Business Development Director - Americas

Business Development Director - Americas

Job details

General information

Entity

Safran is an international high-technology group operating in the fields of aerospace (propulsion, equipment and interiors), space and defense. Its mission is to contribute sustainably to a safer world, where air transport becomes ever more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Present on every continent, the Group employs 110,000 people and generated €31.3 billion in revenue in 2025. Safran holds, either independently or through partnerships, leading global or European positions in its markets.

Safran was ranked second in the Aerospace & Defense sector in TIME magazine's ""World's Best Companies 2025"" ranking.

Reference number

2026-187891

Job details

Domain

Performance and Support

Job field / Job profile

Customer services and support - Service and business development

Job title

Business Development Director - Americas

Employment type

Permanent

Professional category

Employees / Staff

Part time / Full time

Full-time

Job description

The position is responsible for enhancing & strengthening the customer relationship with the assigned key airlines and lessors mainly in North America but could include South/Latin America. The successful candidate will support business growth across SAFRAN Group including Aerosystems, Cabin Group, Seats Group, Landing Systems, Electronic and Defense, Electrical & Power and Nacelles while supporting related Aftermarket activities of these Safran companies.

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Develop, maintain and enhance relations between Customers and SAFRAN leadership. Create and facilitate a formal contact plan for relationship-building meetings between SAFRAN personnel and their airline counterparts.

• Help to achieve positive SAFRAN image and recurring business

• Frequent, consistent, and regular engagements with key customer accounts

• Organize periodic business review meetings, product previews and demonstrations.

• Contribute & support SAFRAN's strategic business growth and objectives.

• Develop and coordinate a SAFRAN-wide account strategy for assigned customers, ensuring alignment of customer priorities, engagement plans, business opportunities and executive interactions across part

• Provide accurate and timely information to SAFRAN personnel and maintain all relevant information about the assigned customer account(s) including strategic & engagement plan, mapping key customers landscape, fleet data, future fleet plans, sales opportunities, competitors positioning, etc.

• Support SAFRAN company's annual sales and marketing plans. When appropriate, support successful closure of sales campaign using information & guidance provided by SAFRAN's Groups.

• Provide intelligence and support the Sales teams in RFQs/tender/bids, and bundle proposals that are financially and operationally feasible.

• Promote SAFRAN's products and concepts. Identify opportunities and anticipate the future requirements from customer(s).

• Primary customer focal for all SAFRAN assigned Companies for linefit / retrofit opportunities and other opportunities, which may occur.

• Act as the voice of the customer within SAFRAN, communicating customer priorities, expectations, strategic direction and key concerns to relevant SAFRAN companies and leadership.

• Support Aftermarket activities of Safran entities, monitor significant customer performance concerns, and facilitate cross-company coordination and executive engagement to prevent or resolve escalations.

But what else? (advantages, specificities, etc.)

• Support awarded programs through key development and entry-into-service phases, facilitating customer communication and cross-functional coordination in the event of significant delays, disputes or performance concerns.

• Set-up and coordinate regular executive level meetings (ERM, BRM,…) between airlines and SAFRAN companies

• Participate in and host Customers at major industry shows and events.

• Assist in the identification of potential useful business partners that fully comply with SAFRAN Trade Compliance requirements.

• Host and attend frequent telecons and virtual meetings.

• Fully support accounts receivable efforts.

• Provide timely and accurate reports including but not limited to: updated information about assigned key accounts.

• Be capable of acting on behalf of, or in lieu of VP BDA as requested.

• Support in the analysis, verification, and preparation of market intelligence.

Key Success Measures:

• Contributes to business growth and positive image of SAFRAN.

• Meets strategic business objectives.

• Customers' satisfaction and appreciated or recognized by the Customer(s) as a SAFRAN “go-to” person.

• Branch Sales and Executive Management satisfaction.

• Ensure Trade Compliance standards are fully adhered too.

Candidate skills & requirements

• Demonstrated ability to establish, build and maintain effective relationships with Customers and achieve business growth objectives.

• Excellent level of English skills (spoken & written) is mandatory

• Effective communicator with multiple stakeholders to achieve desirable outcomes.

• Adaptability to local culture (political, geopolitical and industrial environment, language(s), decision-making circuits and processes, within the framework of a campaign, implicit or explicit choice criteria, formalism, influences, etc.) and local regulations

• Excellent understanding and execution of digital applications for marketing and sales required.

• Bachelor's degree required, degree in Business/Engineering fields preferred; MBA preferred.

-The selected candidate will need 8+ years of experience in commercial airlines, the Safran Group and aviation in general; significant experience in 1-2 of these areas could also suffice.

• Experience in institutional / high level relations abroad is an additional asset

• Knowledge in Aftermarket activities

• Knowledge of Safran Group (organization, decision-making and communication processes, DIRI framework, etc.) and its products with a focus on those considered in the geographical area

-Experience engaging commercial airlines in product development or sales efforts. Experience within the interiors segment is preferred.

Annual salary

TBD

Job location

Job location

North America, United States

City (-ies)

Remote

Applicant criteria

Minimum education level achieved

Bachelor's Degree

Minimum experience level required

More than 8 years

Additional Languages preferred

English (Fluent)

ITAR Controlled Position: Select "Yes" if role requires U.S. citizenship/permanent residency

No