Business Development Operations Executive - U.S. Citizenship Required

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 customer’s most difficult problems—and we are committed to the well-being, personal goals, and professional development of our employees. 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 sets 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 Operations Executive  to join our team.  

This is a remote role with occasional travel to the Washington, DC Metro area and other client/partner sites as needed. 

We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Business Development Executive to lead and drive business development operations for our Federal IT Professional Services firm. The Business Development Operations Executive will be responsible for the overall operations of the business development group as well as overseeing a team of Business Development and Growth Leaders, ensuring effective creation and tracking of metrics, leading gate reviews, managing capture efforts, and making informed financial recommendations to achieve our growth objectives. The ideal candidate should have a deep understanding of the Federal IT services market, a proven track record of driving business growth, and strong leadership skills. 

Responsibilities:

Team Leadership and Management: 

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Business Development and Growth Leaders, providing guidance and support to achieve individual and team targets. 
• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the business development team. 
• Be a creator of excellence and the guiding hand for the organizational unit’s leaders. 
• Develop management systems for business development processes utilizing Salesforce as the driving force. 

Metric Tracking and Analysis: 

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of business development efforts. 
• Analyze metrics to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for optimization. 

Financial Investments: 

• Manage and allocate financial investments for business development efforts, including proposal development, marketing, and relationship-building activities. 
• Analyze return on investment (ROI) for various initiatives and adjust resource allocation accordingly. 

Business Development Strategy: 

• In partnership with the CEO and CGO, develop and implement a comprehensive business development strategy aligned with the firm's growth goals and market trends. 
• Oversee and execute the business development strategy with the team ensuring alignment 
• Continuously assess market opportunities, competitive landscapes, and emerging technologies to inform strategy adjustments. 

Gate Reviews and Decision-Making: 

• Lead gate reviews for pursuing new business opportunities, evaluating the alignment with strategic goals, technical feasibility, and profitability. 
• Make informed decisions on bid/no-bid opportunities and allocate resources accordingly. 

Capture Management: 

• Oversee the capture management process, collaborating closely with proposal teams to develop winning strategies, solutions, and value propositions. 
• Ensure that capture plans are executed effectively to maximize win probabilities. 

Client and Partner Engagement: 

• Ensure the team is cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with Federal government clients, key stakeholders, and strategic partners. 
• Leverage relationships and network to identify and pursue business opportunities. 

Market Research and Intelligence: 

• Stay current with industry trends, government policies, and market intelligence to inform business development strategies. 
• Oversee the team’s competitive analysis to identify differentiators and areas for improvement. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Information Technology, or a related field.  
• Proven experience as a Business Development Executive or in a similar senior leadership role within the Federal IT professional services industry, with a minimum of 5 years in business development leadership for a mid-tier or large firm. 
• Deep understanding of the Federal government contracting landscape, procurement processes, and regulations. 
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and guide a diverse team of professionals. 
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving abilities. 
• Demonstrated success in winning and managing large Federal IT contracts. 
• Proficiency in financial analysis and budget management. 
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to engage with high-level stakeholders. 
• Active network and relationships within the Federal IT services sector. 
• Active SECRET or TOP SECRET is highly preferred  

Due to the nature of the work we support, all candidates in consideration for this role must be U.S. Citizens 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.