Business Development Manager

Platform Recruitment; Oxford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Platform Recruitment seeks an experienced Institutional Business Development Manager to drive growth for a UK-based space technology organisation, focusing on UK and European institutional customers, government departments, space agencies and research organisations.

You will build strategic relationships, lead major bids and capture activities, and work with senior leadership and international teams to ensure proposals convert into contracts.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years' experience in business development, ideally within space, satellite or wider aerospace sectors.
• Strong understanding of UK and European space ecosystem, including key organisations and procurement frameworks.
• Experience engaging with institutional customers, with relationships across organisations such as UK Space Agency and ESA.
• Proven track record of identifying, developing and securing new business opportunities and contracts.
• Experience managing complex bid and capture processes within government, public sector or institutional environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business development strategies targeting UK and European institutional customers, including government departments, space agencies and research organisations.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across organisations such as UK Space Agency, ESA and other institutional bodies.
• Identify, qualify and develop new business opportunities, maintaining a healthy pipeline of short-term and longer-term prospects.
• Take ownership of strategic customer accounts, ensuring the business is well positioned to identify and secure future opportunities.
• Lead business capture activities, developing pursuit strategies, win plans and customer engagement approaches.

Skills

Space industry knowledge

Institutional customer engagement

Bid and capture management

Strategic account development

Job description

Business Development Manager | Harwell, Oxfordshire

Sector: Space & Satellite Technology

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Institutional Business Development Manager to join a growing UK-based space technology organisation, supporting its continued expansion across the UK and European space markets.

The business operates across several specialist areas of the space industry, including satellite systems, space exploration, robotics and geospatial intelligence, delivering advanced technologies and solutions to government agencies, institutional customers and international commercial partners.

This is a key position within the business development function, focused on building strategic relationships with institutional stakeholders, identifying new opportunities and leading the development of major bids and contracts.

Working closely with senior leadership and international teams, you will take ownership of the institutional customer portfolio, developing market strategies and driving opportunities from initial engagement and capture through to contract award.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute business development strategies targeting UK and European institutional customers, including government departments, space agencies and research organisations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across organisations such as the UK Space Agency, ESA and other relevant institutional bodies.
• Identify, qualify and develop new business opportunities, maintaining a healthy pipeline of both short-term and longer-term prospects.
• Take ownership of strategic customer accounts, ensuring the business is well positioned to identify and secure future opportunities.
• Lead business capture activities, developing pursuit strategies, win plans and customer engagement approaches.

About You

We are looking for a commercially driven business development professional with a strong understanding of the space industry and experience working with government or institutional customers.

You will ideally bring:

• At least 5 years' experience in business development, ideally within the space, satellite or wider aerospace sector. More experienced candidates are also encouraged to apply.
• A strong understanding of the UK and European space ecosystem, including its key organisations, stakeholders and procurement frameworks.
• Experience engaging with institutional customers, ideally with established relationships across organisations such as the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency.
• A proven track record of identifying, developing and securing new business opportunities and contracts.
• Experience managing complex bid and capture processes within government, public sector or institutional environments.
• The ability to develop and manage a sales pipeline, balancing longer-term strategic opportunities with immediate commercial objectives.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Join an established organisation operating at the forefront of the global space industry.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the company's institutional growth strategy across the UK and Europe.
• Work alongside highly experienced technical and commercial teams on exciting international space programmes.
• Build relationships with some of the most influential organisations and stakeholders in the space sector.
• Take ownership of high-value opportunities and contribute directly to the organisation's long-term growth.