NICHOLAS VARA
Tampa
Summary
High-impact Senior Director of Business Development with 10+ years driving multimilliondollar revenue growth across AI/technology, aerospace, defense, industrial automation, and advanced manufacturing. Proven ability to close complex, high-value enterprise deals, build C-suite relationships, and lead strategic initiatives that transform revenue, operations, and market presence. Known for scaling programs from $5M to $10M+, turning underdeveloped accounts into dominant revenue channels, and aligning engineering, supply chain, and executive leadership to secure long-term business. Adept at navigating technical product landscapes-from AI-driven solutions to advanced electronic manufacturing programs. Positioned for senior roles requiring aggressive growth leadership, strategic partnership acceleration, and ownership of complex revenue engines.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Director, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
NAC Group
St. Petersburg
10.2021 - Current
- Own a $7M-$10M+ enterprise portfolio spanning aerospace, defense, industrial, automotive, commercial, and tech-forward OEMs.
- Drive growth strategies for key accounts including John Deere, Toro, Carrier, Trane, Hytrol, Moog, Meyer Sound, Qubica, Feniex, and multiple Tier-1 defense customers.
- Close complex manufacturing and technology-based deals ranging from $250K to multimillion, including NPI programs and multi-year supply agreements.
- Expand programs across PCBA, cable/harness, electromechanical systems, integration builds, and turnkey manufacturing.
- Collaborate with engineering, operations, and quality teams to design scalable technical solutions improving performance and reducing cost.
- Lead negotiations for NRE, tooling, long-term agreements, cost-down initiatives, and supplier realignment.
- Identify, vet, and onboard domestic and international suppliers-resulting in 12-18% margin improvements.
- Architect CRM workflows, forecasting models, and executive dashboards-improving accuracy and closing efficiency by 32%.
Business Development Manager
NAC Group
St. Petersburg
01.2015 - 10.2021
- Led an outbound strategy targeting industrial, commercial, and technology-focused OEMs.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement new business initiatives and improve processes.
- Managed RFQs, cost models, technical reviews, and cross-functional coordination with engineering and operations.
- Built early key accounts that developed into recurring, long-term revenue programs exceeding $5M.
- Supported sourcing and supplier capability assessments for PCBA, cable/harness, and electromechanical categories.
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
United States Air Force / Florida Air National Guard
01.2011 - 01.2020
- Completed ACE-evaluated technical school training with transferable college-eligible credits in electrical/mechanical systems and leadership.
- Led teams in operational readiness, troubleshooting, and mission-critical support environments.
- Developed leadership, communication, and technical aptitude foundational to enterprise BD roles.
Education
Associate Degree - College-Eligible Credits Earned
U.S. Air Force
High School Diploma -
Central Catholic High School
Skills
- Salesforce and HubSpot
- Pipedrive and Zoho
- Odoo and SouthWare
- Microsoft 365 applications
- Excel and PowerPoint
- Teams and SharePoint
- AI tools: ChatGPT and Claude
- Digital workflow solutions
- Electromechanical systems expertise
- Cost modeling techniques
- RFQ systems management
- PCBA and cable/harness design
Military Experience
Technical Sergeant (E-6), United States Air Force / Florida Air National Guard, 01/01/11, 12/31/20, Completed ACE-evaluated technical school training with transferable college-eligible credits in electrical/mechanical systems and leadership., Led teams in operational readiness, troubleshooting, and mission-critical support environments., Developed leadership, communication, and technical aptitude foundational to enterprise BD roles.
Key Customers And Industries Served
- John Deere
- Toro
- Trane
- Carrier
- Hytrol
- Moog
- Meyer Sound
- Qubica
- Feniex
- L3Harris Suppliers
- Lockheed Suppliers
- Boeing Supplier Network
- Automotive OEMs
- Industrial Automation Firms
- Commercial Electronics Manufacturers
Certification
Disciplined Agil Scrum Master
Accomplishments
Unidted States Air Force - Technical Training School Graduated with Honors
Timeline
Senior Director, Business Development & Strategic Partnerships
NAC Group
10.2021 - Current
Business Development Manager
NAC Group
01.2015 - 10.2021
Technical Sergeant (E-6)
United States Air Force / Florida Air National Guard
01.2011 - 01.2020
Associate Degree - College-Eligible Credits Earned
U.S. Air Force
High School Diploma -
Central Catholic High School