Business Development Lead

Mackinnon Bruce International; Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mackinnon Bruce International is partnered with a UK engineering company to recruit a Space Defence Business Development Lead based in the East of England. You will own the end-to-end pursuit from first conversation to signed contract, using your knowledge of defence buyers to move opportunities quickly.

You will blend customer relationship skills with enough technical depth to explain what the engineers can build and why it matters, while setting direction, pricing and negotiation strategy with

Qualifications

• Track record of selling technically complex work to defence, security or aerospace customers.
• Experience engaging MOD space customers, government agencies and prime contractors.
• Engineering or science background enabling technical conversations with engineers.

Responsibilities

• Set the commercial direction for space defence, deciding which customers, primes and partners deserve the most attention
• Open new conversations through events, introductions and partner relationships, and engage early enough to influence how requirements are framed
• Run the pursuit of priority bids, including who the decision makers are, what the winning argument is, and whether to bid at all
• Own pricing, terms and negotiation, working with finance and technical colleagues
• Pass won work cleanly to the delivery engineers, keep the customer confident throughout, and spot the next piece of work
• Report pipeline and forecast accurately, and represent the business at events and customer meetings

Skills

Defence sales

Stakeholder management

Contract negotiation

Relationship building

Education

Engineering or science background

Job description

Space Defence Business Development Lead

MBI are currently partnered with a UK engineering company that develops advanced electronic systems for defence and other demanding markets. Their technical reputation is strong and their defence ambitions are growing, so they want a commercial leader who can turn that reputation into signed contracts.

Do you already know who buys, and who influences, in UK space defence?

If you have spent years earning the trust of MOD space stakeholders, government agencies, prime contractors and the smaller specialists that supply them, this role could be a natural next step. Our client is not looking for someone to start from a blank page. They want a seller who can make introductions and build momentum from the first week.

The Role

Based in the East of England, you will take charge of our client's space defence business development, from the first conversation with a customer through to a signed contract and a smooth start on delivery. You will pair strong relationships with enough technical understanding to explain what the engineers can build, and why it matters to the people who will use it.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the commercial direction for space defence, deciding which customers, primes and partners deserve the most attention
• Open new conversations through events, introductions and partner relationships, and engage early enough to influence how requirements are framed
• Run the pursuit of priority bids, including who the decision makers are, what the winning argument is, and whether to bid at all
• Own pricing, terms and negotiation, working with finance and technical colleagues
• Pass won work cleanly to the delivery engineers, keep the customer confident throughout, and spot the next piece of work
• Report pipeline and forecast accurately, and represent the business at events and customer meetings

Ideal Background

• A track record of selling technically complex work to defence, security or aerospace customers
• Working knowledge of how the UK MOD buys, including routes to market, innovation funding and collaborative bids
• Existing relationships with MOD space customers, government agencies, prime contractors and specialist suppliers
• An engineering or science background, or enough technical depth to hold your own with engineers
• Experience taking a deal from first conversation to signature
• Based in or within easy reach of the East of England

Package

This is a permanent role with a package including:

• Circa £80k to £100k base salary, depending on experience
• A supportive team and genuine scope to progress