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Business Development Director – Defence AI
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Business Development Director – Defence AI
London / Hybrid | £125,000–£150,000 Base + Uncapped Commission (OTE £300,000+)
SR2 are delighted to be partnering with an exciting, rapidly scaling sovereign AI business that is transforming how the UK Government and Defence sector deploy secure artificial intelligence.
Following exceptional growth and increasing demand across Defence and National Security, our client is looking to appoint a Business Development Director to help scale one of the most exciting propositions in the UK defence technology market.
This is far more than a traditional sales role. You'll combine strategic new business development, executive relationship management, leadership of a growing commercial function and ownership of some of the UK's most important defence accounts.
You'll be joining at an exciting stage of growth with genuine opportunity to shape both commercial strategy and future sales capability.
The Opportunity
You'll take ownership of strategic Ministry of Defence relationships, driving major enterprise opportunities whilst helping scale an ambitious commercial organisation.
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Alongside delivering your own revenue targets, you'll provide leadership and guidance to an established sales team of 4–6 people whilst working closely with a wider commercial function.
Responsibilities
- Build and develop senior relationships across UK Defence
- Own strategic new business opportunities from identification through to contract award
- Grow existing strategic accounts whilst identifying significant expansion opportunities
- Lead complex £multi-million defence technology sales
- Develop capture strategies for major government procurements
- Mentor and guide an established sales team
- Work alongside commercial leadership to scale the business
- Collaborate with partners, systems integrators and defence primes
- Maintain accurate forecasting and pipeline management
- Represent the business across major defence events and industry forums
We're Looking For
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- Significant experience selling into UK Defence
- Strong network across MoD, Defence Digital, DE&S, DSTL or wider defence ecosystem
- Proven success winning complex government technology opportunities
- Experience leading high-performing commercial teams
- Background selling AI, software, data, cyber or complex technology solutions
- Strong understanding of UK defence procurement
- Track record of exceeding ambitious sales targets
- Commercially astute with excellent executive stakeholder management
- Eligible for SC Clearance (DV eligibility desirable)
What's On Offer
- £125,000–£150,000 basic salary
- Uncapped commission structure
- Expected OTE up to £300,000+
- 4 day weeks across 3 months of the year
- EMI Share Options
- Private Medical
- Pension
- Excellent flexible working benefits
- Genuine opportunity to shape the commercial growth of an exciting AI scale-up
Interview Process
- Stage 1 – Head of Defence
- Stage 2 – Chief Commercial Officer
- Stage 3 – Chief Operating Officer
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