Do you have a proven track record of driving strategic business growth in the Defence sector, particularly within Naval or Maritime Systems? We're seeking a Business Development Director to lead winning strategies, drive customer engagement, and shape the future of our Defence offering through intelligent capture, marketing, and campaign execution.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead business-winning activities across the full lifecycle - from opportunity qualification to campaign execution and capture.
Own customer and stakeholder relationship strategies to meet sales, order intake, and profitability goals.
Translate customer and market intelligence into actionable business development activity and structured capture plans.
Provide strategic, customer-focused insights to senior leadership and influence technology/product development direction.
Collaborate with bid teams on capture strategies, bid/no-bid decisions, and key gate reviews (1-3).
Contribute to the business' strategic planning (annual and multi-year).
Own the planning and execution of trade shows, symposiums, and marketing campaigns.
Shape the company's external image: branding, websites, product literature, videos, PR, and advertising.
Produce marketing and sales reports, manage CRM data, and contribute to monthly forecast reviews.
Support cross-functional business development and marketing initiatives.
Deputise for the Senior Director of Business Development as needed.
Qualifications & Required Skills:
Degree-qualified in Engineering or a related technical discipline (or equivalent experience).
Significant and demonstrable experience in the Defence industry.
Strong grasp of technology positioning, market intelligence, and customer engagement.
Capable of managing complex technical bids through to successful contract award.
Excellent communication, proposal writing, and presentation skills.
Eligible for UK security vetting relevant to the role.
Comfortable with frequent UK and international travel (up to 50%) and working outside normal hours when required.
Preferred Experience:
Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Strong relationships across the defence ecosystem, including NCHQ, DE&S, SDA, and DNO.
Experience in Signature Management and/or Naval Power Systems.
Background in delivering successful marketing campaigns to government, navies, and prime contractors.
Ready to lead from the front in the fast-evolving defence and maritime environment?
Apply now to help shape mission-critical solutions and strengthen national capability through strategic business growth.
