Business Development Manager – Defence Technology

Synergize Consulting; Crawley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Synergize Consulting is expanding its presence in the UK defence-technology market with an experienced Business Development Manager role. You will own and execute a focused go-to-market campaign across a defined portfolio, engaging defence primes, SMEs and technology firms.

You will work with leadership and delivery teams to shape solutions, identify capability gaps and convert opportunities into revenue. Travel across the UK will be required as part of developing strategic accounts.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable business development or account development experience in B2B environments.
• Ability to engage senior engineering, programme and commercial leaders.
• Strong discovery and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop new strategic relationships across the UK defence-technology ecosystem.
• Engage senior stakeholders including Directors and Heads of Software, Cyber and AI.
• Research prospective clients, programmes and capability needs.
• Deliver targeted outreach through phone, LinkedIn, email and events.
• Secure introductory meetings and lead consultative discovery conversations.
• Translate customer challenges into credible, commercial opportunities.
• Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and account strategies.

Skills

Business development

Account management

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Synergize Consulting is looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to help expand our presence across the rapidly growing UK defence-technology market.

This is a strategic business development role focused on developing client relationships, understanding programme-level challenges and shaping appropriate technical and delivery solutions.

You will build on Synergize’s established defence-sector presence, existing client relationships and proven delivery capability. Your target market will include defence primes, specialist SMEs and high-growth technology businesses operating across areas such as:

• Defence AI and secure software
• Cybersecurity
• Autonomous systems and robotics
• UAVs and counter-UAS
• Space and satellite technology
• Electronic warfare and C4ISR
• Advanced engineering and mission-critical systems

About Synergize

Established in 2002, Synergize Consulting is a UK SME providing professional services and specialist capability across Digital, Data and Technology, Systems and Engineering, Defence and National Security.

We support major organisations through technical consultancy, project-based delivery, Statements of Work, specialist capability deployment and security-cleared resource solutions.

Our credentials include JOSCAR registration, ADS Group membership, Cyber Essentials Plus and ISO 9001:2015. We have experience supporting major defence organisations and access to specialist professionals holding BPSS, SC, and DV clearance.

The Role

You will own and execute a focused go-to-market campaign across a defined portfolio of UK defence-technology organisations.

Working closely with Synergize’s leadership, and delivery teams, you will identify where clients need additional capability and shape the most appropriate response. This could include project-based consultancy, SOW delivery, specialist technical teams, security-cleared resource augmentation or permanent capability.

You will be provided with an initial target-account portfolio covering 100 prioritised UK defence-technology organisations, together with market intelligence, growth signals, target decision-maker profiles and suggested account-opening angles.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new strategic relationships across the UK defence-technology ecosystem.
• Engage senior stakeholders including Engineering Directors, Programme Directors, Chief Engineers, Heads of Software, Cyber and AI leaders, commercial stakeholders and Talent Acquisition leaders.
• Research prospective clients, programmes, investments, contract awards and capability needs.
• Deliver targeted outreach through telephone, LinkedIn, email, industry events and existing networks.
• Secure introductory meetings and lead consultative discovery conversations.
• Understand clients’ programmes, delivery priorities, workforce plans and hard-to-find capability gaps.
• Position Synergize’s technical consultancy, project delivery, SOW and specialist resource capabilities.
• Translate customer challenges into qualified, commercially viable opportunities.
• Develop account strategies and maintain an accurate sales pipeline.
• Collaborate with Synergize’s leadership, recruitment and delivery teams to shape credible solutions.
• Build relationships with defence primes, technology SMEs, potential partners and supply-chain organisations.
• Support relevant framework, bid, partnership and consortium opportunities.
• Represent Synergize at defence, aerospace, engineering and technology events.

What We’re Looking For

You will have demonstrable business development, account development or commercial experience within one or more of the following:

• UK defence or national security
• Defence technology or aerospace
• Engineering or technology consultancy
• Technical professional services
• Security-cleared resource solutions

You should also bring:

• A proven record of developing new clients and generating revenue within a complex B2B market.
• Experience selling technical consultancy, engineering services, SOW delivery, specialist capability or project-based solutions.
• The confidence and credibility to engage senior engineering, programme, technology and commercial leaders.
• Strong consultative discovery and relationship-development skills.
• An understanding of technical disciplines such as software, systems engineering, cyber, AI/data, embedded engineering, electronics, DevSecOps, test and integration, autonomy or programme delivery.
• Experience building and managing a structured target-account campaign.
• The ability to maintain accurate CRM records, opportunity stages and forecasts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The willingness to travel to client locations and industry events across the UK.
• An established network across UK defence primes, specialist SMEs, technology businesses or the MOD supply chain.
• Knowledge of defence procurement, frameworks, supply chains and security-clearance requirements.
• Experience developing SOW, work-package, consultancy or resource-augmentation opportunities.
• Existing or previous SC clearance.
• Familiarity with ADS Group, JOSCAR, DASA or the wider UK defence-innovation ecosystem.
• Experience converting an initial technical requirement into a wider strategic account relationship.

Candidates from specialist recruitment backgrounds will also be considered where they can demonstrate strategic account development, consultative selling and experience progressing beyond transactional resource requirements.

What Success Looks Like

During your first six months, you will be expected to:

• Develop a detailed understanding of Synergize’s defence and engineering capability.
• Validate and develop the initial target-account portfolio.
• Establish relationships across the highest-priority accounts.
• Generate a consistent flow of qualified customer meetings.
• Identify live and planned capability requirements.
• Build a credible pipeline of consultancy, project delivery and specialist resource opportunities.
• Convert initial engagements into new, recurring client relationships.

Why Join Synergize?

This is an opportunity to build on Synergize’s established defence-sector presence and lead a strategically important growth campaign.

You will have the backing of an experienced leadership, recruitment and delivery team, an established defence capability and recognised industry credentials. You will also have the freedom to develop strategic accounts and shape solutions across technical consultancy, project-based delivery, specialist capability deployment and security-cleared resource services.

We offer a competitive base salary, uncapped earning potential and the opportunity to play a leading role in expanding Synergize’s position across the UK defence-technology market.