Defence Account Director

SCC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Volunteering days

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

SCC is seeking a senior Defence Account Director to drive business development and capture activity in the UK Defence sector, with a focus on MOD opportunities and strategic growth. The role requires building senior client relationships and guiding bids across secure IT, cyber and digital transformation programs.

You will lead major campaigns, manage a strategic pipeline, and collaborate with Defence teams, partners and vendors to position SCC as a trusted supplier.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience selling into UK Defence (MOD and Defence industry).
• Proven track record of year-on-year growth and hitting targets.
• Experience winning contracts over £25m.
• Existing MOD stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of Government business development and procurement trends.
• Experience with frameworks and scaling follow-on awards.
• Experience forming partnerships/consortiums to win opportunities.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills; MOD stakeholder engagement.
• SC clearance minimum; DV clearance preferred.
• Experience in digital transformation programmes.
• Experience with DSTL desirable.

Responsibilities

• Plan and lead BD activity to support annual targets and 2–5 year growth in UK Defence.
• Develop, qualify and manage a strategic pipeline aligned to UK Defence strategy.
• Build and maintain senior Defence client relationships.
• Guide bid teams to craft compelling proposals.
• Identify and qualify opportunities matching SCC strengths.
• Lead and execute major new business campaigns.
• Lead cross-functional teams and communicate effectively.

Skills

UK Defence sales

MOD experience

Contract negotiation

Stakeholder management

Bid leadership

Security clearance

Partnerships

Digital transformation

R&D awareness

Job description

About The Role

We are actively building diverse teams and welcome applications from everyone.

Role: Defence Account Director

Location: London (SCC operate hybrid working, which comprises of a mix of office and home working)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary Package: £90,000 to £100,000 plus large company benefits, a broad flexible benefits scheme, and 2 paid-for volunteering days a year

Hours: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm Monday – Friday

Interview Process: 2-stage process

Why SCC?

• An inclusive workplace
• Excellent package: solid basic and company benefits
• Hybrid working & core hours in line with role requirements
• Career development and life-long learning opportunities
• Opportunity to join Europe's largest privately-owned IT Company

Role purpose:

SCC is scaling its digital services footprint in Defence and requires a senior Account Director with deep UK MOD experience and a proven track record of building, shaping and closing strategic opportunities. The role will lead business development and capture activity across Defence, developing a qualified pipeline aligned to SCC’s growth ambitions and annual award targets. Working closely with the Head of Defence & National Security, Defence CTO, Account Managers, partners and specialist teams, you will position SCC as a trusted strategic supplier across secure IT, cyber, data, AI, and digital transformation programmes.

Key responsibilities:

• Plan and lead business development activity that supports SCC’s annual award targets and 2–5 year growth ambition in the UK Defence market.
• Develop, qualify and manage a strategic pipeline of opportunities aligned to SCC’s UK Defence strategy and areas of strength.
• You will develop and maintain senior relationships with Defence clients positioning SCC as a potential strategic supplier.
• You will guide the SCC bid teams in their pursuit and shaping of the business development campaign to propose differentiated client propositions
• Identify and qualify the opportunities that best match SCC strengths and provide optimum outcomes for the client and us.
• You will lead and execute significant new business campaigns in the UK Defence market.
• Operate effectively within a multi-functional team where you will be an effective leader and communicator.

Skills and experience:

• Substantial experience successfully selling into the UK Defence market and across MOD and Defence industry.
• Proven track record of driving year-on-year business growth, meeting or exceeding targets and leading new business campaigns.
• Demonstrable success leading and winning complex contracts valued at more than £25m.
• Existing stakeholder relationships in UK MOD.
• Extensive knowledge of Government business development, MOD procurement, contract awards, current procurement trends and customer buying behaviours.
• Experience winning work through frameworks and scaling follow-on awards.
• Experience collaboratively creating compelling, winning bids with partners, vendors and consortium members.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation and verbal communication skills, with experience influencing senior customers and negotiating complex commercial outcomes. A track record of MOD Customer and industry stakeholder engagement and relationship development.
• SC clearance as a minimum; DV clearance strongly preferred and required for some role activity. Defence Specific Requirements:
• Experienced Business Developer, Senior Account Manager or Capture Leader with a proven track record of successfully prosecuting and winning business in the UK MOD (essential).
• Experience and understanding of the R&D/S&T community and working with DSTL (desirable).
• Experience forming partnerships/consortiums to win opportunities (essential).
• Experience in formulating use cases for multi-domain and digital transformation concept demonstrators (desirable)
• In depth understanding of the MOD’s digital transformation programmes is desirable

About Us

SCC is Europe's largest privately-owned IT business, based out of the new £7m HQ office in Birmingham and we help clients succeed through IT transformation and exceptional customer experiences. We are a business where innovation is greater as we combine unique ideas, people and disciplines. We are a global company that is passionate about IT and where we look to simplify the complex.

We are an equal opportunities employer

SCC is committed to providing equal opportunities and a proactive and inclusive approach to equality and diversity in employment. No applicant or employee will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of a protected characteristic which are defined as sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender reassignment, trade union membership or non-membership, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race and religion or belief.

If you are selected for interview, and need any reasonable adjustments made for your interview, please let the SCC Talent Acquisition team know, at the point of scheduling.

Diversity & Inclusion at SCC https://www.scc.com/diversity-and-inclusion/

Sustainability at SCC https://www.scc.com/sustainability-at-scc/

Life at SCC https://www.linkedin.com/company/scc/life