Business Development Manager

National Physical Laboratory (NPL); Teddington; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) seeks a proactive Business Development professional to grow our environmental science capabilities within the Environment team of the Partnerships Directorate. You will identify opportunities, develop relationships with government, industry and funding bodies, and translate science into funded collaborations.

The role offers exposure across atmospheric monitoring, emissions measurement, climate and Earth Observation, with a clear path to impact and revenue

Qualifications

• Delivery-focused approach with ability to manage multiple business development opportunities.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building across government, industry and funding bodies.
• Commercial mind-set with understanding of business finance and bids/tenders.
• Excellent communication and leadership capabilities for cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Identify, scope and secure business development opportunities in Environment.
• Develop deep understanding of customer needs and how NPL capabilities add value.
• Collaborate with internal teams to drive plans for business development and account management.
• Increase sales of NPL capabilities and assess new products/services opportunities.
• Support marketing strategies and maintain customer contact lists for lead generation.
• Produce quotations, proposals and bids in line with governance procedures.
• Attend industry events to promote NPL capability and gather market insights.
• Monitor tender platforms and bid on opportunities aligned with NPL strategy.
• Report progress via CRM and provide analysis as appropriate.

Skills

Delivery focus

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial mindset

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in a scientific or technical field

Job description

Addressing climate change, meeting targets such as net zero and creating a sustainable future for humanity are among the biggest challenges that society faces today. Scientific measurement plays a key role across the board, to understand the Earth system, to identify the potential for innovation, to assuring innovations do deliver as intended. To increase our understanding of the climate system, we need to measure it; to assess progress on greenhouse gas emissions, we need to measure them; and to assure that low carbon innovations are working, we need to measure them. Whether you’re talking about length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount or the brightness of light, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) sets the standards by which these things are all measured.

About the Role

Addressing climate change, meeting targets such as net zero and creating a sustainable future for humanity are among the biggest challenges that society faces today. Scientific measurement plays a key role across the board, to understand the Earth system, to identify the potential for innovation, to assuring innovations do deliver as intended. To increase our understanding of the climate system, we need to measure it; to assess progress on greenhouse gas emissions, we need to measure them; and to assure that low carbon innovations are working, we need to measure them. Whether you’re talking about length, mass, time, temperature, electric current, amount or the brightness of light, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) sets the standards by which these things are all measured.

As the UK’s National Metrology Institute, NPL is an internationally respected and independent centre of excellence in research, development and knowledge transfer in measurement science. Its resources include over 900 scientific experts, 36,000m² of laboratories and a suite of unique facilities. We work with government, industry and other stakeholders to ensure that they can rely on what they are measuring.

The Environment team identifies and develops our Environment strategy through which we work with our scientists to engage stakeholders, identify new science opportunities, build our scientific capabilities and to support the delivery so that we create impact from science.

This role is a member of the Environment team in Partnerships Directorate, responsible for contributing to the growth targets set in the NPL business plan through identifying, developing and contracting collaborative and commercial opportunities that create impact, advance science and generate revenue. The role holder will have a great opportunity in learning NPL’s capability across environmental science, with the potential to work across atmospheric monitoring and emission measurements, to climate and Earth Observation, most importantly contributing to a sustainable future.

Responsible for taking reasonable duty of care for Health & Safety.

About You

Key Responsibilities

• Work with external stakeholders to identify, scope and secure business development opportunities towards business targets within Environment, collaborating with internal stakeholders.
• Develop relationships with potential customers to ensure a deep insight into the customer’s requirements using scientific and engineering knowledge. Identify stakeholders’ challenges and connect with NPL capabilities.
• Work with internal stakeholders, develop deep understanding of NPL capabilities and where NPL capabilities can add value to government, industry and other funding organisations. Develop plans to drive business development activity and account management.
• Increase sales of existing capabilities, products and services and carry out market research and appraise for new capabilities, products and services opportunities, progressing a towards a balanced portfolio.
• Liaise on the development of marketing strategies including creating and maintaining lists of customer contacts, conferences and exhibitions to support lead generation and opportunity development.
• Produce quotations, proposals, tender responses, or bids to meet customer specified requirements in compliance with the opportunity management procedure.
• Attend and speak at conferences, exhibitions, webinars, industry events. Identify and attend key industry associations. Promote NPL capability and reputation, as well as acquire latest market news and insights.
• Monitor and review key tender platforms to identify NPL commercial opportunities and bid open tenders that within NPL capabilities.
• Follow NPL Bid Governance process, ensure opportunities are aligned to the NPL strategy. Accurately report and update on opportunity progress using Customer Relationship Management tool and provide analysis as appropriate.

Key Skills and Knowledge Required

• Delivery focused. Ability to efficiently manage multiple Business Development opportunities. Prioritise based on value, probability and impact.
• Curiosity in science and technology. Background or experience in a relevant scientific or technical field. Interest in learning NPL science and metrology, establishing specialism.
• In-depth business knowledge. Commercial experience. Business finance. Commercial mind-set. Negotiation skills.
• People skills. Work with stakeholders with different background and level of experience. Ability to lead. Strong communication skills.

About Us

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.