Business Development Manager

Overview

In this role you drive commercial growth for a specialist defence manufacturer across the UK and international markets. You will manage key accounts, uncover new opportunities, and shape the sales function as the business scales. You’ll engage with the UK MOD, police forces, and international customers, navigating complex tender processes and procurement. Your work directly influences market expansion and growth plans, including building a team in the longer term. This is a high-impact, autonomous commercial leadership opportunity.

Pay / Benefits

• bonus
• car allowance
• annual compensation around £70,000
• per annum

Responsibilities

• Manage key accounts and develop new business across the UK and international markets
• Respond to inbound opportunities and identify tenders via procurement portals and frameworks
• Attend and exhibit at major defence exhibitions and coordinate with agents internationally
• Translate customer requirements into commercial opportunities and maintain credibility with technical products
• Build and shape the sales function and potentially recruit a team as the business grows
• Maintain and deepen relationships with defence customers, including the UK MOD and police forces

Key requirements

• Experience selling into the defence sector
• Ability to understand and articulate technical product details
• Knowledge of longer and more complex sales cycles
• Experience navigating tender and procurement processes
• Ability to build relationships and work cross-functionally
• Comfort working with international customers and distributors
• Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management

• relationship-building
• credibility with technical audiences
• strategic thinking
• tender/procurement processes
• procurement portals and frameworks
• defence market knowledge

…