VP of Defense

Unissant, Inc. delivers innovative capabilities to the agencies that keep our nation healthy and safe. We apply our domain expertise, data acumen, and technology know-how to achieve breakthrough results for our clients. Working collaboratively, we advance missions and careers through a focus on honesty, integrity, and dependability. We continuously look for talent, excited to join that effort. To learn more about our exciting organization, please visit us at www.unissant.com.

We are seeking a VP of Defense (Growth & Accounts) to join our team in the Washington DC Metro area.

POSITION SUMMARY
We are seeking a Vice President of Defense to drive strategic growth and long-term account success across Department of War (DoW) military components and Fourth Estate customers. This dual-hatted executive role combines early-stage business development and capture, with post-award account ownership and delivery oversight.

The hired leader will initially focus on opportunity identification, customer engagement & shaping, capture execution, and proposal leadership. As new programs are awarded, the role will transition to include executive account responsibility, ensuring customer satisfaction, delivery excellence, and sustained portfolio growth. This is an exciting opportunity for the right leader who is comfortable in building, growing, and executing a defense portfolio with a mission-minded company that offers differentiating capabilities. The VP of Defense will have direct influence on growth strategy, customer relationships, and mission impact.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Growth & Capture Responsibilities:

Develop and execute growth strategies aligned to assigned Department of War accounts
Serve as an executive capture lead for priority pursuits, overseeing:
Opportunity shaping and early customer engagement
Competitive analysis and win strategy development
Teaming and partner strategy
Proposal development, reviews, and orals
Maintain trusted relationships with government stakeholders, program offices, and acquisition
Translate customer mission challenges and emerging priorities into differentiated, executable
Collaborate with technical, solution, and proposal teams to ensure offerings align with customer needs and corporate capabilities.
Support pipeline development and forecasting in coordination with corporate growth
Account & Delivery Leadership Responsibilities:

Provide senior leadership and ownership of awarded programs and customer
Responsible for all aspects of general management and oversight of day-to-day operations, task execution, and delivery of programs for the Defense Portfolio.
Act as the senior customer interface, ensuring alignment between customer expectations and delivery execution. Maintain real time/regular communication with key customers.
Establish and implement key metrics and key performance indicators (KPI), which provide periodic and on-demand health check of programs, contracts and customer relationship at all levels of decision making at the account.
Responsible for managing planned revenue, P&L, and execution of program growth initiatives
Partner with executive leadership, program managers, and delivery leaders to drive
Contract performance and compliance
Customer satisfaction and mission outcomes
Positioning and ownership over follow-on and expansion opportunities
Lead account planning and long-range growth strategies, including recompetes and adjacent mission areas.
Ensure lessons learned from delivery inform future growth and capture
Required Qualifications:

15+ years of experience supporting DoW and/or Fourth Estate customers within a government contracting environment.
Proven success leading growth, capture, and proposal efforts resulting in contract
Deep familiarity with Air Force, Army, Space Force, and defense agency missions, acquisition processes, and customer decision environments.
Strong executive presence with the ability to operate as a trusted mission and leadership
Demonstrated ability to bridge customer mission needs with internal technical and delivery
Experience working across matrixed organizations with growth, delivery, and functional
Preferred Additional Qualifications:

Prior military service or civilian leadership experience supporting Air Force, Space Force, Army, Navy, or Fourth Estate customers.
Experience managing accounts from initial award through steady-state delivery and
Familiarity with modernization initiatives, digital transformation, and emerging defense mission.
EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS

Active or prior TS/SCI preferred
COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Ability to interface, inspire, and motivate at various levels of the organization and with client stakeholders.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; executive presence and ability to brief executive and technical stakeholders and communicate with ability to influence
Demonstrated experience communicating effectively across internal and external organizations.
Ability to work well in a matrixed team environment.
TRAVEL

This is a hybrid position based in Herndon, VA and/or Washington, DC Metro area, with onsite client interaction as required.
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Mainly sedentary; in an office environment.
May be required to lift to ten (10) pounds.
Flexible in working extended hours as mission or project demands require.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Unissant management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, where applicable and available, reasonable accommodation(s) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of this position.

Please note: Candidate(s) will be required to go through pre-employment screening.

Unissant, Inc. is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer! (EOE; M/F/Disability/Vets)