Senior Business Development Manager, D&I
Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth.
Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one.
Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world's toughest obstacles.
As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains.
We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.
Planet is a global company with employees working remotely world wide and joining us from offices in San Francisco, Washington DC, Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and The Netherlands.
The Role
Planet is seeking a Business Development Manager focused on the Asia, Pacific, Japan region and their government's National Security Communities to lead execution of the entire business development lifecycle, with a specific focus on Australia. Responsibilities include identifying and qualifying new business opportunities, pursuing long term strategic captures and supporting acquisition activities such as RFI's, White Papers, Unsolicited Proposals, and RFPs across the region's D&I portfolio, while advocating for Planet capabilities to mission users within national Defense and Intelligence organizations. The BD Manager will contribute to the identification, prioritization and shaping of new business pursuits and the development and execution of capture strategies focusing on the Australian Defense Forces, Defense Intelligence Group, and Joint Operations Command. Future pursuits may expand across the entirety of the associated region, to include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, New Zealand, and others.
The ideal candidate knows how to navigate the complex relationships of a dynamic technology company with multiple priorities and will inspire our team and our partners. Planet's services are novel, and we are looking for someone to educate stakeholders on the broader context of opportunities and keeping an eye on building the case for new product development.
This is a full-time, remote position based in Australia. If located near an office, you are expected to work from that office 3 days per week.
Impact You'll Own:
- Leverage existing and develop new, trusted relationships with current and prospective Planet customers and industry partners
- Specifically, the role will need to create a strategy and engagement plan to align Planet solutions to increase support for Australia's National Security mission needs
- Actively participate in relevant community forums, events, industry days, and other means to continually increase Planet's understanding of the Customer's missions, long term visions and priorities, along with budgets and acquisition cycles to position Planet to earn new business and partnership opportunities
- Build the long term pipeline at Defense and Intelligence organizations within the Australian National Security Community:
- Identify Mechanisms to Influence and Capture Future Business (e.g. RFIs, RFPs, White Papers)
- Adjudicate bid/no-bid or pursue/don't-pursue evaluation, documentation, recommendation, consensus and way forward in coordination with Sales teams
- Establish repeatable business development processes
- Determine resource needs outside of current (e.g. consultants, subcontractors), justify resource needs, budgets and contracts, and manage the above
- Document and continuously update Customer engagement plans and key messaging in partnership with Global D&I Director of Business Development
- Provide leadership and expertise in support of strategic planning, competitive intelligence and market assessments
- Partner collaboratively with APJ Sales Director and Account Executives
- Maintain close alignment with Government Affairs on policy shaping activities
- Maintain close relationships with BD Managers across regions, to ensure consistent approaches where appropriate and coordinate engagements with multi-country Defense alliances that cross regions
- Coordinate responses to RFIs and RFPs through bid decision to submission to ensure alignment to strategy
- Collaborate with Proposal Managers and Product Leadership on product positioning and pricing
What You Bring:
- 10+ years of relevant experience
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Experience working within the Australian National Security Community (e.g. Australian Defence Forces, Defence Intelligence Group, Joint Operations Command, Home Affairs) as a civilian or military officer
- Ability and experience in communicating effectively with senior level civilian leadership and/or military flag officers
- Experience forging mutually beneficial relationships with Defence and Intelligence organizations
- Excellent communication (speaking and writing), presentation, interpersonal, and organizational skills
- Achievements and relevant experience in the private and/or public sector in some combination of aerospace and remote sensing, data analytics, sales, business development, and military and intelligence roles
- Excellent project, time, and budget management skills
- Experience working collaboratively and independently in a dynamic environment with the ability to tackle unique challenges presented by its dynamic conditions
- Experience working closely with organizations in a wide variety of geographies and sectors
- Highly motivated to create a vibrant 21st century aerospace ecosystem and a commercial GEOINT market
What Makes You Stand Out:
- Experience working across multiple parts of Australia's National Security Community, preferably in GEOINT, Data, Space, Intelligence, Maritime functions in operational or strategic roles
- Active security clearance
Application Deadline: June 29, 2026 by 11:59 PM Pacific Time (GMT 8)
Benefits While Working at Planet:
- Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company-wide days off
- Employee Wellness Program
- Home Office Reimbursement
- Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement
- Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning
- Equity
- Volunteering Paid Time Off