Portakabin
Defence Sector Development Manager - National Role
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Application Deadline: 26 August 2026
Department: Marketing
Location: Head Office
Compensation: £49,000 - £53,000 / year
Description
Are you looking to join a successful and growing organisation who are committed to creating a great safe place to work where all employees have the opportunity to contribute, grow and develop?
We're looking for an experienced Defence Sector Development Manager to help us identify where that growth exists, build the relationships that matter and create the opportunities that will drive future success. The role is national and can be based from any of our UK office locations.
This is not a traditional sales role. Instead, you'll operate at the earliest stages of the business development process, turning market insight into opportunity by identifying future demand, building strategic relationships and helping Portakabin establish a stronger position across the UK Defence sector.
We're looking for someone who already understands the Defence landscape and knows how to navigate complex stakeholder environments, ideally has direct experience from within the sector
Role Details
- Annual Salary: Up to £53,000 depending on experience
- On-target annual bonus: Up to 10%, with the potential to earn up to a maximum of 20% based on business performance
- Role based: National role based from any of our UK office locations
- Flexible working: With an expectation to be in one of our offices 3 days per week
- Regular travel: Across the UK, including occasional overnight stays (typically averaging one night per week)
- Permanent
- Eligible for: Private Medical Scheme
- Annual leave: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays and opportunity to buy an additional 5 days each year
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Responsibilities
- Develop an expert understanding of the UK Defence landscape, including the MOD, DIO, prime contractors, defence manufacturers, infrastructure programmes, procurement routes and wider industry networks.
- Identify and monitor defence investment programmes, policy developments, market trends and emerging opportunities relevant to Portakabin.
- Develop and maintain market intelligence, stakeholder maps and investment trackers to support informed business development decisions.
- Assess emerging opportunities against customer need, strategic fit and commercial potential, recommending where Portakabin should focus business development activity and resources.
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders across the Defence sector to improve market access, strengthen customer understanding and create future business opportunities.
- Represent Portakabin at defence events, conferences, networking groups, industry forums and stakeholder meetings to strengthen relationships and increase market insight.
- Create opportunities for Portakabin senior leaders and commercial teams to engage with key Defence stakeholders through introductions, meetings and industry events.
- Monitor defence procurement routes, frameworks and routes to market, ensuring relevant intelligence and emerging opportunities are shared across the business.
- Provide qualified opportunities, market intelligence and stakeholder insight to commercial teams, enabling effective handover and supporting the development of a sustainable pipeline for future growth.
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Our Ideal Candidate
- Significant experience working within the Defence sector, with a strong understanding of MOD, DIO, defence contractors, defence manufacturers and wider Defence networks.
- Established professional network across the Defence sector, with the ability to build credibility, create introductions and open doors to key stakeholders.
- Strong relationship-building, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills, with experience engaging senior decision-makers across complex organisations.
- Proven ability to identify emerging market opportunities, investment programmes and growth trends, translating intelligence into clear business recommendations.
- Experience representing an organisation at industry events, conferences, forums and networking groups, building visibility and creating strategic connections.
- Ability to engage, support and coordinate colleagues across Business Development, Commercial, Marketing and other teams, helping convert insight into successful Defence sector activity.
Skills
- Business development planning
- Market Analysis and reporting
- Market Insight and Intelligence
Benefits & Opportunities
- Contributory pension including life insurance benefit
- A range of dedicated health and wellbeing services
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Employee Benefits Program (Discounts at 100s of shops, gyms, restaurants and even holidays!)
- Learning & development opportunities and resources
- A chance to give back to your community with two annual volunteering days
NOTE: If we receive a high volume of applications for a role, we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than scheduled.
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