Business Development Manager, South Korea

Business Development Manager, South Korea

The Business Development Manager will be responsible for building Shield AI's business opportunities with a focus on order execution and growth in South Korea. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of South Korea's defense procurement process and demonstrate confidence in engaging with customers, representing Shield AI at industry events, and leading product demonstrations. You will operate on a small team with a demanding work and travel schedule and a very high level of responsibility and accountability to perform and deliver results, with the opportunity to make an outsized impact and become a major contributor to the company.

What You'll Do:

• Support the International Business Development Country Executive, Head of Korea in executing Shield AI's strategy and objectives.
• Engage with customers regularly to present and discuss Shield AI products.
• Cultivate, nurture, and maintain strong relationships across the ROK Government, military services, and defense industries to ensure engagements with key stakeholders.
• Represent Shield AI at trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events, showcasing our technology and capabilities.
• Devise and coordinate marketing and government relations initiatives to increase Shield AI's visibility and influence.
• Plan and execute product demonstrations for prospective customers and partners.
• Customer interface with Embassy, JUSMAG-K, MND, DAPA, Government entities to include think tanks, academia, and local defense industry.
• Work cross-functionally to address customer needs and provide tailored responses.
• Lead and coordinate proposal responses and follow through to contract award.
• Develop and implement offset strategies and identify and execute other U.S. defense prime offset obligations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date opportunity tracking in Salesforce and other business systems.

Required Qualifications:

• Exceptional communicator: Fluent in both Korean and English with strong written, verbal, and presentation skills and the ability to engage seamlessly at all levels of business and government.
• Charismatic leader who can motivate, inspire, and impart excitement about Shield AI's mission, technology, and products with the desire to help build the defining defense technology company of this century.
• Thorough understanding of ROK military operations and acquisition processes with the ability to maintain strong customer relationships.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a track record of meeting and exceeding critical goals and deadlines.
• Proven leadership and/or acquisition and operational experience within the U.S. DoD or international equivalents and demonstrated understanding of Korean Air Force, Army, Navy, or equivalent operational scenarios and systems.
• Technical knowledge within UAV and/or AI disciplines, or demonstrated ability to learn quickly.
• Willing and able to travel both domestically and internationally, frequently and without restriction, including to customer sites.
• Team-oriented with the ability to collaborate effectively while also being direct and forthright.
• Proficient in business systems and tools required for high-performance operations.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent military education.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree is highly valued.
• Prior strategy or business development experience in international defense markets.
• Business development experience in UAV, AI, or other defense-related technology contexts.
• Strong research and analysis skills.

Our international team members are employed through our Employer of Record (EOR) and receive a comprehensive international benefits package on top of base salary. For full details on compensation and benefits, please consult your talent acquisition partner.