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
Requesting party
Number of position(s)
1