Vice President, Ground Operations

Overview

Mistral, Inc., a subsidiary of Ondas comprising defense-focused companies, aims to bridge operational gaps in defense and law enforcement by delivering innovative, practical, and high-readiness solutions. The company is seeking an experienced Vice President of Ground Operations to lead efforts in securing and managing multiple defense contracts at their Bethesda, MD headquarters. This full-time role reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Business Development.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive business development strategies supporting Mistral's ground operations in defense and related markets.
• Identify and evaluate new opportunities in robotics, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), tactical wheeled vehicles (TWVs), mortar systems, ground weaponry, and enhancements for ground soldiers.
• Recognize operational deficiencies for Department of Defense ground troops and develop system-based solutions to address these.
• Align all initiatives with the company’s vision, mission, and yearly business objectives, including goals and key performance indicators.
• Manage the entire pipeline for ground operation opportunities, from initial identification through to contract awards.
• Ensure development and submission of compliant, high-quality, and competitive proposals through coordination with engineering, program management, finance, and contracts teams.
• Implement winning strategies, pricing alignment, and customer-centric solutions.
• Ensure seamless synchronization between business development activities and program execution, closely monitoring timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
• Supervise teams involved in ground business development including capture managers and proposal teams, providing leadership, mentorship, and performance management.
• Represent Mistral's ground capabilities at trade shows, industry conferences, and customer meetings while supporting marketing content creation and competitor analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree mandatory; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years experience in business development, capture management, or related roles in defense, aerospace, or robotics sectors.
• Track record of successfully acquiring and expanding DoD-related programs.
• Strong familiarity with ground systems, robotics, UGVs, or similar defense platforms is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of federal contracting, the proposal process, and acquisition lifecycles.
• Proven ability to handle complex pursuits and meet strict proposal deadlines.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams including engineering, operations, and program management.