Business Development Manager, Crew Partnerships

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Business Development Manager, Crew Partnerships, reporting to the Vice President, Crew Partnerships to support Vast’s market and business development activities with Government space agencies across the world. As a Business Development Manager, you will drive both the day-to-day execution and the strategic development of an international sales portfolio focused on sovereign human spaceflight customers. The role requires personal drive, high judgment, excellent organization skills, and demonstrated networking and communication skills to help define the trajectory of Vast.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location. 

Responsibilities: 

• Develop and maintain account strategies for assigned countries and customers: decision-makers, funding paths, political timing, and the sequence of steps to close
• Identify and build the case for new sovereign prospects; provide data-driven recommendations on where VP and executive time is best invested each quarter
• Track the competitive landscape in commercial human spaceflight and translate it into positioning for customer meetings and proposals
• Contribute market and account analysis to offers, campaigns, and executive decision-making
• Own day-to-day account management for an assigned slice of the crew sales portfolio, including cadence, correspondence, meeting preparation, and follow-through
• Plan and prioritize the crew partnerships business development engagement calendar against live opportunities, event windows, and program deadlines
• Host and convert HQ visits from government delegations, agency leadership, and prospective customers, from agenda to tour to follow-up
• Staff executive meetings (CEO and VP level) with briefing materials, and carry actions to completion afterward
• Represent Vast independently at conferences, agency meetings, and customer engagements
• Work daily with Vast's internal sales intelligence system, directing research, and providing feedback.
• Coordinate across legal, mission operations, astronaut training, and communications teams to keep deals moving between signatures

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in business development, sales, strategy, or partnerships involving government or institutional customers
• Bachelors degree or equivalent experience

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience in the aerospace, space, defense, or adjacent high-consequence industries
• Experience with space agencies, embassies, or sovereign institutions
• Demonstrated experience preparing and staffing senior-executive or ministerial-level engagements
• Excellent written communication skills, producing briefs, meeting notes, and correspondence that executives can act on without edits
• High judgment on confidentiality and protocol in politically sensitive, multi-country contexts
• A second language (French, Japanese, Arabic, or Spanish especially useful)
• Comfortable working in a high-stress environment balancing several projects at any given time, and the flexibility to adjust for abrupt changes in strategic direction
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and work independently in a startup environment

Additional Requirements:

• Ability to travel up to 50% of the time, internationally and on short notice
• Willingness to work early mornings, evenings, or weekends to support customers and colleagues across international time zones

Pay Range: California$114,000—$162,000 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

The person hired will have access to information and items subject to U.S. export controls, and therefore, must either be a “U.S. person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.