Description
The primary focus of the Director of Federal Business Development – Maritime Programs
is expanding Marine Group Boat Works’ presence with the U.S. Navy, including opportunities administered by NAVSEA, Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), other Regional Maintenance Centers (RMCs), Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and major defense contractors.
In addition, this position will be responsible for identifying and pursuing strategic growth opportunities with the U.S. Coast Guard and other federal maritime agencies where Marine Group Boat Works’ capabilities provide a competitive advantage.
This is not a traditional proposal-writing or RFP-response role. The primary purpose of this position is to identify, qualify, shape, and capture opportunities well before they reach solicitation.
The role will focus on expanding Marine Group Boat Works’ federal footprint through opportunities involving vessel repair, maintenance, modernization, ship alterations, installation work, and waterfront services performed both within our shipyard and at government facilities, naval bases, Coast Guard installations, and aboard government vessels throughout the United States and abroad, including both CONUS and OCONUS work opportunities.
Location: Remote work may be considered.
Relocation: Relocation assistance may be provided for eligible candidates.
Requirements
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute a federal maritime business development and capture strategy, with the Navy as the primary focus.
- Identify and qualify opportunities 12–36 months before solicitation.
- Build relationships with NAVSEA, SWRMC, other RMCs, PMS offices, contracting personnel, technical representatives, and major defense contractors.
- Develop and maintain strategic relationships with the U.S. Coast Guard, including SFLC, base commands, contracting offices, and supporting prime contractors.
- Identify CONUS and OCONUS opportunities where Marine Group Boat Works can perform work at customer facilities, Navy bases, Coast Guard installations, shipboard locations, or other remote sites.
- Develop capture plans, win strategies, teaming approaches, and customer engagement plans.
- Position Marine Group Boat Works for prime and subcontract opportunities.
- Maintain a qualified opportunity pipeline with estimated value, timing, customer, contract vehicle, probability of win, and next actions.
- Lead bid/no-bid recommendations in coordination with executive leadership.
- Coordinate with estimating, contracts, operations, and proposal support teams, but not serve as the primary proposal writer.
- Provide regular capture updates to executive leadership.
Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience:
- 5+ years of Navy, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, or federal maritime business development experience.
- Demonstrated experience in capture management, opportunity shaping, and customer relationship development.
- Strong understanding of NAVSEA, SWRMC, RMC, Coast Guard, and federal maritime contracting environments.
- Existing relationships within Navy, Coast Guard, federal maritime, or major defense contractor communities.
- Experience identifying or supporting work performed outside a contractor’s home facility, including CONUS and OCONUS field service or shipboard opportunities.
- Strong judgment, professionalism, and ability to operate independently.
- Ability to obtain and maintain required security access or clearances.
Preferred Background
- Former Navy, Coast Guard, acquisition, port engineer, ship repair, program management, or senior defense industry business development background.
- Experience with NAVSEA, Coast Guard, IDIQ, MAC, SeaPort, or prime/subcontracting strategies.
- Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, government procurement timelines, and small business contracting strategies.
- Prior experience supporting deployed, remote, pier-side, shipboard, or OCONUS work.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strategic, relationship-focused professional with a consultative approach.
- Self-motivated and capable of working independently.
- Credible and effective in engaging with Navy, Coast Guard, and defense industry stakeholders.
- Disciplined in pipeline and opportunity management.
- Comfortable interacting with senior executives and decision-makers.
- Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and persistence.
- Focused on long-term customer partnerships and strategic growth.
- Strong written, verbal, and basic quantitative skills.
- Ability to interpret and apply documents, policies, and instructions.
- Produces accurate, thorough, and high-quality work.
- Adaptable to changing priorities, assignments, and work locations.
- Reliable, dependable, and collaborative team contributor.
Language Ability:
- Ability to communicate effectively in English
Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job are medium/heavy in nature.
- Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, speak, and hear during meetings, presentations, and customer engagements.
- Ability to travel to naval bases, shipyards, waterfront facilities, government installations, and customer locations.
- Ability to access and navigate shipyards, dry docks, piers, vessels, and industrial work environments, which may require climbing ladders, ascending and descending stairs, walking on uneven surfaces, and moving through confined spaces aboard vessels.
- Ability to conduct vessel, facility, and project site visits in varying weather and environmental conditions.
- Must be able to lift and carry materials such as laptops, presentation equipment, and business materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to remain mobile for extended periods during site visits, industry events, trade shows, and customer meetings.
- Must be able to comply with all safety requirements and wear required personal protective equipment (PPE), including hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection, safety footwear, and flotation devices when required.
- Visual ability to read documents, technical specifications, reports, and electronic communications.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment, computers, and mobile devices.
Work Environment
- Combination of office, shipyard, waterfront, vessel, and government installation environments.
- Regular interaction with military personnel, government representatives, shipyard personnel, and defense industry partners.
- Exposure to industrial environments that may include noise, moving equipment, elevated work areas, and marine-related conditions.
Skills Required
- 5+ years of Navy, Coast Guard, Department of Defense, or federal maritime business development experience
- Demonstrated experience in capture management, opportunity shaping, and customer relationship development
- Strong understanding of NAVSEA, SWRMC, RMC, Coast Guard, and federal maritime contracting environments
- Existing relationships within Navy, Coast Guard, federal maritime, or major defense contractor communities
- Experience identifying or supporting work performed outside a contractor's home facility, including CONUS and OCONUS field service or shipboard opportunities
- Ability to obtain and maintain required security access or clearances
- Ability to travel to naval bases, shipyards, waterfront facilities, and customer locations
- Strong written, verbal, and basic quantitative skills
- Former Navy, Coast Guard, acquisition, port engineer, ship repair, program management, or senior defense industry business development background
- Experience with NAVSEA, Coast Guard, IDIQ, MAC, SeaPort, or prime/subcontracting strategies
- Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, government procurement timelines, and small business contracting strategies
- Prior experience supporting deployed, remote, pier-side, shipboard, or OCONUS work
What We Do
Marine Group Boat Works is a San Diego-based, family-owned company specializing in boat construction, superyacht refit, and repair services. They provide maritime services for commercial, government, and private customers.






