MDA Space
Business Development Manager - Institutional
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Business Development Manager - Institutional
Business Development Manager – Institutional (Job Opportunity at MDA Space Harwell Office)
Building the space between proven and possible, MDA Space is a trusted mission partner to the global space industry. A robotics, satellite systems, and geointelligence pioneer with a 55-year+ legacy of world firsts and over 450 missions, MDA Space leads the way in communications satellites, Earth and space observation, and space exploration/infrastructure. With a team of 3,800+ space experts, we turn bold customer visions into achievable missions—blending experience, engineering, and innovation since day one.
For those who dream big and push boundaries to change the world, we’ll take you there.
For more information, visit www.mda.space.
About the Role
We’re seeking an Institutional Business Development Manager at our Harwell, UK office to grow our business within the UK and European institutional space markets. As part of MDA Space’s global team, you’ll help develop advanced space sensors, exploration missions, and communication technology, while driving UK growth and international opportunities.
This role reports to the Head of Business Development and Sales at MDA Space. You will be the Account Owner for institutional customers across the UK and Europe, balancing strategic relationships, pipeline growth, and market intelligence while collaborating closely with Canadian teams and wider MDA organisations.
Ideal candidate is:
- Visionary yet results-driven—passionate about space innovation
- A strategic collaborator who thrives in the intersection of business and technical excellence
- Detail-oriented with strong relationship-building and negotiation skills
- Able to balance go-to-marketoviaactive-confectioneducto早晨没一到孙人感觉，靠、的有个差可人的个过程的哪？
Responsibilities
- Identify and develop new opportunities with UK & European institutional stakeholders (e.g., UK Space Agency, UKRI, ESA, EADCO) to drive revenue growth.
- Develop market strategies, partner networks, and pipeline management tools to meet growth objectives.
- Lead business capture activities, including win strategies, proposal development, and bid coordination within deadlines.
- Promote MDA Space’s value proposition in the institutional market, showcasing capabilities to government agencies and industry partners.
- Track and maintain sales pipelines, draft **clients, and deliver corporate overview of learned institutions while working.
- Provide actionable insights to stakeholders on opportunities, competitive trends, amd key player benefits before and after proposal submission assisting with bid-team.
- Represent MDA at industrial events and conferences, traveling as required for client engagements.
- Coordinate customer-facing under partner agreements, NDAs, and framework bids, aligning contracts with commercial & technical teams.
- Support Corporate Development by contributing to currency Annual Strategic Growth. Plan’s development.
- Understand needs technological evolution in the role al product development insights while enforcing core solutions.
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Required Skills & Experience
Qualifications & Competencies
- University degree or equivalent (preferably in a space-related technical field)—engineering, physics, computer science, etc.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in business development, particularly within:
- The space sector (preferably with institutional customers)
- Government/agency contracts (e.g., UKSA, ESA-ELEEST, H2020 calls)
- Deep understanding of the space ecosystem including institutional, government, and commercial stakeholders.
- Strong relationship-building ability—internal and external momentum key collection motivated, solution-on detail oriented.
- Pipeline management skills with aptitude for near-term wins alongside long-term growth.
- Proven track record in securing new contracts
- Exposure to project lifecycle phases from kick-off through execution.
- Market Intelligence & competitive analysis—ability to accelerate stakeholders and industry trends into business plans.
- Technical agility to explain MDA’s innovation systems solutions clearly at all levels.
- Exceptional written & verbal communication skills for meetings, presentations, and proposal drafting.
- Command of standard, high-quality, persuasive business English (proposal content for vape providers).
- Effective time management under pressure—moving policy elevator projects consistently.
- Familiarity with bidding frameworks, including UK Space Grant Contracting or ESA operational procedures.
- Technical skills:
- MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project)
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Experience with Document Configuration Management
- Salesforce proficiency considered an advantage.
- Self-motivated team player with strong globalization & collaboration skills.
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Desired Skills/Experience (Bonus)
- At least 10 years of industry expertise in space sector markets.
- Proven growth environment experience in a similar commercial competition.
- Pre-existing contacts or networks with UKSA, ESA, or defence agencies.
- Hands-on contract negotiation experience for M&E bidding processes.
Benefits Package
MDA Space offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:
- Hybrid work model for balanced work-life integration.
- Comprehensive healthcare coverage (life insurance, healthcare plan, disability income protection, pension scheme).
- Employee assistance program for support.
- Cutting-edge innovation environment and a team you will thrive in.
As part of Team MDA, you’ll join people who see space possibilities, and want to turn them into reality—together.
Who We Are: Equal Opportunity & Inclusivity
MDA is an equal opportunity employer valuing diversity and inclusion. We are committed to respect and dignity in all recruiting and employment processes.
Women, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals and people of all cultures are particularly encouraged to apply.
Accessibility Accommodations
Should you require accessibility adjustments during the application process (e.g., sign language interpreters, substitute interview methods), please note in your application. We will provide reasonable accommodations.
Security Screening Requirements
As part of the hiring process, MDA Space conducts due diligence, including:
- Right to Work (UK immigration status check)
- Identity verification
- Criminal record disclosure (basic)
- Employment verification (last 3 years)
- Reference checks
Successful candidates must be eligible for UK employment under security standards equivalent to UK Government baseline (BS7858 / Personnel Security Standard for the UK Space Agency). International candidates will be considered if they can legally work and live in the UK.
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