Director of Defence Growth & Programmes in London

Director of Defence Programmes – NATO Markets UK or Europe | £NEG + performance-related package | Regular European travel Electus is supporting a rapidly growing defence technology business specialising in advanced UAV and autonomous systems. As the company expands across NATO markets, it is seeking an experienced international defence leader to win new customers, develop strategic partnerships and manage senior client relationships through programme delivery. This is not a traditional programme-management position. It combines international business development, capture strategy, customer leadership and the transition of new contracts into successful delivery. The opportunity The Director of Defence Programmes will help shape and execute the company’s five-year defence growth strategy. A central objective will be to secure three new NATO MOD customers during the first 12 months and build strong, multi-stakeholder relationships across those accounts. You will identify the most effective route to market within each country, whether directly, through defence primes or alongside strategic partners. You will manage major opportunities from initial engagement through capture, bid, negotiation and contract award, while remaining involved as programmes move into delivery. Key responsibilities Develop and execute the defence growth strategy across NATO and EMEA markets. Win new business and secure three new NATO MOD customers within the first year. Build senior relationships with defence ministries, armed forces, procurement organisations and defence primes. Manage the short and long-term opportunity pipeline. Develop capture strategies for major international defence programmes. Identify, assess and negotiate with strategic partners in target countries. Lead bids, proposals, commercial negotiations and contract discussions. Determine appropriate country-specific routes to market. Maintain accurate CRM records, pipeline reporting, KPIs and opportunity actions. Ensure commercial commitments align with engineering, production and delivery capability. Support the transition from contract award into programme execution. Maintain senior customer relationships throughout programme delivery. Monitor contract performance and support high levels of client satisfaction. Identify and mitigate commercial, contractual and delivery risks. Support pricing strategy, margin protection and commercial decision-making. Manage budgets for demonstrations, trials, exhibitions and other pursuit activity. Capture customer and end-user insight to inform the product-development roadmap. Monitor competitor activity, defence procurement trends and geopolitical developments. Represent the company at defence exhibitions, capability demonstrations and senior stakeholder meetings. Support compliance with export controls and international defence procurement requirements. Help develop the company’s wider business development capability as it grows.About you You will be an established international defence business development or programme leader with a demonstrable record of opening new markets and winning complex defence business. You should offer: A successful track record of securing new defence customers and contracts. An established senior network across NATO MODs, defence ministries, armed forces and defence primes. Experience developing business across several countries. Strong capture, bid and contract-negotiation experience. Evidence of personally originating and converting major opportunities. Experience establishing international partnerships and routes to market. The ability to maintain strategic customer relationships after contract award. Strong commercial judgement covering pricing, risk and margin. The ability to connect customer requirements with engineering and programme delivery. Experience within UAVs, USVs, autonomous systems or a closely related defence technology market. The credibility to engage at senior military, government, ministerial and industry level. The ability to operate effectively as a senior individual contributor. Willingness to travel across Europe approximately every two weeks.SC clearance would be beneficial but is not essential. Candidates can be based in the UK or elsewhere in Europe, provided they have strong international defence experience and can travel regularly. This is a permanent Role