The Manager 3, Business Development – Strategy & Program Development (MDC2), is a senior leadership role responsible for driving enterprise strategy, program development, and new business growth opportunities for a portfolio of advanced communications programs. This role specifically supports E-2D Production, Sustainment, and Future Development. This role reports to the Director of Business Development and collaborates across executive leadership, sector BD teams, and program management. The selected candidate will serve as a key interface with internal and external stakeholders and play a pivotal role in shaping and executing MDC2 business development strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Portfolio & Pipeline Leadership
- Lead business development for a portfolio of advanced communications programs and pursuits within MDC2, coordinating across multiple program teams.
- Manage and grow the opportunity pipeline through strategic customer outreach and targeted campaign planning, focusing on the Department of the Navy (DoN), U.S. Navy, R&D Labs, and adjacent markets.
- Oversee all aspects of the Business Acquisition Process (BAP), including growth strategy development, opportunity qualification, pursuit prioritization, capture plan development, and progression through internal BAP/review gates
Customer Engagement & Technical Outreach
- Actively engage and follow up with advanced communications acquisition customers, U.S. Government representatives, and Northrop Grumman leadership
- Conduct independent initial technical and concept discussions with customers, translating mission needs into differentiating solutions.
- Develop briefings, white papers, and RFI responses that clearly articulate mission value and technical advantages.
Strategy, Capture & Investment Shaping
- Develop and execute comprehensive business development strategies for key target markets
- Influence internal investment planning and shape business priorities aligned with pipeline opportunities and customer roadmaps.
- Convene and lead multi-functional teams (engineering, program management, finance, legal, government relations) to develop mission discriminators through innovative architectures, payloads, technology strategies, management approaches, and competitive cost solutions
- Devise and support execution of government relations and legislative advocacy plans to enhance key campaign outcomes.
Market & Competitive Intelligence
- Conduct ongoing market research in advanced communications, monitor industry and technology trends, and analyze competitors to refine strategies and identify new growth areas
- Use SalesForce to track opportunity health, inform decision-making, and drive disciplined business development execution.
Relationships & Representation
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior government and military decision-makers, program offices, contracting officers, and international partners
- Represent Northrop Grumman at conferences, trade shows, and other industry events to increase visibility and strengthen customer/partner relationships
Leadership & Mentoring
- Promote business development best practices across the portfolio and contribute to a high-performance, mission-focused culture.
Compliance & Acquisition Discipline
- Ensure all business development initiatives comply with company standards, ethics, and applicable government regulations
- Leverage familiarity with defense and national security space acquisition processes, including both traditional and non-traditional pathways, to guide bid decisions
Basic Qualifications
- Must either have a bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field and 10 years' experience or a master’s degree in business, engineering or related field and 7 years experience or a PhD in business, engineering, or a related field and 4 years' experience
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in business development, strategy, capture management, or program management in the defense or aerospace sectors.
- Knowledge of Department of War and U.S. Navy procurement and acquisition processes.
- Demonstrated experience with E-2D, MDC2, and/or C2 mission requirements.
- Proven track record in leading / developing winning strategies and tactics to win.
- Experience leading and mentoring cross functional teams.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
- Must have an active DoD Secret or Top-Secret clearance or higher (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation)
Preferred Qualifications
- Technical or operational experience supporting E-2D, MDC2, JADC2, or U.S. Navy C2 programs.
- Experience with U.S. Navy legislative processes.
- Direct experience cultivating SalesForce pipeline and opportunity management.
- Demonstrated success supporting cross-sector initiatives.
- Experience briefing and influencing internal and external senior leadership.
- Active Top Secret clearance
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field and 10 years of experience; or master's degree and 7 years; or PhD and 4 years
- At least 10 years of experience in business development, strategy, capture management, or program management in the defense or aerospace sectors
- Knowledge of Department of War and U.S. Navy procurement and acquisition processes
- Demonstrated experience with E-2D, MDC2, and/or C2 mission requirements
- Proven record of leading or developing winning strategies and tactics
- Experience leading and mentoring cross-functional teams
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance or higher, with a qualifying recent background investigation or Continuous Evaluation enrollment
- Technical or operational experience supporting E-2D, MDC2, JADC2, or U.S. Navy C2 programs
- Experience with U.S. Navy legislative processes
- Direct experience cultivating Salesforce pipeline and opportunity management
- Demonstrated success supporting cross-sector initiatives
- Experience briefing and influencing internal and external senior leadership
- Active Top Secret clearance
Northrop Grumman Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northrop Grumman and has not been reviewed or approved by Northrop Grumman.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage offers multiple medical plan options by region alongside dental, vision, mental‑health resources, and wellness programs. Recent materials also highlight added family‑building support, including a dedicated fertility benefit.
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Retirement Support — The 401(k) savings plan is positioned as competitive with a company match, auto‑escalation features, and access to an employee stock fund/ESPP. Official filings and benefits guides emphasize retirement as a core element of the Total Rewards package.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Many sites offer a 9/80 schedule, generous PTO, paid holidays, and flexible/telework options where program needs allow. Paid parental and caregiver leave are prominently featured, with recent enhancements for the delivering parent.
Northrop Grumman Insights
What We Do
We are a close-knit community of big thinkers collaborating to keep the world safe. Our passion, creativity and expertise bring next-level technology solutions to life in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, strike, space, and logistics and modernization for our customers around the globe. On the Northrop Grumman team, you’ll join our pursuit of excellence immersed in a dynamic culture of innovation and respect. Your unique perspective will help achieve our shared vision for the future of global security. Every step of the way, you'll be supported by world-class training, employee resource groups and a comprehensive benefits package that enables greater health and happiness for you and your family. Worldwide and across disciplines, we’re challenging what’s possible for technology to protect people and places from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace. And we see the impact of our performance every day. We are Northrop Grumman, and we work on what matters—now, you too can make a difference. Explore opportunities in engineering, IT, manufacturing, business management, cybersecurity and more with us. Northrop Grumman is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.








