Element Materials Technology
Business Development Director (Military Aircraft & Defence)
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Element is seeking an experienced Defence Business Developer
This is not a traditional sales role. We are looking for someone who can bridge the gap between customer need and technical capability, bringing together our testing, inspection, certification, engineering and digital services into integrated solutions for the defence sector.
The successful candidate will focus primarily on military air and adjacent defence markets, helping to strengthen our position with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Tier 1 and 2 suppliers and key defence customers. They will also play a key role in developing more mature campaign and capture management, customer engagement and proposition development across the wider defence business.
This is an opportunity for an experienced defence business development professional to move into a broader strategic role with genuine scope to influence how a growing defence business develops. We would particularly welcome applications from high-performing Senior Business Development Managers who are ready to progress into a Business Development Director role, as well as candidates already operating at this level.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and execute growth campaigns across military air and adjacent defence markets.
- Build and develop trusted senior-level relationships with defence OEMs, Tier 1 and 2 suppliers and key industry partners.
- Use an established industry network to strengthen Element's engagement with major defence OEMs and identify new strategic opportunities.
- Identify customer challenges early and develop integrated solutions to address customers' end-to-end development requirements using Element's full range of capabilities.
- Lead strategic opportunities from early customer engagement through campaign development, capture and bid support.
- Act as the “Voice of the Customer”, ensuring customer needs shape internal priorities and propositions.
- Bring together colleagues from multiple technical disciplines to deliver coherent, customer-focused offers.
- Support the continued development of Element's defence campaign, capture and customer engagement approach.
- Work closely with technical, operational and commercial teams across the business.
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About the Candidate
The candidate will be an experienced and credible defence business development professional, comfortable operating at senior level with major defence customers and within a complex technical organisation.
The candidate will have:
- Significant experience within defence, aerospace or another high-assurance engineering sector.
- Strong knowledge and preferably direct experience of the military aerospace sector.
- An established network within the defence industry, ideally including meaningful relationships or connections with three to five major defence OEMs.
- Strong knowledge of defence OEMs, Tier 1 and 2 suppliers and associated supply chains.
- Familiarity with Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), Test and Evaluation (T&E), engineering services or related technical environments.
- A track record of developing strategic customer relationships and winning complex opportunities.
- Experience of campaign development, capture management and/or complex defence bids.
- The ability to build collaborative teams across organisational boundaries.
- Excellent communication skills with technical, commercial and executive stakeholders.
- A pragmatic, outcome-focused approach with the confidence to operate in a fast-moving and evolving environment.
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Desirable experience
One or more of the following would be advantageous:
- An aeronautical engineering or other relevant technical background, particularly within defence aerospace.
- Experience working within, or closely with, a major defence OEM or Tier 1 supplier.
- Military service, experience in defence acquisition or equivalent defence industry background.
- Experience of defence procurement frameworks and routes to market.
- Familiarity with qualification, environmental testing, electromagnetic compatibility, structural testing or systems assurance.
- Experience working with uncrewed systems or military aviation programmes.
- Polish, German or another European language.
Why join Element?
The successful candidate will join a successful business with strong ambitions to grow its defence business significantly, giving them the opportunity to influence both its commercial direction and the development of its defence offering. Rather than inheriting a fully mature structure, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape it. They will work across multiple technical disciplines, develop strategic customer relationships and play a visible role in building a stronger, more integrated defence offering. The successful candidate will join an experienced and successful defence team, bringing complementary expertise and relationships that broaden our collective capability. This is a senior role with the scope, visibility and influence to make a lasting impact on the next phase of Element's defence growth.
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