Business Development Manager

Strategic Recruitment Partners Limited; Newquay; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Strategic Recruitment Partners is seeking a senior Business Development Manager to drive new business in aerospace, defence, automotive and related advanced manufacturing. The role targets high-value opportunities across the UK and Europe, with travel to customer sites and industry events.

You will manage strategic accounts, build long-term relationships with OEMs and primes, and lead proposals through to contract award. A strong network and sector experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong track record of securing significant new business in aerospace/defence/automotive.
• Established network of industry relationships across UK/Europe.
• Experience with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers or defence primes.
• Experience in advanced carbon fibre composites or related aerospace manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Identify and secure new business across aerospace, defence, automotive and related sectors.
• Leverage an industry network to generate high-quality introductions.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers and procurement teams.
• Develop a strong pipeline aligned with growth objectives.
• Lead proposals from engagement to contract award.
• Manage and develop key customer relationships across the Group.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue within existing accounts.
• Monitor market trends and opportunities in aerospace, defence, UAVs, auto, motorsport.
• Provide commercial insight to leadership on market trends and competitors.

Skills

Senior BD

Strategic account

Industry network

OEMs/Tier1 exposure

Job description

Role - Business Development Manager. Home based.

Location: UK-based, with regular travel to customer sites, trade shows and industry events across the UK, Europe and internationally

Reporting to: Commercial Manager/Commercial Sales Director

Sector: Aerospace, Defence, Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing

About The Role

My client is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Senior Business Development Manager/Account Manager to support the continued growth of their advanced manufacturing businesses.

My client is an AS9100-certified design, engineering and manufacturing business specialising in advanced carbon fibre composite components and structures, supporting customers across aerospace, defence, automotive and other high-performance engineering sectors.

This is a senior appointment for an individual with a proven track record of winning, developing and growing high-value customer relationships within the aerospace, defence, automotive and wider advanced engineering sectors. Direct experience within advanced composites, carbon fibre structures or closely related aerospace manufacturing is highly desirable.

The successful candidate will combine strong new-business development capability with strategic account management. They will be expected to bring an established and valuable industry network, identify and convert new opportunities, deepen relationships with existing customers, and help position my client as a long-term strategic design, engineering and manufacturing partner.

The role will suit an experienced business development professional who understands complex, technical, relationship-led sales environments where opportunities can involve long sales cycles, engineering engagement, design-for-manufacture, qualification programmes and significant production contracts.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Identify, develop and secure new business opportunities across aerospace, defence, automotive and related advanced manufacturing sectors.
• Leverage an established network of industry contacts to generate high-quality introductions and opportunities.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers, procurement teams, engineering teams, programme managers and other key stakeholders.
• Develop a strong pipeline of strategically relevant opportunities aligned with the Group's capabilities and growth objectives.
• Take opportunities from initial engagement through technical and commercial discussions, quotation, negotiation and contract award.
• Proactively target major OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, defence primes, emerging technology companies and other strategically attractive customers.
• Work closely with engineering, operations and estimating teams to develop commercially and technically compelling proposals.
• Promote capabilities in composite design, engineering, tooling, manufacture, assembly and production industrialisation.

Strategic Account Management & Growth

Manage and develop key customer relationships across the Group.

• Build a detailed understanding of customer programmes, future requirements, procurement strategies and long-term opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue and share of wallet within existing accounts.

Market Development & Strategy

• Monitor market developments, customer investment programmes and emerging opportunities across aerospace, defence, UAVs, advanced air mobility, automotive, motorsport and other relevant markets.
• Provide commercial insight to the senior leadership team regarding market trends, customer priorities and competitor activity.

Candidate Profile

They are looking for a senior and established business development professional, rather than someone looking to move into business development for the first time.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• A strong and demonstrable track record of securing significant new business within aerospace, defence, automotive or advanced manufacturing.
• An established and valuable network of relevant industry relationships.
• Significant experience managing and growing major customer accounts.
• Experience working with OEMs, Tier 1 organisations, defence primes or sophisticated engineering-led customers.
• Experience within advanced carbon fibre composites, composite structures or a closely related aerospace manufacturing environment is highly desirable.

Sector Experience

Particularly relevant experience would include:

• Advanced carbon fibre composites
• Composite components and structural assemblies
• Aerospace structures
• Defence UAVs and autonomous systems
• Precision CNC machining
• Aircraft interiors
• Space and high-altitude platforms
• Automotive and motorsport
• Advanced engineering and complex manufacturing

Candidates with an established network across the UK and European aerospace, defence and advanced composites supply chain would be particularly attractive.

About the client

My client is an AS9100-certified design, engineering and manufacturing business specialising in advanced carbon fibre composite components and structures, alongside precision CNC machining and associated advanced manufacturing capability.

The Group supports customers across aerospace, defence, automotive and other high-performance sectors, working on technically demanding programmes from early-stage development through design-for-manufacture, tooling, industrialisation and serial production.

Our capabilities include composite engineering, tooling, clean-room manufacture, autoclave and out-of-autoclave processing, bonding, trimming, assembly and precision machining