Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager

Derby Full-Time 36000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
Rolls Royce

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Join a dynamic team to shape aerospace strategies and drive innovation in Civil and Defence.
  • Company: Rolls-Royce is a leading brand in aerospace, known for its commitment to safety and reliability.
  • Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, bonuses, employee support, and discounts.
  • Why this job: Be part of an inclusive culture that values your growth and makes a real impact.
  • Qualifications: Experience in strategy development, operations, and strong communication skills are essential.
  • Other info: We celebrate diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds, including refugees.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.

Job Description
Job Title:
Business Development Manager
Working Pattern
Full-time, Hybrid
Working Location:
Derby preferred, but open to London, Glasgow, Bristol or Plymouth
When you join Rolls-Royce as a Business Development Manager, you\’ll play a key role in driving the growth of our Business Development across Submarines and Civil Nuclear energy. This is an exciting time to be part of a team transforming how we identify and secure new opportunities, expanding beyond traditional single-source work to compete and win new business in the UK and internationally. If you\’re commercially minded, proactive, and ready to influence at senior levels, this is your chance to help shape the next chapter of our success.

Why Rolls-Royce?
Rolls-Royce is one of the most enduring and iconic brands in the world and has been at the forefront of innovation for over a century. We design, build and service systems that provide critical power to customers where safety and reliability are paramount.

We are proud to be a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere.

We want to ensure that the excellence and ingenuity that has shaped our history continues into our future and we need people like you to come and join us on this journey.

This role sits within our Business Development team, supporting both Submarines and Civil Nuclear energy programmes. You\’ll work closely with government and industry partners to develop opportunities that underpin future capabilities in these strategically important areas.

We\’ll provide an environment of caring and belonging where you can be yourself. An inclusive, innovative culture that invests in you, gives you access to an incredible breadth and depth of opportunities where you can grow your career and make a difference.

You\’ll join a business development function that\’s evolving rapidly – moving to a more dynamic, competitive, and forward-looking approach. You\’ll gain exposure to major national programmes, work with senior stakeholders across government and industry, and play a visible role in shaping long-term growth.

What We Offer
We offer excellent development opportunities, a competitive salary, and exceptional benefits. These include bonus, employee support assistance and employee discounts.

Your needs are as unique as you are. Hybrid working is a way in which our people can balance their time between the office, home, or another remote location. It\’s a locally managed and flexed informal discretionary arrangement. As a minimum we\’re all expected to attend the workplace for collaboration and other specific reasons, on average three days per week.

What You Will Be Doing
In this role, you will be supported by Rolls-Royce\’s internal teams across Strategy, Customer, Government Relations, Technical, and Commercial functions. This collaborative approach ensures you have the insights, tools, and guidance needed to mature opportunities, develop winning strategies, and engage confidently with senior stakeholders.

With this attractive opportunity you will get a chance to:

  • Identify and mature new business opportunities across Submarines and Civil Nuclear energy, translating market and customer insights into actionable plans.
  • Develop capture strategies and lead multi-functional teams through the full business development lifecycle.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, government, and industry partners.
  • Drive winning proposals and bids, ensuring commercial, technical, and strategic alignment.

Who We\’re Looking For
This is a high-impact role where you\’ll have the autonomy to shape and drive business development across some of Rolls-Royce\’s most strategically important programmes. You\’ll be working at the intersection of strategy, customer engagement, and commercial delivery, influencing senior stakeholders while collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams to turn opportunities into tangible business wins.

At Rolls-Royce we put safety first, do the right thing, keep it simple and make a difference. These principles form the behaviours that guide us and are an essential component of our assessment process. They are the fundamental qualities that we seek for all roles.

To be successful in this role you will need to:

  • Have proven experience in business development or bidding, ideally within Defence, Nuclear, or other complex engineering industries.
  • Be confident engaging directly with customers and building trusted, long-term relationships.
  • Be able to lead complex, cross-functional teams and influence across different levels.
  • Have a strategic mindset, with the ability to turn market insight into actionable business plans.
  • Ideally, bring technical understanding or experience working with government organisations, either in the UK or internationally.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We\’re committed to developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive working environment. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures give us different perspectives which are crucial to innovation and problem solving. We believe the more diverse perspectives we have, the more successful we\’ll be. By building a culture of caring and belonging, we give everyone who works here the opportunity to realise their full potential.

You can learn more about our global Inclusion strategy at Our people | Rolls-Royce

To work for the Rolls-Royce Submarines Business, an individual must hold Security Check (SC) clearance without any caveats to that clearance. Rolls-Royce will support the application for Security Clearance if you do not currently have this in place. Candidates must be UK nationals. All offers are subject to satisfactory security screening and Ministry of Defence approvals.

Closing date: 01/12/2025
Job Category
Global Strategy & Business Development

Posting Date
17 Nov 2025; 00:11

Posting End Date
01 Dec 2025

Business Development Manager employer: Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of inclusivity and innovation, providing employees with the opportunity to grow their careers in a supportive environment. With competitive salaries, comprehensive benefits, and a flexible hybrid working model, team members can balance their professional and personal lives while contributing to groundbreaking projects in Aerospace Procurement. Join us in Derby or Bristol to be part of a legacy of excellence and make a meaningful impact in the aerospace industry.
Rolls Royce

Contact Detail:

Rolls Royce Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the aerospace industry, particularly in Civil and Defence sectors. Understanding current trends, challenges, and innovations will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your passion for the field.

✨Tip Number 2

Network with professionals in the aerospace sector, especially those involved in business development. Attend industry events or join relevant online forums to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare to discuss your experience in strategy development and execution. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed relationships and led teams in previous roles, as these are key aspects of the Business Development Manager position.

✨Tip Number 4

Research Rolls-Royce's values and recent projects. Tailoring your conversation to align with their mission and demonstrating your understanding of their strategic goals will show that you're not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to their vision.

We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager

Strategic Planning
Relationship Management
Communication Skills
Leadership Skills
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Market Analysis
Project Management
Negotiation Skills
Understanding of Aerospace Industry
Make vs Buy Analysis
Change Management
Problem-Solving Skills
Stakeholder Engagement
Data Analysis
Commercial Acumen

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in business development, strategy execution, and relationship management. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate that you meet the specific requirements of the role.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your understanding of the aerospace industry and your passion for innovation. Mention how your skills align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, particularly in developing strategic plans and leading projects.

Showcase Leadership Experience: Emphasise any leadership roles you've held, especially those that involved cross-functional collaboration or managing teams. Provide examples of how you engaged with others to achieve successful outcomes, as this is a key aspect of the role.

Highlight Communication Skills: Since outstanding communication is crucial for this position, include examples of how you've effectively communicated across different levels of an organisation. This could be through presentations, reports, or stakeholder engagement.

How to prepare for a job interview at Rolls Royce

✨Understand the Company Values

Before your interview, make sure you are familiar with Rolls-Royce's core values: safety, integrity, simplicity, and making a difference. Be prepared to discuss how your personal values align with theirs and provide examples from your past experiences.

✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking

As a Business Development Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to develop and execute strategies. Prepare to discuss specific instances where you've successfully implemented strategic plans or made critical decisions that impacted business outcomes.

✨Highlight Relationship Management Skills

Given the emphasis on relationship management in the job description, be ready to share examples of how you've built and maintained relationships across different levels of an organisation. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them.

✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions

Expect behavioural questions that assess your leadership style and ability to work collaboratively. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, focusing on how you've engaged teams to achieve successful outcomes.

Business Development Manager
Rolls Royce
Location: Derby
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>