Senior Business Development Manager

Job Title: Senior Business Development Manager

Role Purpose:

• Own an annual order intake of c£15M+ and collaborate with business units across a 3-5 year timeline to deliver growth.
• Dynamic, agile and pro-active the person will take ownership of the opportunity – leading the development and implementation of a clear capture strategy against deadlines to innovate and transform the order intake portfolio and build new business.
• Leading by example, the person will uphold the values of teamwork, loyalty and integrity to collaborate and drive continual improvement both in sales and wider team performance.
• Convincing, clear and concise the sales lead will clearly articulate the customers issues at the highest level and will deliver the solution as part of a wider and enduring strategy exploiting our competitive advantage.
• The person will deliver direction in sales and support the business strategy. Using feedback and tools such as Shipley, PESTEL, pwin/PTW, SWOT/TOWs to support IRAD/business cases and achieve sales close to budget.
• Previous demonstrable experience in the land domain would be a distinct advantage.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead the generation of business, translating business opportunities into profitable and VFM solutions
• Own the delivery of the orders, ‘as bid’ margin and cash/mobilisation targets associated with the business area
• Accurately forecast orders and the associated revenue
• Provide timely market intelligence
• Network with customers and strategic partners to foster relationships that will assure the delivery of the sales orders target and future growth as declared in the business plan
• Work internally with others in the rest of QinetiQ to define the sales strategy and build larger sales opportunities
• Ensure bids released are timely, have been competitively priced and all risks to delivery are thoroughly understood and mitigated with all relevant stakeholders satisfied
• Ensure that the appropriate assurance of bid proposals (technical, financial, business & commercial) is undertaken
• Ensure that staff members within group are competent and appropriately qualified to carry out their duties
• Ensure that the day-to-day operation of the Land BD area is properly and tightly managed

Key Capabilities/Knowledge:

Broad Thinking - Thinks broadly and creatively about the industry and customer landscape, effectively considering wider factors and identifying longer-term opportunities that fit with QinetiQ’s core capabilities

• Looks at a new policy and identifies opportunities to translate into an offer
• Draws clear linkages between issues and extracts key data relevant for the short and longer term
• Has a clear understanding of what to sell and where to sell it in international or adjacent markets
• Takes a longer term view of the pipeline and the market
• Draws upon information from a range of sources to arrive at conclusions
• Takes a creative approach, focusing on solutions that benefit the longer term

Relationship Building - Actively seeks to build and maintains trusting relationships with a wide network of relevant people in the industry, customer and QinetiQ, leveraging these relationships appropriately.

• Has the network to bring together a team quickly and get the best people from across the business to work on an opportunity
• Invests time and effort in continuing to build and maintain a wide range of industry contacts
• Leverages different contacts and relationships to connect key people
• Develops a stakeholder map and plan to maximise effective use of network
• Strikes up rapport quickly to have an open and frank conversation
• Sets a focus on ensuring relationships are built on trust and transparency

Customer Focus - Ensures they understand the customer’s perspective and needs - both professionally and personally - focusing on what will deliver value to them

• Translates customer needs into bespoke solution offerings aligned to capabilities
• Manages customer’s expectations throughout the engagement process
• Asks the difficult questions challenging the customer’s thinking whilst maintaining a tactful approach
• Creates a value proposition that is aligned to customer needs and meets business goals
• Manages expectations – signposts to customer that any bad news may be on the way

Commerciality - Evaluates issues and situations in terms of what will optimise growth and profitability for QinetiQ over the medium and long-term, taking into account the wider commercial landscape

• Advises on commercial decisions, evaluating pros and cons of proposed course of action
• Finds a balance between QinetiQ’s interests and customer loyalties or bonds
• Has a clear understanding of QinetiQ’s competitive strengths and weaknesses
• Develops value-based propositions
• Understands the risks associated with the proposed course of action
• Considers consequences and whether a quick win is the right thing for the longer-term

Personal Impact - Adapts their approach to communicate clearly, credibly and positively when engaging different stakeholders, focusing on earning trust and getting buy-in

• Deliberately uses effective and positive non-verbal behaviours to make their case and message all the more compelling
• Makes the subject under discussion important to others through exuding passion and conviction

Resilience - Maintains a positive and ‘can do’ approach in difficult situations and over a long period of time; delivers difficult messages constructively when required

• Does not rely on existing and tested methods but is open and adapts fast to new approaches
• Retains focus on key tasks at hand and does not get distracted by occurring pressures, driving things forward
• Thrives in changing and demanding environments, finding ways to overcome difficulties
• Has a calm demeanour and retains composure in emotive situations and when working through change
• Relishes ambiguity and a clean sheet – rather than just coping
• Is willing to take the lead and deliver difficult messages in a calm and focused way

Takes Ownership - Takes accountability for organising themselves and others to deliver for the customer and QinetiQ; consistently takes the initiative and ownership to drive outcomes

• Guides a proposal through the system by keeping in touch with the customer through the process
• Doesn’t get bogged down in detail, understands the need to focus on wider issues
• Prioritises time effectively in the face of competing demands
• Retains sense of responsibility for progress of a bid through the QinetiQ system and sets clear expectations for those involved
• Exercises authority on behalf of QinetiQ
• Strikes the right balance between control and influence: sets clear expectations while allowing autonomy

Collaborates Across Boundaries - Drives and facilitates effective working across organisational boundaries to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes

• Involves functional experts early in order to arrive at right solution and encourage engagement
• Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to change assumptions/views when being challenged by others
• Plans interactions and meetings carefully; sets the agenda, structure and topics around mutually beneficial outcomes
• Takes a collaborative approach even when structures and rewards may not reward it immediately

Experience & Qualifications:

• Previous demonstrable Land Domain experience in a sales/business development role at a management level in a commercial environment
• A leading advocate and practitioner of winning business, liaising with customers at a senior level, structuring propositions and overseeing the creation of proposals and bids
• Comprehensive understanding of concepts and principles within sales and an understanding of the technological disciplines and project delivery
• Experience of leading a team of professionals
• Thorough understanding of sales competencies and tools, best practice and current thinking regarding effective and commercially sound sales strategies
• Highly skilled at managing relationships and conflicting priorities at a senior level
• Strong coaching, facilitation and consultancy skills with a proven track record of being able to influence at all levels
• Knowledge of challenges and changes in the sector and how they may relate to QQ

Our Recruitment Process:

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels value, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting being completed. Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)