Business Development Manager Health

Business Development Manager - Health Portfolio

As required by our governmental clients, this position requires being a U.S. Citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, citizen of American Samoa, or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States.

The BD Account Lead - Health Portfolio at Cherokee Federal is responsible for driving growth strategy, pipeline development, and customer engagement across assigned Federal Health and Defense Health accounts. This role serves as the primary growth owner for designated Health customers and is accountable for shaping, qualifying, and advancing new business opportunities aligned to Cherokee Federal's mission and capabilities.

The role requires a business development leader who can translate senior Department of Defense and Military Health priorities-such as lethality, readiness, resilience, and warfighter health-into actionable growth strategies across the Military Health System and broader federal health enterprise.

While prior relationships and domain exposure are valuable, this position is intentionally designed to reward tenacity, mission orientation, creativity, and disciplined execution in highly competitive customer environments where traditional outreach is often saturated.

The Account Lead will work closely with Capability Leaders, Capture Managers, Solution Architects, and Operations to develop account plans, influence acquisition strategies, and drive sustainable growth across the health portfolio.

Compensation & Benefits

Estimated Starting Salary Range:
Pay commensurate with experience, portfolio scope, and demonstrated federal health or defense health expertise.

Benefits:
Full-time benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), and other benefits as provided. Benefits are subject to change with or without notice.

Key Responsibilities

The BD Account Lead - Health Portfolio is responsible for:

• Establishing and executing account and growth strategies for assigned Federal Health and Defense Health customers.
• Owning pipeline development, qualification, and shaping across competitive, task order, and direct award opportunities.
• Engaging government stakeholders across program, medical, operational, and contracting communities.
• Translating DoD and Military Health priorities (e.g., readiness, lethality, resilience, force health protection) into value-based customer conversations.
• Identifying and shaping opportunities aligned to health modernization, medical readiness, and operational health missions.
• Collaborating with Capture Managers and Proposal Teams through the Shipley Business Development Lifecycle.
• Leading early-stage capture activities including customer intelligence, competitive positioning, teaming strategies, and acquisition influence.
• Promoting and positioning Cherokee Federal's Health capabilities and differentiated value.
• Conducting market analysis and competitor assessments within the Defense Health and Federal Health marketplaces.
• Briefing senior leadership on pipeline projections, account health, and growth strategies.
• Ensuring compliance with ethics regulations and limitations governing federal government interactions.
• Documenting all BD activities, meetings, and opportunities in Salesforce.
• Performing other job-related duties as assigned.

Experience, Education, Skills & Abilities

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Public Health, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10-15 years of experience in federal government business development, capture, or account management.
• Demonstrated experience developing and advancing federal health or defense-related opportunities.
• Strong understanding of federal acquisition processes, including FAR-based contracting.
• Experience with GSA MAS, IDIQs, BPAs, GWACs, 8(a), and Full & Open strategies.
• Ability to develop and execute account plans and opportunity strategies.
• Experience working within the Shipley Business Development Lifecycle.
• Proficiency with Salesforce, Microsoft Office, and collaboration tools (Teams).
• Ability to travel up to 50%, as required.
• Must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.

Preferred Domain Knowledge - Defense Health

Deep prior Defense Health experience is beneficial but not required. Preference is given to candidates who demonstrate the ability to learn rapidly, think strategically, and connect mission priorities to growth strategy.

Helpful background includes:

• Understanding of the Military Health System (MHS) mission, priorities, and historical challenges.
• Awareness of senior DoD leadership priorities-particularly warfighter lethality, readiness, and resilience-and how they translate to military health outcomes.
• Familiarity with the Defense Health marketplace, including major competitors and acquisition dynamics.
• Exposure to or understanding of key Defense Health organizations such as:
  • PEO Defense Healthcare Management Systems (PEO DHMS)
  • Defense Health Agency (DHA) and Healthcare Optimization Office
  • Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR)
  • Armed Forces Health Surveillance Division (AFHSD)
  • Joint Trauma System (JTS)
  • Institute for Surgical Research (ISR)
  • Military mental and behavioral health offices

Health Capability Knowledge

Hands-on technical expertise is not required; however, candidates should demonstrate curiosity and the ability to position health capabilities in support of mission needs.

Helpful familiarity includes:

• Federal and Defense health modernization initiatives
• Digital health and interoperability challenges
• Behavioral and mental health priorities within the military
• Concepts such as:
  • HL7 and health data interoperability
  • Biosurveillance and population health
  • Combat casualty care and trauma systems
  • Occupational health and medical readiness
  • Medical examinations and force health assessments
  • Virtual health and telehealth solutions

Critical Success Attributes (High Premium)

Success in this role depends more on approach and mindset than on pre-existing access alone.

High-performing candidates will demonstrate:

• Hunger and tenacity to penetrate competitive and saturated customer environments.
• A problem-solving mentality focused on mission outcomes rather than solution selling.
• Strong mission-driven orientation, particularly around warfighter health and readiness.
• Creativity in identifying non-traditional engagement paths and differentiated value propositions.
• Ability to rapidly build credibility through insight, preparation, and relevance.
• Comfort operating amid leadership turnover, evolving priorities, and dynamic acquisition strategies.
• An established Rolodex is beneficial but not required; sustained success is driven by discipline, creativity, and execution.

Company Information

Cherokee Federal is a division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, providing mission-focused solutions to more than 60 federal clients across defense, intelligence, health, and civilian agencies.

Learn more at cherokee-federal.com.

#CherokeeFederal #LI #LI-WD1

Cherokee Federal is a military-friendly employer. Veterans and active military transitioning to civilian status are encouraged to apply.

Legal Disclaimer

Cherokee Federal is an equal opportunity employer. Visit cherokee-federal.com/careers for information regarding our Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer Statement and accommodation requests.

Many positions require access to government buildings or military installations. Candidates must pass pre-employment qualifications of Cherokee Federal.