Business Development Manager

Thompson Aero Seating; Portadown; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual bonus (linked to company perf.)

33 days annual leave

Flexi time working

Employee parking

Learning and development opportunities

Career progression

Job summary

Thompson Aero Seating in Portadown, Northern Ireland, seeks a senior leader to report to the VP of After Sales & Services. You will drive growth in the aftersales business, manage key client relationships, and ensure high-quality service delivery across the aftermarket division.

Responsibilities include strategic planning, pursuing new opportunities, presenting compelling proposals, collaborating with engineering and operations, and setting KPIs to measure success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in a similar role within manufacturing engineering and/or plant leadership in high-volume production automotive or aerospace environments.
• Proven ability to hire, train and lead large direct, indirect and production staff.
• Broad technical capability with the ability to interface with diverse external and internal disciplines.
• Experience with lean, CI techniques and process improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Strategic planning to expand the aftersales business and identify growth areas.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations.
• Cultivate and maintain strong client relationships and deliver aftersales support.
• Prepare and present proposals, bids, and presentations tailored to client needs.
• Collaborate with engineering and operations to align strategies with business goals.
• Establish and monitor KPIs and provide data-driven recommendations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Business development

Client relationship management

Proposal development

Cross-functional collaboration

Performance metrics

Lean and CI

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Masters degree

Job description

The post holder will report to and assist the VP of After Sales & Services. They will be responsible for a range of duties and tasks aimed at expanding the aftersales business, maintaining customer relationships, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality service within the Aftermarket division at Thompson Aero Seating. This will include but not be limited to; identifying new business opportunities, nurturing existing client relationships, and driving revenue growth within the aftersales sector of Thompson Aero Seating.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning - Develop and execute strategic plans to expand the company's aftersales business, including market analysis, competitor evaluation, and identifying key growth areas
• Business Division Growth - Identify and pursue new business opportunities, partnerships, and collaborations within the aftersales market segment to increase revenue and market share
• Client Relationship Management - Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with existing clients, understanding their needs, providing solutions, and ensuring exceptional aftersales support
• Proposal Development - Prepare and present compelling proposals, bids, and presentations tailored to client requirements, showcasing the company's aftersales capabilities and value proposition
• Cross- functional Collaboration - Collaborate with internal teams including engineering, and operations to ensure alignment of aftersales strategies with overall business objectives and product development initiatives
• Performance Metrics - Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of aftersales business strategies, regularly reporting on progress and making data-driven recommendations for improvement

Reward

• Competitive salary
• Annual bonus (linked to company performance)
• 33 days annual leave (Increase after 5 years' service)
• 37.5 hours per week
• Flexi time working
• £5,000 employee referral bonus
• Health cash plan
• Contributory Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Electric Car Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance Scheme at x4 gross salary
• Competitive enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• IVF & Assisted Conception Policy
• Women in Business - Corporate Member
• Wellbeing Initiatives
• Employee Recognition scheme
• Service Awards
• Local charity / sponsorship activities
• Dedicated employee parking
• Discounted Gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression

Requirements

Essential

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a similar role, within Manufacturing Engineering and/or plant leadership in a modern high-volume production environment of automotive or aircrafts
• Experienced leader with a track record in hiring, training and leading a large number of direct, indirect and production staff
• Broad technical and intellectual capability, with the ability to effectively interface with a wide range of professionally qualified external / internal business disciplines
• Programme & change management ability
• Experience of lean, CI techniques and process improvement projects
• Excellent analysis and evaluation skills with a drive to challenge the status quo

Desirable

• Educated to degree level (preferably Masters) in a relevant discipline or equivalent NVQ Level 7 qualification
• Fellow or Chartered Member of an industry related professional body

We reserve the right to enhance criteria on shortlisting.

Thompson Aero Seating is an Equal Opportunities employer.

The closing date for applications is the 13th September 2026 at 17:00.