Manager -International Business & Strategy, Aircraft (Africa) (R2617)

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)