Defence Business Development Manager / BDM

c.£60,000 + Company Car + 15% Bonus + Excellent Benefits
Remote / Hybrid | UK-wide Travel | Defence, Naval & Engineering Systems

An excellent opportunity for an experienced Business Development Manager (BDM), Sales Manager or Defence professional to take a key commercial role within a specialist engineering business supplying critical systems into the UK and international defence and naval sectors.

This position could particularly suit a Service Leaver or Veteran from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or Royal Air Force looking to transition into a commercial Business Development Manager career.

The Package

• Salary circa £60,000
• Company car
• Annual bonus up to 15% of salary
• Pension
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Permanent, full-time position
• Excellent career progression within a growing international engineering group

The Company

We are a specialist engineering business designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining high-performance lubrication, cooling and control systems for critical applications across defence, oil & gas, renewable energy, transport and other engineering sectors.

Combining the agility of an SME with the stability and global reach of an international engineering group, we have an excellent reputation for technical expertise, customer relationships and engineered solutions.

The Role

As Defence Business Development Manager, you will lead continued growth across our Defence business, developing relationships and identifying new commercial opportunities throughout the MOD, naval, military and wider defence supply chain.

Working remotely with UK-wide customer travel and occasional European travel, this is an autonomous BDM / Sales Manager position where you can shape your own business development strategy.

Responsibilities will include:

• Develop and deliver the Defence business development and sales strategy
• Build relationships across the Ministry of Defence, Royal Navy, prime contractors, shipbuilders and defence supply chain
• Identify new business opportunities for filtration, lubrication, cooling skid and control systems
• Develop existing accounts and secure new strategic customers
• Engage with military, engineering, procurement and commercial stakeholders
• Represent the business at defence exhibitions, networking events and conferences
• Work alongside engineering teams to develop customer-focused technical solutions
• Monitor defence procurement programmes and future capability requirements
• Manage your own diary, customer meetings and UK-wide travel

About You

We are interested in experienced Business Development Managers, BDMs, Sales Managers, Defence Sales Managers and Account Managers, but previous sales experience is not essential.

We particularly welcome applications from Armed Forces Service Leavers, Veterans and Reservists who can demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement, leadership and commercial awareness.

Your background could include the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, Royal Air Force, MOD, naval engineering, defence engineering or wider military services.

You should be able to demonstrate:

• Knowledge of the UK Defence / military / naval environment
• Strong relationship and stakeholder management skills
• Credibility with senior military, MOD and commercial stakeholders
• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to developing opportunities
• Excellent communication, influencing and presentation skills
• Ability to translate customer requirements into engineering solutions
• Confidence working autonomously alongside technical teams
• Full UK driving licence and permanent right to work in the UK

Why Join Us?

This is more than a conventional Business Development Manager / BDM vacancy. It is an opportunity to help shape the growth of an established Defence business while working with specialist engineering solutions used in demanding environments.

We actively welcome Service Leavers, Veterans and Reservists and recognise the leadership, technical knowledge, operational experience and relationship-building skills developed through service in the UK Armed Forces.