Business Development Lead

Why do you need to choose between doing important work and having a fulfilling life? At Ardent, we have both. Ardent employees are committed to solving our customers’ most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employee. We are “All In.” We put forth our strongest effort possible to get the mission accomplished and we do it together. We respect the skills and experience you bring to the Ardent team. And we provide a rewarding environment to help you succeed. 

We offer highly competitive benefits, professional development opportunities, and an exceptional culture that embraces flexibility, innovation, collaboration, and career growth. A collective service mindset underpins our work, and a shared camaraderie to serve clients, colleagues and our communities set us apart. Our full commitment to being "All In" for our employees and our clients is not just our approach, it is our standard. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, choose Ardent and make a difference with us. 

Ardent is seeking a Business Development Lead to join our team.  

This is a hybrid/on-site position located in Tyson's Corner-Vienna, VA. Weekly on-site team, partner, and client meetings are expected regularly. 

Position Description:

Ardent is hiring for a Business Development Lead to join a dynamic, fast moving team. As a premier federal government contractor specializing in geospatial intelligence, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), this position plays a crucial role in identifying, pursuing, and winning new business opportunities with DOD and FedCiv agencies. This position requires a hustle and competitive mentality with a blend of strategic thinking, relationship-building, and technical knowledge to support the growth and success of the organization. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of the Federal IT Full and Open services market, a proven track record of driving business growth, and customer engagement and management experience.

At Ardent you will have the support from a world-class proposal shop and program delivery team that encompasses technical writers, Ph.D. level technology experts, in-house graphics design, and proposal management expertise. You will be provided all the necessary tools to develop and capture new business - such as Salesforce, GovWin, a custom developed AI opportunities search engine, and others.

In addition, we offer a competitive base salary commensurate with years of experience and the potential of a 20-30% bonus based on wins and other performance measures that contribute to the growth of Ardent’s enterprise value. The upside of this position is limitless and because of this key factor it will be highly competitive. Only those that have the desire and drive to out-hustle their competition and go above and beyond are encouraged to apply!

Responsibilities:

Business Development

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including federal agency representatives, industry partners, internal and external teams.
• Identify and qualify new business opportunities through market analysis, networking, and industry events.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to capture new business with a one (1) to three (3) year outlook, including identifying target opportunities, assessing competitive positioning, and developing win strategies.

Capture Management

• Lead and manage the capture process for identified opportunities, including the development of capture plans, winning proposal strategies, and value propositions - ensuring capture plans are executed effectively to maximize win probabilities. 
• Collaborate with technical and subject matter experts to develop compelling solutions and proposals that address customer requirements and differentiate the company from competitors.
• Manage the proposal development process, including writing, editing, and reviewing proposal content to ensure compliance with solicitation requirements and alignment with capture strategy.

Customer Engagement

• Build and sustain strong relationships with federal government customers, understanding their missions, challenges, and needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to customers, providing insights and recommendations on how the company’s geospatial intelligence, digital transformation, and AI/ML capabilities can address their needs.

Market Research and Analysis

• Conduct in-depth market research to identify potential business opportunities within the federal government sector, focusing on geospatial intelligence, digital transformation, and AI/ML.
• Analyze market trends, competitive landscape, and customer needs to inform business development strategies.
• Utilize GovCon opportunity tools such as GovWin, FPDS, and others.

Collaboration and Teamwork

• Work closely with internal teams, including technical, project management, and executive leadership, to ensure alignment and support for business development and capture efforts.
• Foster a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and continuous improvement – possessing a team player mentality.

Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Business, Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field is preferred.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in business development, capture management, or a related role within the federal government contracting space with effectiveness in securing significant deals in the unrestricted competition

Skills and Competencies

• Understanding of the federal contracting process and procurement regulations, FAR, DFAR, Shipley Method, etc.
• Proven ability to develop and execute successful business development and capture strategies and understanding of tools used to research federal procurement opportunities.
• Experience running capture on federal contracting opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical solutions clearly and persuasively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess market opportunities and develop strategic plans.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, partners, and internal teams.
• High level of self-motivation and accountability, enthusiasm, hustle, and competitive spirit.
• Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with geospatial intelligence technologies and applications.
• Experience with DevSecOps, cloud, and enterprise IT solutions initiatives within federal agencies.
• Knowledge of AI/ML technologies and their applications in government settings.
• Demonstrated success in winning federal contracts and managing large, complex proposals.
• Ability to leverage current customer relationships that you already possess.

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates who wish to be considered for this role must be willing to undergo the government-issued background investigation process. 

Ardent is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, gender, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.