committed to delivering value to clients while advancing organizational goals.
• Ability to develop a working knowledge of ABS Rules, Guides, statutory regulations, and related instructions, as well as the ABS Employee Safety Policy.
• Ability to obtain a working knowledge of the ABS Health, Safety, Quality, and Environmental Management Systems.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to a senior member of the executive team. This position will have global direct reports. 

Relocation Assistance:

Relocation assistance is authorized for this role.