Vice President, Business Development & Strategy

Company Overview

At CAE, we exist to make the world safer. We deliver cutting - edge training, simulation, and critical operations solutions to prepare aviation professionals and defense forces for the moments that matter. Every day, we empower pilots, cabin crew, maintenance technicians, airlines, business aviation operators, and defense and security personnel to perform at their best when the stakes are the highest. Around the globe, we're everywhere customers need us to be with approximately 13,000 employees at around 240 sites and training locations in over 40 countries. For nearly 80 years, CAE has been at the forefront of innovation, consistently seeking to set the standard by delivering excellence in high - fidelity flight simulators and training solutions, while embedding sustainability at the heart of everything we do. By harnessing technology and enhancing human performance, we strive to be the trusted partner in advancing safety and mission readiness - today and tomorrow. CAE continues to help define global training standards with its innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer and maintain defense force readiness. Each year, the company trains more than 220,000 civil and defense crew members, including more than 135,000 pilots.

Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, CAE has built an excellent reputation and long-standing customer relationships based on experience, strong technical capabilities, a highly trained workforce, and global reach. CAE's shares are traded on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges (TSX: CAE; NYSE: CAE). The company reported revenues of $4.7 billion for the year ending 31 March 2025, and has a market capitalization of more than $9.6 billion as of 5 March 2026.

Defense & Security

CAE's Defense & Security business segment focuses on helping prepare its customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness. CAE is a world-class training systems integrator offering a comprehensive portfolio of training centers, training services and simulation products across the air, land, naval and public safety market segments. The D&S business unit serves its global defense and security customers through regional operations in Canada, the United States/Latin America, Europe/Africa, and Asia-Pacific/Middle East; all of which leverage the full breadth of CAE's capabilities, technologies and solutions.

CAE is a global leader in the development and delivery of integrated live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training solutions for defense forces. Most militaries leverage a combination of live training on actual platforms, virtual training in simulators, and constructive training using computer-generated simulations. The solutions provided by CAE's Defense and Security business unit typically include a combination of training services, simulation products and software tools designed to cost-effectively maintain and enhance safety, efficiency, mission readiness and decision-making capabilities.

CAE USA is the largest division of this segment. The Defense and Security segment accounted for $2 billion in revenue in 2025. CAE USA Inc. is the largest business unit of the Defense and Security segment, accounting for $1.3 billion in annual revenue and employing more than 2,500 personnel. Headquartered in Tampa, FL, CAE USA inc. operates under a Special Security Agreement (SSA) with the U.S. Department of Defense to mitigate foreign ownership. As a U.S. corporation operating under an SSA, CAE USA inc. has its own U.S. board of directors that monitors and oversees all company activities related to performance of classified programs and protection of export-controlled information, security procedures, and company management.

CAE USA Inc. delivers integrated training programs, comprehensive simulation systems, and instructional services and curricula designed to satisfy the training needs of military clients and original equipment manufacturers. CAE USA is dedicated to supporting military organizations in achieving and sustaining peak mission readiness. The organization draws upon CAE's extensive portfolio of capabilities, technologies, and solutions to supply simulation systems, training services, and training centers that enhance the operational readiness of U.S. and allied forces.

Position Summary

The Vice President, Business Development & Strategy will lead through influence, and successfully partner with internal and external functional, industry and government stakeholders to ensure the achievement of business plans and accelerate the rate of change in how customers view training and the digitally immersive environment. With a focus on continued growth and evolution of the training landscape, the successful candidate will play a key leadership role in developing and executing, in partnership with geographic leaders, a strategic business development plan at aiming topline revenue growth for the business unit in existing and new markets/solutions.

The ideal candidate will bring strong customer engagement experience and networks to identify and capture opportunities that foster innovation, advance tradecraft, and provide customers with decisive operational advantage in a rapidly evolving environment. Additionally, the Vice President, Business Development & Strategy will possess the acuity to recognize and act on evolving market and industry trends impacting the business.

Specific Responsibilities

• Act as conduit between key functional areas to oversee CAE USA's strategic planning process and governance.

• Drive the development and achievement of key metrics for regional strategy and marketing initiatives to drive growth in key areas and increase CAE USA brand equity.

• Identify and provide timely analysis of industry changes and direction; impactful legislation, policies, and appropriations; investor sentiment; and customer and competitive activities.

• Use influence, relationship management skills, and knowledge to identify, analyze and anticipate marketplace trends; expand government, industry and stakeholder awareness of the solutions offered by CAE to the Defense & Security community globally.

• Maintain awareness of and communicate appropriate information regarding budget and legislative initiatives affecting corporate goals and business area programs.

