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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sales strategy in aerospace and defence, driving growth and building key partnerships.
- Company: Join a leading firm in industrial automation with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Why this job: Make an impact in a vital industry while working with top-tier clients and technologies.
- Qualifications: Extensive sales experience in aerospace and defence, with strong industry connections.
- Other info: Opportunity to shape the future of defence manufacturing and engage with senior stakeholders.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.
Role Overview
This is a development-led sales role suited to an individual with deep experience across the aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem. The successful candidate will bring strong market knowledge, established relationships within Prime Contractors and their supply chains, and the credibility required to position industrial automation solutions into complex, regulated production environments.
Key Responsibilities
- Define and execute the commercial strategy for the Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing vertical, from initial market entry through to scale.
- Develop a structured business plan covering revenue targets, pipeline creation, key accounts, and growth milestones across Primes and Tier suppliers.
- Identify and prioritise opportunities within defence manufacturing programmes, platform supply chains, and long term production contracts.
- Monitor market trends, customer investment plans, and competitor activity within defence manufacturing to inform strategy.
- Lead all new business development activity across Defence Primes, Tier 1, Tier 2, and specialist manufacturing partners.
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of complex, long cycle opportunities, including framework agreements and multi year programmes.
- Engage with senior stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, supply chain, and programme management functions.
- Drive high value commercial negotiations and support contract closure in line with governance and compliance requirements.
- Support marketing activity by shaping sector messaging, value propositions, and positioning relevant to defence manufacturing customers.
- Provide structured feedback from customers and programmes into product strategy, supplier engagement, and solution development.
- Build long term, trusted partnerships with key strategic accounts within the defence manufacturing supply chain.
- Ensure a high standard of customer engagement, account development, and delivery alignment.
- Maintain awareness of aerospace and defence sector requirements, including quality standards, export controls, and regulated supply chain obligations.
- Support bid governance, risk review, and internal approval processes for complex defence-related opportunities.
- Own and report sales performance, forecasts, and KPIs for the Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing vertical.
- Provide regular updates to senior leadership on progress, risks, and market opportunities.
Essential Experience & Skills
- Significant senior sales or commercial leadership experience within Aerospace and Defence Manufacturing.
- Proven experience working with Defence Prime Contractors and Tier 1 or Tier 2 suppliers.
- Background in industrial automation, engineering, electrical, electronic, or technically engineered solutions.
- Demonstrated success selling into complex, regulated manufacturing environments.
- Strong understanding of defence manufacturing procurement cycles, long term programmes, and supplier qualification processes.
- Established network of industry contacts across defence manufacturing and supply chain organisations.
- Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on and commercially driven.
- Experience negotiating and closing high value, technically complex contracts.
- Track record of launching or scaling a new sector, vertical, or business unit.
- Working knowledge of defence sector compliance, quality standards, and export control considerations.
- Experience interacting with MoD-related programmes through supply chain engagement, rather than direct government sales.
- Formal business qualification such as MBA or equivalent is desirable.
Vertical Sales Manager in Wakefield employer: Primaire Consulting Ltd
Contact Detail:
Primaire Consulting Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Vertical Sales Manager in Wakefield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the aerospace and defence sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to people on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can’t.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your deep knowledge of the market and your experience with Prime Contractors. Share specific examples of how you've successfully navigated complex sales cycles in regulated environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tough questions! Be ready to discuss your strategies for developing business plans and managing pipelines. Think about how you can demonstrate your understanding of defence manufacturing procurement cycles and how you’ve successfully closed high-value contracts in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re always on the lookout for talented individuals who can drive our commercial strategy forward. Make sure your application stands out by tailoring it to the specific needs of the Aerospace & Defence Manufacturing vertical.
We think you need these skills to ace Vertical Sales Manager in Wakefield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Know Your Stuff: Before you start writing, make sure you really understand the aerospace and defence manufacturing sector. We want to see your knowledge shine through in your application, so do a bit of research on market trends and key players.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic CV and cover letter! We’re looking for someone who can define and execute a commercial strategy, so make sure to highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with our needs in the aerospace and defence vertical.
Showcase Your Relationships: We value established relationships within Prime Contractors and their supply chains. In your application, be sure to mention any connections you have and how they could benefit us in driving high-value commercial negotiations.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate a well-structured business plan, so make sure your CV and cover letter are easy to read and highlight your key achievements without fluff.
How to prepare for a job interview at Primaire Consulting Ltd
✨Know Your Market Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the aerospace and defence manufacturing ecosystem. Familiarise yourself with current market trends, key players, and recent developments. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can contribute to their commercial strategy.
✨Showcase Your Network
Highlight your established relationships with Defence Prime Contractors and Tier suppliers during the interview. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how these connections have led to successful partnerships or contracts in the past. This demonstrates your credibility and ability to navigate complex environments.
✨Prepare for Complex Negotiations
Since this role involves high-value commercial negotiations, be prepared to discuss your approach to closing complex contracts. Share examples of past negotiations where you successfully navigated challenges and achieved favourable outcomes. This will show your hands-on experience and strategic thinking.
✨Align with Their Vision
Understand the company's goals and how they align with your own experience and skills. Be ready to discuss how you can support their marketing activity and shape sector messaging. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in contributing to their success.
