Business Director, Marine & DoD Market Development

Industrious Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Itochu International Inc (a holding of Itochu Corp, a Global Fortune 70 company), operates two subsidiaries specializing in the manufacturing, rebuilding, repairing, and servicing of equipment for the metal forming, steelmaking, and hydropower industries. Key clientele includes automotive companies, tier one and tier two auto suppliers, major steel producers, and public and private utilities.

Position Summary:

Strategic and execution-oriented leadership role responsible for establishing a meaningful position in the Marine and Department of Defense (DoD) markets. Initially focused on building an investable business plan and launching a new business vertical for Industrious Group - that leverages our core competencies and capabilities in rebuilding and modernizing large, complex equipment.  Once business plan is developed, this role is responsible for executing the plan to drive market penetration and profitable growth in the Marine and DoD market. 

The ideal candidate will bring direct experience in new business development and/or program development working with Prime contractors serving the U.S. Navy, with a deep understanding of their procurement processes, technical requirements, and supplier ecosystems. This role is critical to positioning our company as a trusted partner to the industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Market Entry & Business Planning

• Conduct upfront discovery of the Marine and Department of Defense landscape to evaluate market viability, customer requirements and competitive dynamics.
• Develop a comprehensive business plan to enter the Marine and DoD markets, focusing on:
  • Market segmentation and opportunity sizing
  • Competitive positioning and value proposition
  • Go-to-market strategy and investment roadmap
• Identify and pursue strategic partnerships, teaming agreements, and acquisition opportunities to accelerate market entry.
• Build and present investment cases to executive leadership.

Customer-Focused Business Development

• Leverage existing relationships and insights from prior experience working with or for Prime contractors to the U.S. Navy.
• Identify and pursue subcontracting, teaming, and direct award opportunities aligned with our capabilities in heavy equipment rebuilds and modernization.
• Serve as the voice of the customer internally, ensuring alignment between customer needs and operational capabilities.

Business Unit Leadership

• Translate discovery findings to assess whether opportunities can be incubated within existing business units ensuring alignment with core capabilities and scalability potential with the ultimate objective to stand up and lead a new Marine/DoD-focused business unit.
• Oversee capture strategy, proposal development, and contract execution for government and prime contractor programs.
• Ensure compliance with FAR/DFARS, CMMC, ITAR, and relevant quality standards (e.g., ISO, AS9100, MIL-SPEC).
• Align internal operations (machining, welding, NDT, QA/QC) with customer and contract requirements.
• Manage P&L, growth targets, and long-term strategic roadmap.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in business development, program management, or strategy roles within the defense or marine sectors.
• Direct experience working for or with Prime contractors to the U.S. Navy, ideally in new program development or subcontractor management.
  • Familiarity with ship repair, overhaul, or modernization programs (e.g., NAVSEA, MARMC, MSC) strongly preferred.
• Strong technical understanding of large-scale equipment, heavy industrial manufacturing, and modernization programs.
• Demonstrated success in launching or scaling new business units or market segments.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

The benefits of joining our team

Because we seek to hire the best people, we work hard to provide benefits that make their lives better, so we offer a comprehensive benefit program which features:

• Health coverage for you and your family through medical, dental and vision plans
• 401(k) plan in with a generous company match
• Financial protection through disability, life, and accidental death & dismemberment insurance plans
• Tax advantages through flexible spending accounts that allow you to pay for specific health-care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars
• Generous paid time off program in which the benefits increase along with your tenure with the company

When you join our team, you do more than simply switch companies to progress your career. You become part of our family, a group of talented women and men who drive business success.

Industrious Group and its subsidiaries is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit and business need.