Deputy Manager | Business Development & Operations | Defence

Wikilabs India; Greater Noida; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Wikilabs India seeks a hands-on professional to build a new Defence-focused vertical. The role spans business development, operations, market intelligence, and project execution, with responsibility for shaping strategy and establishing industry relationships.

The candidate will identify opportunities, map stakeholders, and drive commercial processes during the initial setup phase, travelling as needed to engage with defence establishments and partners.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in business development, operations, project management, strategic sourcing, consulting, or related roles.
• Engineering or technical degree preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills.
• Comfortable working in an ambiguous, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to own and execute with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop opportunities within the defence ecosystem, including DPSUs, ordnance factories, defence manufacturing companies, and related agencies.
• Build relationships with procurement, supply chain, and commercial functions.
• Track upcoming tenders, auctions, procurement opportunities, and material requirements.
• Identify opportunities for sourcing scrap, surplus inventory, and end-of-life materials from defence and allied sectors.
• Develop channels for supplying raw materials, components, and strategic materials to defence customers.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to execute sourcing and supply transactions.
• Monitor developments in defence manufacturing ecosystem, government policies, procurement trends, and indigenization initiatives.
• Map key stakeholders, competitors, partners, and customers.
• Generate actionable insights to support business growth.
• Support creation of business processes, operating models, and commercial frameworks.
• Coordinate with legal, finance, compliance, and operations teams to establish business infrastructure.
• Drive projects independently and ensure timely execution of key milestones.
• Engage with government agencies, defence establishments, industry associations, and strategic partners.
• Represent the company in industry events, meetings, and customer discussions.

Skills

Business development

Stakeholder management

Strategic sourcing

Project management

Analytical thinking

Travel willingness

Education

Engineering or technical degree

Job description

We are building a new business vertical focused on the Defence sector, with a primary focus on strategic sourcing of defence scrap, surplus materials, and supply of critical materials to defence establishments and associated ecosystem players.

This is a ground-floor opportunity for a highly motivated individual who enjoys building businesses from scratch. The role requires a hands-on professional who can work across business development, stakeholder management, operations, market intelligence, and project execution.

The selected candidate will play a key role in shaping the business strategy, establishing industry relationships, identifying opportunities, and creating operational processes during the initial setup phase.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development

• Identify and develop opportunities within the defence ecosystem, including DPSUs, ordnance factories, defence manufacturing companies, and related agencies.
• Build relationships with key stakeholders across procurement, supply chain, and commercial functions.
• Track upcoming tenders, auctions, procurement opportunities, and material requirements.

Strategic Sourcing & Supply

• Identify opportunities for sourcing scrap, surplus inventory, and end-of-life materials from defence and allied sectors.
• Develop channels for supplying raw materials, components, and strategic materials to defence customers.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external partners to execute sourcing and supply transactions.

Market & Industry Intelligence

• Monitor developments in the defence manufacturing ecosystem, government policies, procurement trends, and indigenization initiatives.
• Map key stakeholders, competitors, partners, and customers.
• Generate actionable insights to support business growth.

Business Setup & Execution

• Support creation of business processes, operating models, and commercial frameworks.
• Coordinate with legal, finance, compliance, and operations teams to establish business infrastructure.
• Drive projects independently and ensure timely execution of key milestones.

Stakeholder Management

• Engage with government agencies, defence establishments, industry associations, and strategic partners.
• Represent the company in industry events, meetings, and customer discussions.

Desired Profile

• 3 to 5 years of experience in business development, operations, project management, strategic sourcing, consulting, or related roles.
• Engineering or technical degree preferred.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills.
• Comfortable working in an ambiguous, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to take ownership and execute with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively as required.

Preferred Experience

• Exposure to Business Development Roles
• Exposure to defence,or government-facing businesses preferred
• Experience in tender management, procurement processes, or B2B sales is an advantage.