Chief Growth Officer

Who we are:

Raft (https://teamraft.com) is a customer-obsessed, non-traditional small business focused on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. Headquartered in McLean, VA, we work with forward-thinking federal and public agencies, leveraging cutting-edge technology and a cloud-native ecosystem to create impactful digital solutions that serve millions of Americans.

About the role:

Raft is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Chief Growth Officer to lead and execute strategic growth initiatives. This role is critical to expanding our market presence, driving business development, and aligning our growth efforts with corporate objectives. As the Chief Growth Officer, you will play a key role in shaping and implementing strategies to secure high-priority government contracts, forge strategic partnerships, and identify acquisition opportunities. This remote position offers the chance to influence Raft's long-term success by scaling our growth capabilities while driving enterprise value.

How to Get There:

Strategic Leadership:

• Guide the strategic planning and execution for expanding into new markets and enhancing presence in existing ones.
• Align growth efforts with corporate objectives, establishing strategic growth goals, metrics, and a campaign planning process to pursue long-term targets (18-36 months)
• Develop and present a credible 36-month growth strategy to the Executive Leadership Team and investors, leading strategic growth discussions.

Business Development:

• Identify, pursue, and win new government contracts, focusing on high-priority agencies (e.g., NRO, Space) that align with the company's annual and three-year strategic goals.Build and mentor a high-performing business development team to maintain a robust, qualified pipeline that supports ambitious growth targets.
• Define criteria and establish streamlined processes for pursuing and prioritizing opportunities, ensuring efficient resource allocation and improved win rates.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to increase brand visibility, enhance thought leadership, and support pipeline development through targeted campaigns and initiatives.

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A):

• Identify acquisition targets to strengthen capabilities and increase market valuation.
• Lead due diligence, negotiations, and integration efforts for seamless operational and cultural alignment.

Market Analysis and Intelligence:

• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and procurement methodologies to guide strategy.
• Establish processes and tools for integrating market intelligence into CRM and decision-making.

Cross-Functional Alignment and Coordination:

• Partner with engineering and product teams to align market feedback with product roadmaps and R&D investments.
• Collaborate with operations, delivery, finance, and marketing to ensure successful proposal execution and contract delivery.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight:

• Ensure adherence to government regulations, procurement guidelines (e.g., FAR/DFARS), and security requirements.
• Implement processes to uphold ethical and compliant practices across all growth activities.

Pricing and Contract Strategy:

• Develop competitive pricing models and contract structures balancing profitability and customer expectations.
• Lead negotiations to secure favorable contract terms and long-term value.

Strategic Partnerships and Alliances:

• Establish and maintain relationships with prime contractors, subcontractors, integrators, and technology partners.
• Engage with industry consortia, research institutions, and think tanks to stay ahead of emerging technologies.

Investor and Stakeholder Communication:

• Partner with the Executive Leadership Team to present growth updates, pipeline status, and strategies to investors and the Board.
• Maintain transparent reporting on market dynamics, competitive positioning, and progress against growth metrics.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build a cohesive growth organization by defining clear roles, responsibilities, and key performance indicators to drive alignment and accountability.
• Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to elevate expertise in business development, capture management, and proposal strategy.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and innovation, empowering the growth team to achieve and exceed organizational goals.

Performance Management and Innovation:

• Establish annual growth metrics and track monthly progress, collaborating with the CTO to optimize IRAD and B&P investments and measure ROI.
• Continuously refine capture management methodologies, proposal development processes, and pipeline tracking tools.
• Adopt cutting-edge analytics platforms to enhance forecasting accuracy and resource allocation.
• Encourage best practices, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning to maintain competitive advantage.

Risk Management and Mitigation:

• Identify strategic, competitive, and operational risks that could impact growth objectives.
• Develop contingency plans to adapt to changes in government priorities, budget constraints, or regulatory shifts.
• Regularly reassess strategies and adjust as necessary to mitigate identified risks and sustain long-term growth.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 15+ years of experience in growth leadership roles within government contracting or related industries, with a proven track record of driving strategic growth initiatives.
• Demonstrated expertise in business development, capture management, proposal strategy, and pursuing opportunities with high-priority government agencies (e.g., NRO, Space).
• Ability to build and mentor high-performing teams, establish clear roles and KPIs, and foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Suite, TechnoMile, and Mattermost, with the ability to leverage technology to enhance efficiency and streamline processes.
• Active Top Secret clearance required.
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CISSP, AWS Solutions Architect) highly preferred.
• Strong ability to develop and execute long-term (18-36 month) growth strategies, aligning with organizational goals and driving measurable results.

Work Type:

• Remote, with preference for candidates in the DC Metro Area.
• Ability to travel up to 40%.

What we will offer you:

• Highly competitive salary
• Fully covered healthcare, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) and company match
• Take as you need PTO + 11 paid holidays
• Education & training benefits
• Annual budget for your tech/gadgets needs
• Monthly box of yummy snacks to eat while doing meaningful work
• Team off-site in fun places!
• Generous Referral Bonuses
• And More!

Our Vision Statement:

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.

Our Customer Obsession:

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.

Raft's core philosophy is Ubuntu: I Am, Because We are. We support our "nadi" by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.

We're an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.