Senior Director – Business Development (EU/UK Defense Markets)

OnDeck Solutions; England; Remote; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global defense manufacturer is seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to spearhead growth initiatives in the UK and EU defense markets. This role involves strategic leadership, managing key relationships with government agencies, and ensuring compliance with export regulations. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in defense business development and a strong understanding of government procurement processes. Join a respected organization that offers competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Bonus potential

Comprehensive international benefits

Autonomy to build long-term partnerships

Strong internal support from leadership teams

Qualifications

• 10+ years of international defense business development experience.
• 5+ years of direct experience with European Ministries of Defense.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue business development opportunities across NATO-aligned countries.
• Lead international capture strategies and opportunity assessments.
• Collaborate with internal cross-functional teams.

Skills

Communication

CRM

Microsoft Office

Education

College degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Senior Director – Business Development (EU/UK Defense Markets)

Senior Director – Business Development (EU/UK Defense Markets)

This range is provided by OnDeck Solutions. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$150,000.00/yr - $200,000.00/yr

Additional compensation types

Annual Bonus

Direct message the job poster from OnDeck Solutions

Principal at OnDeck Solutions | Connecting People with Opportunity

Senior Director – Business Development (EU/UK Defense Markets)

Location: Remote – Open to candidates based in the United Kingdom or European Union

Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire | International Travel Required

About the Opportunity

An established global defense manufacturer is seeking a Senior Director of Business Development to lead strategic growth initiatives across the UK, EU, and NATO markets. This role will focus on expanding business in countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and key Eastern European nations.

You’ll be responsible for developing capture strategies, identifying local partnerships, and driving opportunities from pipeline to close in collaboration with executive leadership, product teams, and global sales. The ideal candidate brings deep experience working with Ministries of Defense, NATO procurement portals, and government tender processes in Europe, with a strong understanding of ITAR, SME classification, and export regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and pursue business development opportunities across NATO-aligned countries
• Lead international capture strategies, opportunity assessments, and bid/no-bid decisions
• Establish and manage relationships with government agencies, Ministries of Defense, and procurement authorities
• Identify and manage partnerships with local agents, consultants, and resellers
• Maintain opportunity pipeline in Salesforce and contribute to forecasting and strategic sales planning
• Attend relevant European defense trade shows, exhibitions, and customer engagement events
• Collaborate closely with internal cross-functional teams: Sales, Product, Engineering, Operations, and Compliance
• Support proposal and pricing efforts in response to RFPs and European tenders
• Monitor and interpret local procurement, labor, quality, and VAT/customs requirements
• Ensure all opportunities meet applicable export compliance regulations including ITAR and EAR

Qualifications

• College degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 10+ years of international defense business development or capture management experience
• 5+ years of direct experience working with European Ministries of Defense
• Familiarity with NATO NSPA, TED, or European government contracting portals
• Working knowledge of SME (Significant Military Equipment) classifications and export regulations
• Experience managing VAT, EU customs processes, and quality/labor standards compliance
• Native or fluent English required; additional languages are a plus
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder government pursuits
• Strong communication, CRM (Salesforce), and Microsoft Office skills
• Must be a U.S. Person or eligible to obtain required export authorizations

Why Join

• Strategic leadership role with full ownership of EU/NATO defense growth initiatives
• Globally respected product portfolio supporting defense, humanitarian, and emergency response missions
• Competitive compensation, bonus potential, and comprehensive international benefits
• Autonomy to build long-term partnerships and drive high-visibility programs
• Strong internal support from technical, operations, and executive leadership teams

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Business Development

• Industries

  Defense and Space Manufacturing

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