Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships

Job Description
BAE Systems Intelligence & Security (I&S) is seeking a Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships to lead and elevate our relationships with key technology partners-beginning with one flagship partner and expanding across a portfolio of emerging and mid-tier technology innovators. This is not a passive alliance management role. We are building a partnership engine that materially shapes our market position, capture strategy, solution offerings, and long-term competitive differentiation.
We need a leader who sees around corners, operates with executive presence, and blends the DNA of two worlds:• Modern technology companies • Large defense primes or national security organizations
If you've sat on both sides of that table, understand how value flows across ecosystems, and know how to turn partnerships into measurable business impact-you'll thrive here.
Who You Are
A relationship-driven strategist with deep operational discipline. A builder who treats partnerships as strategic assets-not marketing logos. Someone who can translate between goals, roadmaps, projects and outcomes leveraging relationships not authority to drive success.
You are:• Forward-leaning and innovative• Disciplined and organized• Fluent in both commercial technology and defense culture• Credible with senior executives in both domains• Comfortable driving outcomes without authority• Highly collaborative across Business Leadership, Business Development, Technology, and Contracting
Opportunity
The Sr. Director of Strategic Partnerships will lead the execution for our highest-priority technology partnership while also architecting a repeatable partnerships model for the entire sector. This role reports to the Chief Innovation & Strategy Officer and regular will engage with senior sector executive leadership as well as leadership of our key partners. The opportunity is to shepherd accelerated technology adoption, expand jointly addressable markets, and drive differentiated offerings into pursuits and programs.
You will shape:• Our joint technology strategies• How we integrate commercial capabilities into mission systems• How we shape our roadmaps in concert with partners• How we co-create differentiators for major captures• How we expand cross-organization engagement models and governance• How we turn relationships into strategic wins
Partnership Development Responsibilities• Build and execute the multi-year strategy for our primary technology partner-including joint value propositions, market alignment, and investment areas.• Assess and manage a portfolio of smaller tech partners, including prioritization, tiering, and resource allocation.• Conduct ongoing analysis of partner ecosystems, technology shifts, competitive alliances, and whitespace opportunities.• Create partnership "win strategies" aligned to capture, solution architecture, and enterprise transformation priorities.
Drive Business Impact• Translate partnerships into measurable outcomes: pipeline acceleration, capture discriminators, solution enhancements, and program performance improvements.• Shape major pursuits by integrating partner capabilities into technical solutions, price-to-win strategies, and evaluation-aligned narratives.• Identify areas where partners can unlock mission value through AI/ML, cloud, modeling/simulation, data architectures, DevSecOps accelerators, and other next-gen technologies.
Relationship Development & Executive Engagement• Act as the primary executive interface with partner leadership teams-managing rhythms, governance, strategic planning, and conflict resolution.• Develop trusted relationships across technology, business winning, partner management, and delivery organizations on both sides.• Coordinate partner engagement into key captures, prototypes, or technology pilots.
Operationalize & Scale the Partnership Model• Establish governance structures (QBRs, tech syncs, roadmap exchanges, co-invest processes, and data-sharing workflows).• Ensure compliance with security, data exchange, and export control constraints.• Build partnership playbooks, templates, and engagement mechanisms that scale across additional technology partners.• Lead internal cross-functional working groups to ensure alignment across Business Winning, Solutions Architecture, Technology, Contracts, Legal and Programs.
Communicate with Authority• Brief executives and senior leaders across BAE Systems and partner organizations on strategy, risks, opportunities, and performance metrics.• Craft compelling written materials that communicate strategic intent, capture value, and influence decision-makers.• Represent BAE at joint industry events, technology forums, and government engagements alongside partner leadership.
A Winning Track Record - Required This role requires more than partnership maintenance-it requires proof of impact.• You've delivered results by turning partnerships into material business wins.• You've shaped competitive outcomes-joint captures, product integrations, or mission-focused solutions.• You understand how both government evaluators and commercial partner ecosystems operate, and you design strategies that resonate with both.• You've learned from misses, incorporated feedback, and improved partnership strategies accordingly.
A Modern Mindset• AI-fluent - You use and understand modern AI tools (LLMs, copilots, automation platforms) and apply them to partnership workflows, joint solutioning, and competitive strategy.• Adaptive strategist - You thrive in evolving acquisition landscapes (OTAs, prototype-first pathways, accelerated timelines).• Continuous learner - You stay ahead of both commercial and defense tech trends, partner ecosystem shifts, and mission needs.
Character• Competitive drive with a bias for action.• Intellectual honesty and transparency in representing risks and opportunities.• Relationship-oriented leadership grounded in competence and respect.• Mission-focused mindset-everything connects to customer and warfighter impact.
Core Competencies• Strategic Alignment - Connect day-to-day operations with the broader security and innovation roadmap.• Operational Rigor - Build repeatable processes, maintain high-fidelity data, and promote governance excellence.• Detail Orientation - Ensure accuracy in time tracking, financial stewardship, and multi-source data aggregation.• Analytical Thinking - Identify bottlenecks early, surface root causes, and propose actionable solutions.• Collaboration - Build trusted relationships across technical, product, and executive teams.• Integrity & Confidentiality - Uphold strong standards in the handling of sensitive or controlled information.• Curiosity & Creativity - Bring a sense of curiosity for innovation, improving how we serve the enterprise backed by a sense of creativity and willingness to lean in.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills • 15+ years in technology, defense, or dual-industry roles spanning partnerships, strategy, solutions, BD, or engineering leadership.• Proven success leading strategic alliances or enterprise-level partner relationships with major technology companies (e.g., Microsoft, AWS, Google, Palantir).• Experience working within or closely alongside a large defense prime or major federal integrator-deep familiarity with DoD, IC, and national security missions.• Strong understanding of cloud architectures, AI/ML ecosystems, enterprise software, open architectures, and modern engineering practices.• Demonstrated track record influencing senior executives and shaping business outcomes across complex organizations.• Exceptional organizational discipline; able to manage ambiguity, multiple stakeholders, and cross-functional initiatives.• Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
• Experience in an Innovation Lab, Corporate R&D, Cybersecurity Program Office, or a Corporate Strategy environment.• Certifications such as PMP or Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.• Familiarity with engineering workflow tools (Jira).
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $173023 - $294137
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Intelligence & Security
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it's what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts - defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team-making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you'll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference.
Intelligence & Security (I&S), based in McLean, Virginia, designs and delivers advanced defense, intelligence, and security solutions that support the important missions of our customers. Our pride and dedication shows in everything we do-from intelligence analysis, cyber operations and IT expertise to systems development, systems integration, and operations and maintenance services. Knowing that our work enables the U.S. military and government to recognize, manage and defeat threats inspires us to push ourselves and our technologies to new levels.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.