Senior Business Development Manager - Defence

The Vacancy

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Senior Business Development Manager with proven experience and relationships within the Defence Sector to join our growing defence business.

This role can be based in either Coventry, Liverpool or Oxford.

You’ll be responsible for facilitating significant and strategically relevant growth across our Defence sector, as part of our broader cross-Defence industry engagement, through the identification and conversion of sales opportunities. These opportunities will primarily be direct industrial projects with an awareness to complementary ‘collaborative research & development’ (CR&D) activities that are completed in partnership with industry organisations and a variety of public sector bodies. Ultimately the focus is on delivering high impact manufacturing transformation for individual organisations, industry sectors and UK Plc.

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is a research centre operating within Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 4-9, taking academic research and maturing it to the point where it can be exploited by industry. We work with global corporates and SMEs alike, helping them; embrace latest technology, improve productivity and maximise value creation opportunities & competitive advantage.

As Senior Business Development Manager – Defence, you’ll lead significant revenue growth within Defence sector activities.

• Building and nurture relationships with both new and key customers

Identifying and closing high-value sales opportunities, from initial engagement to delivery.

Understanding customer roadmaps and translating complex aspirations into tangible outcomes.

Developing strategic account plans and collaborating with internal experts to deliver world-class solutions.

Managing your pipeline with precision—owning every stage from lead generation to closing.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a Senior Business Development professional with an established network within the Defence industry, and experience of operating at management level in a commercial environment.

You’ll have knowledge and understanding of how the Defence industry is developing based on PEST factors and associated strategic opportunities driven through demonstrable experience of working in the defence environment over a long term period (5-15 years).

We’re looking for somebody who has

• Experience of building and closing multi-million-pound sales pipelines
• Consultative / solution selling experience within Business Development roles
• Thorough experience of sales and CRM tools such as Miller Heiman and their application

Good written communication skills e.g. concise proposal writing

The ability to engage with internal stakeholders, particularly engineers, to gain and credibly communicate an understanding of technology and engineering opportunities

A proactive, agile mindset with a passion for transformation.

Driving licence

Desirable:

Knowledge of engineering and manufacturing techniques.

• Degree in Business or Engineering (MBA preferred)
  
  
  

About The MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is an internationally renowned and respected research and development organisation, bridging the gap between academia and manufacturing, and is home to some of the brightest minds in engineering from around the globe.

The MTC's engineers, scientists and technicians work with some of the most advanced manufacturing equipment in the world in a supportive and collegiate environment for the development and demonstration of new technologies on an industrial scale, helping manufacturers of all sizes develop new and innovative processes and technologies.

Established to prove cutting edge manufacturing advances in an agile environment in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions, the MTC works with hundreds of industrial clients across a range of sectors including automotive, aerospace, rail, informatics, food and drink, infrastructure, construction and civil engineering, electronics, oil and gas and defence. The MTC helps businesses thrive by advancing their technological and engineering capabilities to improve their business efficiency, capability and competitiveness.

Supported by one of the largest public sector investments in UK Manufacturing, the MTC's engineering capabilities cover research and development, advanced manufacturing management, factory design and training for the skills of the future.

The MTC has world-class facilities in Coventry, Liverpool and Oxford, and is part of the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, supported by Innovate UK.

Reference Checks and Security Checks (where applicable)

Due to the nature of our business, all employment is subject to satisfactory references being obtained alongside a level of security clearance checks.