Director, Strategic Growth – National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)

Hybrid Work – Must be in the Metro DC Area

Active Top-Secret Clearance in Required (TS/SCI, Preferred)

@Orchard is seeking an experienced Director-level Growth professional with strong, current relationships and networks within the NRO for a client with an established NRO footprint. The core focus is on growing a presence in the areas of AI/ML, GEO Int, CGI, Mesh Networks, and other cutting-edge sectors.

If you are looking to join a private-equity-backed fast-growth firm with plans to double its revenue over the next four years through organic growth, this is your chance.

Our client is forging the new frontier of spatial intelligence, helping decision makers and operators navigate what’s happening now and shape what’s coming next. To be eligible for this position, you must be a U.S. Citizen. This position requires an active U.S. Government security clearance; applicants who do not currently hold the required clearance will not be eligible for consideration. Employment is contingent upon verification of clearance status.

About the role:

This is not a traditional sales role. You will create opportunities where none exist, shape demand from first principles, and guide customers from ambiguity to adoption. You’ll engage deeply with technical operators, mission owners, and senior leadership, translating capabilities into mission-critical outcomes.

Success in this role requires both technical fluency and commercial instinct. You should be equally comfortable discussing constellation architecture, AI/ML workflows, and collection orchestration as you are building a pipeline, driving strategy, and closing high-impact deals.

What You’ll Do:

• Generate and drive new business across NRO and IC accounts through highly targeted, insight-led outreach
• Engage deeply with mission stakeholders to understand operational gaps and shape solutions from first principles
• Translate Vantor’s space + AI platform into a clear, differentiated mission advantage
• Own pipeline creation end-to-end—from initial engagement through qualification and deal progression
• Build credibility quickly with technical and operational audiences
• Develop account strategies grounded in mission priorities, budget cycles, and acquisition pathways
• Operate with precision in pipeline management, forecasting, and CRM discipline
• Partner tightly with Product, Engineering, and GTM teams to refine positioning and accelerate adoption
• Stay ahead of the competitive and technological landscape across space, GEOINT, and AI/ML

Minimum Qualifications:

• Active TS with the ability to obtain and maintain SCI
• Demonstrated experience in strategic business development leadership, or mission-facing roles in defense, space, or deep tech
• Demonstrated success selling or deploying complex, technical systems into DoD/IC environments
• Direct experience engaging with NRO stakeholders, programs, or mission sets
• Strong technical fluency across at least one of:
• Space systems/satellite programs
• AI/ML and data platforms
• GEOINT or remote sensing
• Experience with next-gen constellations, collection orchestration, or space-ground architectures
• Familiarity with mesh networks, AI-enabled analytics, or commercial GEOINT

Preferred Qualifications:

• Understanding of IC/DoD acquisition and program lifecycles
• Experience working cross-functionally with technical and product teams in fast-moving environments
• Exposure to MEDDPICC or similar frameworks (used pragmatically, not dogmatically)

Compensation: The On-Target Earnings (OTE) for this position is: $264,000.00 - $440,000.00 annually. OTE is built from a 70/30 split (base/variable), aligned to high ownership and high impact.

Established in 2010, @Orchard LLC has an exceptional reputation, providing staffing solutions to time-sensitive, talent scarcity issues to deliver better talent management ROI.  Our specialty lies in the critical area of program talent acquisition and resource management, not in one narrow skillset, but across many areas of technical and functional delivery. To learn more about our other exciting opportunities, visit our Jobs Page at www.atOrchard.com.