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Job #:
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310804
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Title:
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Director of Business Development - Space & Defense
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Location:
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Pasadena, TX
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Salary Range:
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180-225K+, bonus plan, comprehensive benefits package
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Position:
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Sales
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Description:
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LOFTON STAFFING • TALENT SEARCH DIVISION Director of Business Development – Space & Defense Houston (Pasadena), TX • Full-Time • On-Site • Travel as Needed (15%) CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH — Our client's identity will be shared with qualified candidates during the screening process.
ABOUT OUR CLIENT Our client is a Gulf Coast specialty chemical manufacturer producing propellants for the commercial space, defense, and aerospace industries. With a history spanning more than 70 years, they have long been a trusted supplier of high-purity propellant to the U.S. government for satellite and defense applications, and also serve pharmaceutical, water treatment, and energy markets from their ISO 9001:2015 certified facility. Backed by a parent company with a long-term commitment to defense and aerospace, the business is investing in growth and added capacity to meet rising demand. They are adding a Director of Business Development to lead the commercial growth of their Space & Defense business.
THE ROLE Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Business Development leads commercial strategy and business development for propellant sales. This role builds a deep understanding of the propellant market, including customer needs, competitive offerings, technical and regulatory requirements, and emerging opportunities in space / aerospace and defense, and turns the company's technical capabilities into compelling value propositions, pricing, and sales plans. The role also leads and develops a two-person sales team and is responsible for overall commercial growth.
RESPONSIBILITIES - Develop and execute commercial strategies and business development plans to drive profitable growth in propellant sales
- Identify and evaluate new opportunities in commercial space, defense, aerospace, and related markets, assessing size, strategic fit, technical feasibility, and profitability
- Build and maintain relationships with key customers, prospects, strategic partners, and industry influencers across the propellant and space industry
- Lead commercial input for proposals, pricing, customer presentations, contract negotiations, and business cases
- Partner with technical leadership on product capabilities, production constraints, quality requirements, and customer-specific technical needs
- Work with technical, manufacturing, supply, finance, legal, and operations teams to turn customer requirements into executable commercial plans
- Ensure customer commitments, contract requirements, and delivery expectations are understood and met across the organization
- Present market analyses, opportunity assessments, business updates, and strategic recommendations to management
- Monitor performance against operating plans and recommend adjustments as needed
- Lead, coach, and develop two sales representatives, setting clear goals and accountabilities
- Travel to customer and prospect sites as needed to build relationships and advance opportunities
QUALIFICATIONS - MBA or advanced degree, or a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 10+ years of commercial, strategic planning, and customer relationship experience in a technical industry
- Experience in space, defense, aerospace, or propulsion organizations with established customer relationships and sales experience in these industries
- Experience with proposals, pricing, and contract negotiations involving government, defense, or regulated customers
- Proven ability to develop and execute business development strategies for technically complex products
- Strong commercial judgment and the ability to evaluate opportunities on market attractiveness, customer fit, profitability, and operational readiness
- Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to customers, management, and cross-functional teams
- Demonstrated leadership in managing, coaching, and developing sales professionals
- Strong negotiating, influencing, and presentation skills
- Ability to work independently and travel as required
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS - Salary: $180,000 – $225,000+, depending on experience
- Bonus Plan
- Full suite of health benefits – medical, dental and vision coverage
- 100% Employer Funded Pension Plan – fully vested in 5 years. A true, defined-benefit pension that is virtually unheard of in today’s market.
- Paid time off
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Requirements:
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QUALIFICATIONS - MBA or advanced degree, or a degree in Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline
- 10+ years of commercial, strategic planning, and customer relationship experience in a technical industry
- Experience in space, defense, aerospace, or propulsion organizations with established customer relationships and sales experience in these industries
- Experience with proposals, pricing, and contract negotiations involving government, defense, or regulated customers
- Proven ability to develop and execute business development strategies for technically complex products
- Strong commercial judgment and the ability to evaluate opportunities on market attractiveness, customer fit, profitability, and operational readiness
- Ability to explain technical concepts clearly to customers, management, and cross-functional teams
- Demonstrated leadership in managing, coaching, and developing sales professionals
- Strong negotiating, influencing, and presentation skills
- Ability to work independently and travel as required
APPLY NOW If you're a space & defense sales leader who knows how to turn complex technical products into long-term customer partnerships, and you want a seat at the table shaping growth in the space, defense, and aerospace markets, we want to talk to you. This is a rare chance to report directly to the President, lead a focused sales team, and own the commercial strategy for a business with decades of trusted performance and new investment behind it. All inquiries are handled with complete discretion, and qualified candidates will be contacted within 1–2 business days.
#insj
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Job Type:
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Permanent
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Post Date:
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09/30/2026
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