Sales Director – Defence

Overview

In this role you will establish and lead the defence commercial function for a UK-based high-growth manufacturer building domestic battery cell capability. You will own strategic defence accounts, navigate long, high-value sales cycles, and shape revenue generation. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teams to craft winning engaging strategies for defence primes, integrators, and government customers. This is a foundational role with significant influence over strategy, customer relationships, and long-term growth, at a company focused on scaling critical capabilities. You will help drive market intelligence and negotiation readiness to secure major defence contracts.

Responsibilities

• Own and develop 5–8 priority defence accounts
• Progress opportunities through complex procurement processes
• Map stakeholders and decision-makers
• Drive accounts towards paid evaluation and agreements
• Build relationships with defence primes and integrators
• Provide market intelligence
• Prepare accounts for negotiation

Key requirements

• 10+ years in defence or complex B2G/B2B environments
• Experience with MOD or defence primes
• Track record closing 1m+ deals
• Experience with RFIs, RFQs
• Ability to build relationships from scratch

• Stakeholder management
• Commercial discipline
• Strong communication
• RFIs
• RFQs
• Defence procurement processes

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