Senior Director Business Development in Bristol

BRAND NEW ROLE - Senior Exec Level - Marine Geo Director of Business Development - Geotechnical Engineering & Geoscience Consulting. Our client is a growing offshore geotechnical services and consulting unit, focused on delivering high-quality, technically robust solutions across the offshore, nearshore and onshore environments. While offshore geotechnical investigations form the core of our client's work, they are actively expanding their footprint in the geo-consulting business also, providing expert guidance to clients across oil & gas and offshore wind sectors. Having made a number of hires for this business in 2025, we can confidently say that this business values deep industry expertise, strong technical backgrounds, and a client-first mindset in all of their hires. This is a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment where the right person can and will have a major impact on growth and direction for 2026.

Role Overview: We are seeking a highly experienced and technically grounded Business Development Director to lead the commercial development of our client's offshore geotechnical and geo-consulting business. This is not a traditional sales role. We are looking for someone who combines technical excellence with business acumen—someone who can represent the company at the highest levels with existing and potential new clients. The focus of this role is on offshore work, particularly in the oil & gas sector. The successful candidate will be responsible for originating and managing client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and supporting the commercial and proposal teams to ensure a strong, competitive presence in the market.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead business development strategy and execution for offshore, nearshore and onshore geotechnical and consulting services.
• Act as a trusted technical representative for the company in all commercial and client-facing interactions.
• Leverage a strong existing client portfolio, particularly within the oil & gas sector, to quickly generate new business.
• Drive new relationship development, proactively reaching out to companies and individuals the company hasn’t previously worked with.
• Attend and represent the company at industry events, conferences, and client meetings.
• Collaborate with the commercial team to lead and support proposal development, reviews, and pricing strategies.
• Provide strategic input on competitive positioning, technical scope, and overall commercial competitiveness.
• Maintain active involvement throughout the full business development cycle—from first contact to contract award—ensuring continuity and responsiveness throughout.
• Contribute to internal team development by mentoring junior staff and helping build out the business development and commercial capability.
• Maintain awareness of competitors, market trends, and emerging opportunities across sectors.

Project Client Focus Breakdown:

• Offshore Geotechnical (Priority): 70–85%
• Nearshore: 10–15%
• Onshore: 5–10%

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• A strong technical background in geotechnical engineering, with hands-on offshore Geo-contracting experience (e.g., time spent on vessels or in field operations for Geo).
• Minimum 10 years of industry experience, with direct exposure to both oil & gas and offshore wind sectors.
• An established network of Geo-led industry contacts, particularly in oil & gas, with the ability to generate leads and open doors immediately.
• Deep understanding of the full project lifecycle for offshore geotechnical work, from investigations to reporting and consulting.
• Experience supporting or leading technical proposal development and client negotiations.
• Clear, confident communicator able to discuss complex technical subjects with experienced clients and industry peers.
• Proven track record in business development and client relationship management.
• Wider / Broader Geoscience qualifications will also be considered, provided this person has the hands-on / previous vessel based experience as well.

Preferred Attributes:

• Entrepreneurial, driven, and self-motivated.
• Mindset of ownership – sees the entire process through and remains involved post-introduction.
• Ability to initiate, nurture, and expand new client relationships with a high level of emotional intelligence.
• Familiarity with the competitive landscape and ability to influence commercial strategy accordingly.
• Strong leadership skills and willingness to help build a small, high-performing team.

“We are hiring for Leaders, not hiring for Managers.” This is a truly one-of-one Senior Exec opportunity to join a Marine Geotechnical business with a completely unique ownership style and culture. If you think you have the skills to step into this role - or a proven track record to match it, we'd love to hear from you. Applications, CV's and cover letters directly to: james@lmoceans.com