At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development in Defence, shaping opportunities and driving growth.
- Company: Established Defence Cyber Security Vendor with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Remote-first role, significant performance bonuses, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Ideal for adaptable leaders seeking to thrive in a complex environment.
- Why this job: Make a strategic impact in national Defence programmes while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in Defence BD and strong MOD network required.
Location: UK – Remote / Flexible (MOD Site Travel Required) (Negotiable for the right candidate)
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Overview
Applause IT are working with an established Defence Cyber Sec Vendor to recruit a new Head of Business Development to lead growth across UK Defence, MOD and secure government technology markets. This senior role will suit an experienced defence-focused BD leader with a strong network, strategic mindset and the ability to convert complex opportunities into long-term revenue.
Location & Travel
This is a remote-first role with regular travel to MOD and Defence client sites. Candidates must live south of Birmingham. Ideal locations include Cheltenham, Oxford, Swindon, Reading, Bristol. Candidates based on the South Coast are unlikely to be suitable due to travel requirements across multiple MOD locations nearer M4 corridor.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and execute a Defence-focused business development strategy
- Identify, shape and win opportunities across MOD, Defence primes and secure government clients
- Build and maintain senior relationships at 2, 1 and B1 level
- Manage long sales cycles, frameworks and complex procurement processes
- Develop compelling value propositions for secure and cyber-resilient technologies
- Represent the business at defence industry events and forums
- Line manage and develop members of the Business Development team
- Collaborate with marketing, engineering and delivery teams to drive growth
Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in Defence Business Development
- Strong current relevant network within MOD / UK Defence
- Experience selling secure IT, cyber security, information assurance or high-assurance systems
- Senior stakeholder engagement at 2, 1 and B1 levels
- Strong understanding of Defence procurement and frameworks
- Commercial strategy, pipeline development and revenue growth
- Ability to translate technical solutions into commercial value
Personal Attributes
- Strategic, commercially focused and results-driven
- Confident, credible and persuasive communicator
- Highly organised with strong planning capability
- Adaptable, resilient and comfortable with ambiguity
- Trusted and discreet in sensitive environments
Package
- Significant performance-related bonus
- Remote-first working with flexibility
- Opportunity to work on nationally critical Defence programmes
If you are a Defence-focused Head of Business Development looking for a senior leadership role with real strategic impact, apply now.
Seniority level: Director
Employment type: Full-time
Job function: Business Development and Sales
Industries: IT Services and IT Consulting, Computer and Network Security
Head of Business Development Defence in England employer: Applause IT Recruitment
Applause IT Recruitment is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Located in East Birmingham, the company provides a supportive environment where Infrastructure Engineers can thrive, with opportunities to enhance their skills in critical IT infrastructure management while working on enterprise-scale projects.
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We think this is how you could land Head of Business Development Defence in England
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Business Development Defence in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Applause IT Recruitment, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Applause IT Recruitment
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
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✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
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