Business Development Lead - Defense

WHO WE ARE:

Teague is an independent design consultancy that combines technology expertise with a deep understanding of human behavior to design what's next for companies in defense, space, automotive, commercial aviation, advanced mobility, and frontier technology. On any given day, we might be prototyping a new space station, designing cutting-edge technology, or traveling around the world conducting research. We are approaching our one-hundred-year anniversary and are proudly employee-owned. Our culture fosters collaboration, accountability, and stability-because when we succeed, we all win. Come be a part of something bigger than just a job-build your career with an employee-owned company that invests in you!

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The Business Development Lead - Defense, is a force multiplier for Teague's defense growth strategy. This role bridges relationship-driven business development with disciplined sales operations-supporting proposal development, capture activities, prospect generation, and BD execution across defense and select dual-use accounts. Working alongside the Director of Business Development for Defense, this position increases qualified opportunities, deal velocity, and conversion rates across Teague's defense portfolio. While it does not carry a direct sales quota, the role connects strategy, marketing, and client engagement-ensuring every opportunity aligns with Teague's creative vision, business goals, and client experience standards.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

You can expect up to 10% travel for select client engagements, conferences, and business development opportunities.

WHO YOU ARE:

You're a relationship-builder with a systems brain-someone who loves connecting dots just as much as connecting with people. You thrive in fast-moving environments where strategy meets execution, and you bring a steady sense of ownership to everything from pipeline hygiene to pursuit coordination. You're fluent in the language of defense, comfortable navigating procurement pathways, and genuinely energized by helping teams win work that matters. You get curious about clients, dig into market trends, and turn insights into action without losing momentum. Organization is your superpower, communication is your rhythm, and collaboration is where you shine. You like building structure, improving processes, and making the work smoother for everyone involved. Most importantly, you show up with professionalism, integrity, and a mindset of continuous learning-ready to amplify Teague's defense growth strategy with both rigor and heart.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

OWNING: Ownership | Grit | Professionalism

• Takes full ownership of defense pipeline visibility, data accuracy, and follow-through on all BD activities in collaboration with the Business Development Director, Defense.
• Builds and manages a structured pipeline dashboard (forecasting, status, ROI) for defense pursuits.
• Demonstrates accountability in coordinating proposals, tracking conversions, and maintaining CRM hygiene.
• Operates with transparency and reliability under shifting business priorities or fast-moving opportunities.
• Represents Teague's defense capability with integrity and professionalism in all external communications.
• Success Indicators:
• BD systems and reporting are consistent, accurate, and actionable.
• Proposal turnaround and pursuit coordination streamlined by 30-40%.
• BD Director spends >50% of time in client conversations (vs. internal development work).

THINKING: Strategy | Innovation | Rigor

• Translates defense strategy into actionable business development plans and capture activities.
• Conducts client and market research-tracking modernization priorities, budget trends, and federal initiatives (e.g., AFWERX, NAVWAR, DIU).
• Develops insights and recommendations that strengthen pursuit positioning and win probability.
• Implements structured systems and templates for proposal coordination and pipeline tracking.
• Builds a culture of learning and iteration by documenting playbooks and improving process rigor.
• Success Indicators:
• 2-3 new prime or DoD relationships advanced to qualified opportunities.
• Measurable increase in win rate and proposal efficiency.
• Defense pipeline visibility supports proactive decision-making at the leadership level.

DOING: Expertise | Influence | Stewardship

• Coordinates proposal timelines, deliverables, and team inputs across BD, design, and project teams.
• Partners with the Director of BD to create compelling decks, RFI/RFP responses, and case studies.
• Maintains a library of defense-specific materials (past performance, bios, capability statements).
• Ensures seamless collaboration across BD, marketing, and operations through shared tools and systems.
• Tracks and reports on key metrics-pipeline value, conversion rates, meeting-to-opportunity ratio.
• Models stewardship and collaboration, fostering trust between growth, design, and delivery teams.
• Success Indicators:
• Monthly and quarterly BD performance summaries delivered on time and with actionable insights.
• Cross-functional teams collaborate efficiently on pursuits.
• Increased defense portfolio revenue and qualified lead generation

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 5-8 years of experience in business development, sales operations, or program management within defense, aerospace, or advanced technology sectors.
• Strong understanding of defense procurement, contracting vehicles, and teaming strategies.
• Experience supporting capture, proposals, or federal account management.
• Proficiency with CRM tools (HubSpot, Lusha, LinkedIn Sales Navigator) and pipeline reporting.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• U.S. Citizenship required; existing clearance or eligibility preferred.

The salary range for this job in most US geographic locations is $105,000 - $125,000, plus incentive pay.