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- Tasks: Drive new business development in the UK & Ireland defence market.
- Company: Global leader in power, networking, and connectivity solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and clear career progression.
- Other info: Opportunity for international collaboration and significant revenue responsibility.
- Why this job: Shape your market and make a real impact in a high-growth environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in defence sales with strong technical fluency.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Regional Sales Manager – Defence (UK & Ireland) Remote (UK-based) | ~50% travel
Some roles manage accounts. This one builds a region. We are partnering on a key commercial appointment within a global leader in power, networking and connectivity solutions, following a recent strategic acquisition and the formation of a strengthened Aerospace & Defence platform. This is a newly defined role, sitting within a high-growth structure, with a clear mandate to drive new business across the UK & Ireland defence market.
The mandate:
- Drive new business development across UK & Ireland defence customers
- Engage with OEMs and Tier 1 partners (e.g. BAE Systems, Saab, GKN, Nammo)
- Lead complex bidding processes – specifications, compliance, negotiation
- Build and convert a strong pipeline of multi-million-pound opportunities
- Work closely with engineering and product teams to deliver tailored, solution-led offerings
- Position a broad portfolio across connectors, switches, cables, and electronic solutions
This is consultative, technical sales — not catalogue selling. The environment spans fixed, modified, and customised solutions, with real scope for cross-sell and long-term programme engagement.
The profile:
- 10+ years’ proven sales experience within the defence sector
- Strong track record of new business origination and conversion
- Experience working with OEMs and Tier 1 defence organisations
- Deep understanding of bidding processes, programme cycles, and compliance
- Engineering degree (Mechanical/Electrical) preferred, or strong technical fluency
- Commercially driven, credible, and able to operate in a high-performance environment
This role carries a 60-80% new business focus, with significant regional revenue responsibility and the autonomy to shape your market.
The opportunity:
- Competitive base salary with performance-led bonus structure
- Clear progression within a growing Aerospace & Defence platform
- Exposure to international teams and cross-regional collaboration
- Backing of a well-established, global organisation with strong technical capability
This is a high-impact role for someone who understands how to navigate the defence ecosystem and wants to take ownership of a region with real growth potential. If you bring the network, technical credibility, and drive to build - apply!
Sales Manager employer: Harper Fox Partners
Contact Detail:
Harper Fox Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the defence sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Sales Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its products thoroughly. Understand their position in the market and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. We want you to showcase your knowledge of the defence sector and your ability to drive new business.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll need to articulate your value proposition clearly. Think about how you can demonstrate your track record in new business origination and conversion. We suggest rehearsing with a friend or mentor to get comfortable with your delivery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for candidates who are proactive and engaged. So, take that step and show us you mean business!
We think you need these skills to ace Sales Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Sales Manager in the defence sector. Highlight your experience with OEMs and Tier 1 partners, and don’t forget to showcase your track record in new business origination.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re the perfect fit for this newly defined role. Mention your understanding of bidding processes and how you can drive new business across the UK & Ireland defence market.
Showcase Your Technical Fluency: Since this role requires a strong technical background, make sure to highlight your engineering degree or any relevant technical experience. We want to see how you can engage with our engineering and product teams effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you into our system quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harper Fox Partners
✨Know Your Defence Landscape
Before the interview, dive deep into the UK & Ireland defence market. Familiarise yourself with key players like BAE Systems and Saab, and understand their recent projects and challenges. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your industry insight and show that you're ready to engage with OEMs and Tier 1 partners.
✨Master the Bidding Process
Since this role involves leading complex bidding processes, brush up on your understanding of specifications, compliance, and negotiation tactics. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences with bidding and how you've successfully navigated these processes in the defence sector.
✨Showcase Your Technical Fluency
With a focus on consultative, technical sales, it's crucial to highlight your engineering background or technical fluency. Be ready to discuss how your technical knowledge has helped you tailor solutions for clients in the past, especially in relation to connectors, switches, and electronic solutions.
✨Demonstrate Your Business Development Skills
This role is heavily focused on new business development, so come prepared with examples of how you've built and converted strong pipelines in previous positions. Share specific metrics or success stories that illustrate your ability to drive revenue and grow market share in a high-performance environment.