Business Manager

Shape the future of innovation as we tackle cutting-edge projects that make a difference. We’re not just in the business of engineering—we’re building a brighter future. Driven by creativity and a culture of excellence, we believe in the power of engineering to solve today’s challenges and create opportunities for tomorrow. What we do matters.

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions is seeking a proactive and highly organized Business Manager to support strategic account growth and help drive execution across key customer relationships. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys bringing structure to fast-moving environments, coordinating multiple stakeholders, and ensuring important business priorities move forward on time. You will serve as a critical connector between sales, delivery, and solutions teams while helping keep customer-facing activity organized, responsive, and aligned.

The right candidate is a strong communicator who is comfortable following up with internal teams, scheduling meetings, managing action items, and keeping momentum on important initiatives. This position requires someone resourceful, confident in asking questions, and motivated to solve problems rather than wait for direction. If you enjoy being the person who keeps everything moving and creates order from complexity, this could be a strong fit.

Experience supporting sales operations, account management, business operations, contracts administration, or customer-facing coordination functions is highly valued. Familiarity with CRM systems such as Salesforce or similar tools is a plus. Candidates with experience in aerospace and defense, engineering services, or other deadline-driven professional environments are especially encouraged to apply.

Due to the nature of this work, all candidates must be U.S. Citizens

This role can be hybrid, and candidates are preferred to reside in Cedar Rapids or Minneapolis, though remote may be considered for the right fit.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own and enforce adherence to sales processes
  • Ensure compliance with defined sales methodologies, governance, and operational standards across the account, proactively identifying gaps and driving corrective actions.
• Enable Strategic Account Manager effectiveness
  • Provide structured support across core engagement processes, including:
    • Scheduling and preparing customer and internal meetings (agendas, materials, briefing notes)
    • Driving follow-ups on actions, tasks, and customer commitments to closure
    • Managing the internal account operating rhythm (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reviews and deliverables)
• Drive sales proposal development, coordination, and submission in alignment with customer requirements and internal standards
  • Ensure sales proposal compliance, quality, and timeliness, enforcing governance throughout the lifecycle
  • Develop a strong understanding of Statements of Work (SOWs) to effectively support shaping proposals, ensuring scope clarity, alignment to customer needs, and commercial soundness
  • Drive cross-functional alignment (legal, finance, delivery) to ensure proposals are executable and compliant
• Analyze monthly revenue performance against plan, identify variances, and recommend actionable corrective measures
  • Provide forward-looking insights to mitigate risks and capture opportunities
• Pipeline and CRM management
  • Manage, track, and drive the sales opportunity pipeline and campaigns within CRM tools
  • Ensure data accuracy, hygiene, and timely updates to support reliable forecasting
• Business insights and reporting
  • Analyze pipeline health and revenue performance to plan
• Customer engagement planning
  • Maintain an integrated customer contact and engagement plan aligned with account strategy
• Customer relationship support
  • Provide operational and coordination support for customer visits, executive engagements, and roadshows
• Cross-functional coordination
  • Interface with key enabling functions (e.g., finance, legal, delivery, marketing) to align on business needs, initiatives, and execution priorities
• Strategy execution support
  • Facilitate quarterly and annual account strategy sessions
  • Track, manage, and drive actions from these sessions through to completion
• Account initiatives leadership
  • Drive and coordinate key account initiatives based on evolving business needs, ensuring alignment, accountability, and execution discipline

Required Skills:

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and follow-up items simultaneously
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with confidence interacting across all levels of the organization
• Self-starter mentality with the confidence to ask questions, escalate blockers, and create momentum
• Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and keep projects moving forward through completion
• High attention to detail with strong accuracy in reporting, scheduling, documentation, and task tracking
• Experience working in fast-paced environments where priorities can shift quickly
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify gaps and take action independently
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, and general business software tools
• Professional presence with strong interpersonal skills and customer-facing maturity
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed environment across sales, operations, delivery, and leadership teams

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Marketing, Finance, Communications, or related field or equivalent professional experience in lieu of degree
• 2–5 years of professional experience in sales operations, business operations, account coordination, program support, contracts administration, customer success, or related business functions

Desired Skills:

• Experience supporting sales operations, account management, business operations, or program coordination functions
• Knowledge of Statements of Work (SOWs), contracts coordination, proposals, or commercial documentation
• Aerospace & defense industry experience, engineering services experience, or experience supporting technical organizations
• Experience managing opportunity pipelines, forecasting inputs, and account reporting metrics
• Ability to facilitate meetings, track action items, and drive accountability across teams
• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build relationships internally and externally
• Experience supporting executive meetings, customer visits, or strategic account reviews
• Familiarity with process improvement and building structure where processes are still evolving
• Desire to grow into broader business operations, account leadership, or commercial management role
• Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce or similar platforms preferred

The QDSS Advantage:

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

What You’ll Find Here

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.
• Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.

Benefits Include

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.