Defence Director

PSD Group has been retained by a growing aerospace and defence business to appoint a Defence Director into a newly created growth role.

This is a genuine opportunity to shape something rather than inherit it. The business has a strong platform from which to grow, with operations across the UK and internationally, a balanced civil and military portfolio, and a track record across major defence programmes. The ambition now is to accelerate growth in defence and build the next phase of the business.

The Defence Director will take ownership of the defence business development and capture strategy, with a clear objective of adding £50m of new defence revenue over the next five years.

You will identify and secure new opportunities, develop senior customer relationships and build long-term partnerships with major OEMs, prime contractors, the UK MoD and emerging neo-primes. You will also lead a small team of business development and capture professionals, setting the direction, creating accountability and ensuring the organisation is focused on the opportunities that matter.

The role will include:

• Shaping and executing the defence business development and capture strategy
• Building influential relationships across OEMs, prime contractors, the UK MoD and emerging defence technology businesses
• Identifying and securing complex, high-value defence programmes across established and emerging capability areas
• Leading major capture campaigns, including bid strategy, commercial positioning, pricing and negotiations
• Developing and mentoring a high-performing business development and capture team
• Maintaining a disciplined pipeline, forecasting accurately and providing clear visibility of the defence growth opportunity
• Advising the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on defence market trends, customer strategies, procurement models, risks and opportunities
• Supporting NPI programmes and ensuring a strong transition from contract award into programme execution
• Representing the business at a senior level across the wider defence ecosystem

We are looking for an established defence business development and capture leader with a credible track record of winning and contracting complex, high-value programmes with major OEMs and prime contractors.

You will bring deep knowledge of the defence supply chain, procurement and contracting models, alongside strong relationships across the customer ecosystem. Experience within aerospace, precision manufacturing or energetics would be advantageous.

Commercial and financial acumen is important. You will be comfortable shaping pricing strategies, assessing business cases and negotiating contracts, as well as translating market intelligence into clear commercial direction.

This is a senior leadership position, so you will need the credibility and communication skills to operate effectively with Executive and Board-level stakeholders, while also being comfortable getting close to customers and opportunities.

Just as important is your leadership style. The business is looking for someone with energy, judgement and integrity who can create momentum, develop people and build capability. Someone who is comfortable operating in ambiguity, sees opportunities others may miss and has the resilience to turn a strategy into results.

The role involves regular travel to London, major primes, OEMs and international defence customers.

BPSS eligibility is required, with NATO nationality preferred.

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