The International Business Development Manager will be responsible for building Shield AI’s business opportunities in Africa, primarily focused on orders execution and growth. He/she will be responsible for engaging with customers, attending events, and product demonstrations. This person will operate on a small team with a demanding work and travel schedule and a very high level of responsibility and accountability to perform and deliver results but will undoubtedly have the opportunity to make an outsized impact and become a major contributor to the company.
What you'll do:
Engage with customers regularly to present and discuss Shield AI products
Attend trade shows, exhibitions, or other industry events to espouse Shield AI products
Devise and coordinate marketing and government relations opportunities
Build and devise the structure of industry partnerships
Plan and execute product demonstrations
Work cross-functionally to provide responses to or address customers needs
Lead proposal response
Develop offset strategies
Manage team budget
Required qualifications:
Willing to expatriate to Africa (minimum two-year overall expat assignment)
Exceptional communicator: strong written, verbal, and presentation skills and the ability to communicate seamlessly at all levels of business and government
Charismatic leader, with the ability to motivate and inspire others and impart excitement about Shield AI’s mission, technology, and products
Desire to help build the defining defense technology company of this century
Thorough understanding and knowledge of the military operations and the acquisition process that allows you to maintain strong customer relations
>5 Years of relevant military or prior defense industry or other international business experience
Self-motivated and results-oriented, with demonstrated success in meeting and exceeding critical goals and deadlines
Strong international relationships and demonstrated ability to work well across and with various cultures, customs, etc.
Strong technical knowledge within the UAV and/or AI disciplines (or demonstrated desire ability to learn quickly)
Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally, frequently and without restriction, including customer sites
Team oriented with the ability to communicate with a understanding of nuances associated with being collaborative while also being blunt and forthright
Technically competent in the myriad of systems that are required to function at the speed of business
Bachelor’s Degree
Preferred qualifications:
Specific strategy or business development experience in regions outside of the Americas
Prior UAV or AI business development experience in a defense-related context
MBA or related Master’s degree in a related field, and 6+ years of leadership and/or operational experience within the DoD or international equivalents (e.g., MoD)
Demonstrated understanding of specific Army/Navy/etc. operational scenarios and systems
Strong research and analysis skills
Relevant Foreign Language Skills (e.g., European languages)
