The Role
Leads Rivet’s warfighting growth and implementation across U.S. Department of War and allied military customers. Owns business development targets, customer execution, defense acquisition strategies, pipeline forecasting, program delivery, team building, and the operating infrastructure needed to scale defense technology programs. Requires extensive defense and national security experience, strong government program sales and execution expertise, and credibility with military, acquisition, and operational stakeholders.
Summary Generated by Built In
About Rivet
Rivet is an American company building integrated task systems — fusing hardened hardware with software, sensors, AI, and networking — for industrial workforces and defense personnel. We create capabilities that multiply the effectiveness of every individual and withstand the world’s toughest environments.
We serve the people who build, operate, maintain, and defend our way of life. From technicians and engineers to first responders and service members, they embody the hard work, ingenuity, and meritocratic values that drive Western prosperity. Yet too often they are forced to rely on outdated tools that fail under modern pressures. Rivet exists to reset that priority.
At Rivet, you’ll join a mission-driven team that fuses disciplines to deliver decisive outcomes where they matter most. Whether shaping our technology, strengthening our partnerships, or building our culture, every role here contributes to equipping the front lines with the modern systems they deserve.
Work Authorization Requirement: Due to the nature of our business and compliance with federal regulations, all candidates must be a "U.S. Person". Upon hire, you will be required to provide documentation verifying your status as a U.S. Citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Summary
We’re seeking a Head of War to lead Rivet’s warfighting growth and implementation efforts across the U.S. Department of War and coalition partners. This leader will own growth across established programs—including our Soldier Borne Mission Command program—and lead new capability initiatives spanning combat and all frontline use cases. The ideal candidate has deep operational expertise, exceptional business acumen, and is a proven leader who understands the warfighter firsthand. They will reliably forecast and drive growth, navigate acquisition processes and budgeting cycles, and ensure programs execute on time and meet the standard. They will build and lead the team, processes, systems, and business infrastructure required to scale our business and deliver critical capabilities to our warfighters.
Responsibilities
- Own warfighting growth: Set and deliver annual growth targets across the U.S. Department of War and coalition partners by identifying, prioritizing, shaping, and winning high-value opportunities.
- Lead customer execution: As an advocate for the end-user, ensure established programs—including Soldier Borne Mission Command—meet their needs, and create strong references for future growth.
- Navigate the defense acquisition system: Develop and execute strategies aligned to acquisition processes, budgeting and appropriations cycles, requirements development, contracting pathways, and program milestones.
- Build the pipeline: Develop senior relationships across military, civilian, acquisition, and operational stakeholders; maintain a disciplined pipeline and reliably forecast bookings, probability, timing, and revenue.
- Build the organization: Hire, develop, and lead a high-performing growth and implementation team capable of scaling our business.
- Build the operating system: Establish the processes, systems, metrics, and BD infrastructure required to consistently identify, shape, pursue, close, and expand opportunities.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in defense and national security, with significant experience selling, delivering, and operating with the U.S. Department of War and/or allied military organizations.
- Proven business development track record with direct responsibility for winning substantial government programs and delivering measurable growth.
- Deep expertise in defense acquisition: Strong understanding of acquisition processes, budgeting and appropriations cycles, requirements management, contracting pathways, and how programs move from need identification through procurement and execution.
- Exceptional operator: Able to turn strategy into execution, manage complex programs, anticipate risks, and consistently deliver against commitments.
- Strong customer and people leader: Credibility with senior military, civilian, acquisition, and operational stakeholders, combined with a demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Veteran of the U.S. military, ideally the U.S. Army, with meaningful operational experience and firsthand understanding of warfighter needs and military organizations.
- Experience leading DoW programs operating in all domains.
- Prior experience at a high-growth defense technology company, particularly in a role spanning business development and program execution.
The base pay range for this role is $250,000 – $275,000 per year.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of experience in defense and national security
- Significant experience selling, delivering, and operating with the U.S. Department of War and/or allied military organizations
- Proven business development track record with direct responsibility for winning substantial government programs and delivering measurable growth
- Deep expertise in defense acquisition processes, budgeting and appropriations cycles, requirements management, contracting pathways, and procurement execution
- Ability to turn strategy into execution, manage complex programs, anticipate risks, and deliver against commitments
- Credibility with senior military, civilian, acquisition, and operational stakeholders
- Demonstrated ability to recruit, develop, and lead high-performing teams
- U.S. Person status: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)
- Veteran of the U.S. military, ideally the U.S. Army, with meaningful operational experience
- Experience leading Department of War programs operating in all domains
- Prior experience at a high-growth defense technology company in business development and program execution
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Ketch Talent is a professional coaching and strategy firm that helps high-achievers and leaders grow without burning out. Through human-centered coaching and strategy, the company provides tools and strategies to bring clarity, resilience, and purpose to complex leadership challenges, guiding professionals toward careers and lives that feel truly aligned while leveraging expertise in recruitment and leadership.
