Manager - DoD Business Development

Alta Resource Technologies (Alta) is a next generation mining company that uses synthetic biology to separate critical minerals from conventional and unconventional resources, including e-waste. Founded in 2023, the company is expanding its team in Boulder, CO and Washington, DC.

The exponential growth of new climate tech industries, as well as the information technology sector, are driving historic growth in mineral demand and stressing existing supply streams. Meeting new demand, diversifying the supply chain, and producing minerals in a more sustainable manner requires the rapid development, deployment and scaling of new technologies. This mineral challenge represents a historic opportunity for technology development and value creation. Alta is proud to be at the vanguard of this mega trend.

The Business Development Team:

The Business Development (BD) team, within Alta’s Commercialization organization, is responsible for identifying, shaping, capturing, and growing new opportunities and capabilities for the company. As the DoD BD manager, you will work closely with our VP Commercialization to lead our growth and strategy activities with the DoD. This role will be responsible for collaborating with other Alta functions, partner companies and customers to grow existing and capture new DoD programs.

What You’ll Do

• Develop and execute long-term growth strategies. You’ll work with BD and company leadership to identify new opportunity areas, develop entry strategies, and execute those strategies in collaboration with stakeholders from across the company.
• Grow existing business, generate new opportunities, and capture new business. Develop a deep understanding of existing and prospective customers, understand current and future rare earth oxide (REO) products and capabilities, and understand the competitive landscape. Develop and execute coordinated approaches to new business opportunities. Develop and execute comprehensive capture campaigns.
• Develop and maintain relationships with critical U.S. Department of Defense program office stakeholders and partner companies. Identify new business opportunities as well as proactively communicate and resolve program issues.
• Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders and partners. To succeed, you must collaborate closely with operations, engineering leads, partner companies, and customers.
• Communicate our value to customers, partners, competitors, and the interested public. Project the company’s ethos, conveying insights that illustrate our approach to building next-generation mining technology and our competitive edges in doing so.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant acquisition, program management, business development, mission operations, and/or capture experience in government and/or private sector in defense technology
• Experience in the technical, programmatic, and operational challenges of developing, deploying, and sustaining complex technologies and hardware for defense applications
• Deep interest in critical mineral separation technologies and rare earth element market. Past experience or existing expertise a plus
• Ability to identify, establish, and leverage key relationships with senior level officials and program stakeholders within the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting to senior executives and customers; ability to translate complex topics, convince, and inspire through the written and spoken word.
• Capable of succeeding in a fast-paced, ambiguous, dynamic, and creative environment.
• Self-starter, comfortable working with limited oversight.
• Ability to travel 25% required.
• Must be based out of the Washington, DC

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading end-to-end DoD capture or contract function, from proposal development through contract management
• Knowledge of and experience working with the Program Executive Offices, Major Defense Acquisition Programs, DLA and other stakeholder organizations across the Department of Defense and/or Intelligence Community
• Intimate understanding of and experience navigating the Defense Acquisition Process
• Demonstrated performance working with cross-functional teams and managing organizational resources
• Advanced degrees in STEM or business administration a plus
• Secret Clearance. Existing Secret/TS Clearance a plus.