Peraton’s Health Sector is seeking an Associate Business Development Director to help shape and execute our growth strategy across the Defense Health Agency and the Military Health System. This role carries the full breadth of BD Director responsibilities — from strategy development and pipeline management to capture leadership and client engagement — and is designed as a clear stepping stone into the BD Director seat.
Whether you’ve spent years building pipelines inside government health agencies, led captures in the defense contracting arena, or are pivoting from a DHA/MHS program role into the commercial sector, this position offers the platform, mentorship, and market access to accelerate your career.
You’ll work closely with senior BD and account leadership, gaining visibility across Peraton’s defense health portfolio while driving real growth in one of the most dynamic segments of the federal market.
Position is located in Reston, VA with the ability to travel to customer sites as needed.
What you will do
Growth Strategy & Market Development — Partner with the BD Director to develop and refine Peraton’s defense health growth strategy; identify white-space opportunities across DHA and MHS; and translate agency priorities, budget trends, and mission needs into actionable pursuit plans.
Pipeline Development & Management — Build and manage a qualified pipeline of DHA/MHS opportunities in Salesforce; ensure data accuracy, stage progression, and win-probability assessments are current and defensible for leadership reviews.
Capture & Competitive Positioning — Lead or support captures from opportunity qualification through proposal submission; develop win themes, competitive assessments (Black Hat analyses), teaming strategies, and price-to-win frameworks.
Client Engagement & Relationship Building — Cultivate and maintain trusted relationships with DHA/MHS stakeholders, program offices, and industry partners; represent Peraton at industry days, conferences, and one-on-one agency meetings.
Executive Briefings & Communications — Prepare gate reviews, pipeline briefings, and strategic presentations for Peraton senior leadership; synthesize complex market and competitive intelligence into clear, decision-ready materials.
Teaming & Partner Strategy — Identify, evaluate, and negotiate teaming arrangements and strategic partnerships that strengthen Peraton’s competitive posture on DHA/MHS pursuits.
Proposal Leadership Support — Collaborate with Capture and Proposal Operations teams to ensure pursuit artifacts, compliance matrices, and solution narratives align with customer requirements and Peraton’s value proposition.
Mentorship & Team Development — Help guide junior BD staff and associate account executives; contribute to a culture of knowledge-sharing, accountability, and continuous improvement.
What We Offer
Direct partnership with senior BD leadership and a clear trajectory for increased responsibility and career advancement.
Visibility to Peraton’s executive leadership team and Health Sector growth council.
A mission-driven culture supporting some of the nation’s most critical defense health programs.
Competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a 401(k) with company match.
Professional development resources, tuition assistance, and leadership development programs.
Career Growth & Advancement
Peraton invests in leaders who demonstrate strategic thinking, market instinct, and the ability to drive results. This role is designed to grow with you:
Phase 1 — Integrate & Own. Assume full responsibility for a defined set of DHA/MHS pursuits while learning Peraton’s internal processes, tools, and stakeholder landscape. You’ll receive structured mentorship and exposure to executive decision-making.
Phase 2 — Lead & Expand. Take increasing ownership of capture strategy, client relationships, and pipeline growth. Contribute to win/loss reviews and shape portfolio-level investment decisions. High performers will represent Peraton independently at senior-level government engagements.
Phase 3 — Broaden Your Impact. Step into expanded leadership responsibilities with greater accountability for growth strategy, team development, and cross-portfolio initiatives — backed by the relationships, institutional knowledge, and executive trust you’ve built along the way.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Minimum of 12 years with BS/BA; Minimum of 10 years with MS/MA; Minimum of 7 years with Ph.D.
5+ years of combined experience in business development, capture management, and/or federal agency program support — with demonstrable exposure to the defense health market (DHA, MHS, or related organizations).
Working understanding of DHA/MHS organizational structure, procurement vehicles (e.g., T4NG, MHS GENESIS follow-ons, DHMSM ecosystem), and the broader defense health IT and services landscape.
Familiarity with the full business development lifecycle — opportunity identification, qualification (gate reviews), capture planning, proposal support, and post-submission activities.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Teams) and Salesforce or equivalent CRM; comfort leveraging AI/automation tools to increase productivity.
Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to present confidently to senior executives and government stakeholders alike.
Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain a U.S. Government security clearance.
Willing to travel up to 40% as needed.
Target Salary Range $135,000 - $216,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement
Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
- EEO
- EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.
