Business Development Associate

TITLE: Business Development Associate

LOCATION: Washington DC

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Direct Hire

PAY RANGE: 110-165K base plus benefits and potential discretionary bonus

Our advanced nuclear client is looking to hire a Business Development Associate who will combine strategic thinking, government affairs engagement, and market intelligence to identify where opportunities are emerging before they're fully defined, and work cross-functionally with technical and operations teams to develop the service offerings and partnerships needed to capture them. This is a ground-floor commercial role at a company operating in a sector that is growing rapidly.

Responsibilities

Market Strategy & Positioning — Evaluate emerging domestic and international markets, identify new customer segments, and help shape how services are positioned for markets that are new to nuclear transportation solutions.

Strategic Partnership Development — Build and maintain relationships with utilities, national laboratories, government agencies, complementary service providers, and industry organizations to expand commercial opportunities and establish them as a trusted partner in the sector.

Government & Regulatory Engagement — Engage with federal agencies, regulators, and industry organizations to identify contracting opportunities, monitor policy developments, and inform commercial strategy based on the evolving regulatory landscape.

Market Intelligence — Monitor customer programs, procurement schedules, policy developments, and sector trends to surface opportunities early and inform outreach strategy.

Commercial Pipeline Development — Drive targeted outreach to utilities, national laboratories, government agencies, and private nuclear partners; manage opportunity tracking, sales forecasts, and CRM data to support pipeline planning.

Product & Service Development — Collaborate with technical, operations, and leadership teams to identify customer needs and help shape new service offerings that strengthen their competitive position in the market.

Proposal & Commercial Support — Assist in developing cost inputs, preparing proposal materials, and supporting the full commercial process from early scoping through submission.

Conference & Industry Engagement — Represent company at industry conferences, customer meetings, and trade associations to strengthen market presence and generate new business opportunities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, public policy, engineering, nuclear science, or a related field
• 5+ years of experience in business development, government affairs, commercial strategy, or a related field in a regulated or technically complex industry
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically about market positioning and new market entry — not just pipeline execution
• Strong government affairs or policy engagement experience, with the ability to navigate federal agencies, regulators, and industry stakeholders
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate technical concepts into compelling proposals and presentations
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with technical and operations teams to shape offerings upstream of the sales process
• High attention to detail, particularly in compliance-driven environments
• Proficiency with CRM tools and standard business software

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the nuclear energy sector, defense, or other highly regulated industries
• Familiarity with DOE, NRC, national laboratories, or federal contracting environments
• Background in commercialization, market entry strategy, or go-to-market development
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance (U.S. citizenship required); preferred but not required