• Establish and enable relationships and engagements with key U.S. and International military, government and industry officials, and trade associations.

• Design, build, coordinate, and execute customer analysis plans, strategic customer approach plans, and customer contact plans.

• Work with Regional VPs to shape the business unit and region growth agendas and priorities, engaging them in the pursuit of new opportunities.

• Maintain a holistic view of opportunities globally and work with regional VPs and Group President to prioritize them to allocate efforts and budgets according to win rate potential.

• Quickly gain credibility as an expert resource to the various regions in terms of understanding and navigating the various complex procurement processes guiding the different D&S clients globally.

• Design and launch business development strategies and campaigns to realize results over time. This includes Price-To-Win (PTW), Black Hats, Teaming Analysis, Market Assessments, Campaign Management and Business Case Development.

• Ensures forecast accuracy, conducts order-forecasting reviews, and supports CAE USA's Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database.

• Maintain governance throughout the lead to award process.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the company's brand strategy.

• Develops concepts for internal and external communications, industry trade shows, recruitment and marketing materials and strategic engagement campaigns.

• Align external client messaging including coordination of marketing activities in partnership with local leaders.

Defense & Security Credibility

• Demonstrate expertise and a robust network across the aerospace OEM and defense aerospace markets and government agencies.

• Experience in or familiarity with the strategic and budgetary priorities across U.S. defense markets.

• Leverage past defense or other public sector procurement experience to shape, win, and deliver on contracts that achieve profitability alongside customer service objectives.

• Effectively interact with large and global clients and act as a key ambassador for the company.

• Possess the knowledge and connections to develop strategic teaming partnerships in the U.S. defense marketplace.

Executive & Team Management

• Serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Defense & Security Business Unit.

• Act as the Defense and SSA lead for all Strategy and Marketing related activities.

• Responsible for leading Strategy, Business Development, Capture, Proposal & Marketing teams within a multi-location environment.

• Identify, evaluate, and resolve complex business challenges in a collaborative manner through cross-functional business teams.

• Oversee planning, budgeting, staffing, coordination, training and activities of functional working groups as required.

Professional Experience/Qualifications

• A minimum of 10 years of work experience on progressive career path in business development, operational growth, or program management roles in the defense industry

• A bachelor's degree is required, with a preference for a degree in Business Administration, Technology Management, Marketing or Communications. Master of Business Administration (MBA) is preferred

• Must be a US Citizen and currently hold/maintain a US Department of Defense Security Clearance

• Demonstrated experience delivering and selling highly engineered products and services to the DoD and international defense and security markets

• Knowledge of US DOD Acquisition Policies and Procedures.

• Ability to work closely with the USA Board, CAE Executive Management team, and the CAE Inc. Board of Directors

• A high level of business acumen and the highest level of integrity to implement CAE's values: One CAE, Empowerment, Innovation, Excellence, and Integrity

• The candidate should offer a good balance of risk-taking and judgment, and be aggressive, entrepreneurial, self-confident, and decisive.

• An ability to build, organize and lead an effective, high performing team, mentoring and motivating the team to achieve aggressive goals and objectives

• Strong quantitative orientation to maintain a quick grasp of numbers with the strategic ability to interpret for smart decision making

• Global perspective and the ability to adapt quickly to different cultures with an appreciation for diverse added value perspectives

• Politically savvy with the ability to assess situations and quickly identify how to proceed through both formal and informal channels to ensure objectives are met

• A highly collaborative leader with excellent interpersonal skills that create an open environment where brainstorming leads to a better, more successful organization

• Global leadership position with extensive domestic and international travel required

• Strong written and oral communication skills are essential

• Experience with Salesforce and PowerBI a plus

Preferred Skills

• Experience or familiarity with working in or with a SSA or other mitigated business under FOCI rules and regulations with significant understanding of SSA FOCI mitigation requirements and governance including AOP, TCP, and ECP familiarity. Working knowledge of FOCI requirements and DCSA FOCI rules and regulations and ability to ensure they are followed throughout the organization

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

CAE USA Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including disability and protected veteran status, as defined under federal, state, or local laws.

Applicants needing reasonable accommodations should contact their recruiter at any point in the recruitment process. If you need assistance to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at hrops@caemilusa.com.

At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we've driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.

CAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.At CAE, everyone is welcome to contribute to our success. Applicants needing reasonable accommodations should contact their recruiter at any point in the recruitment process.If you need assistance to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at CAECarrieres-Careers@cae.com.

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As part of our process, we may use AIsupported tools to help review applications, with human decisionmaking at every step. CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.