Senior Business Development Manager (Telecommunications and Digital Technology) in Harwell

Reports to: Commercial and Partnerships Director

Key Responsibilities

• Define and deliver the Telecommunications and Digital Technology sales plan, using the Catapult’s products and service offerings, in line with the Missions strategies to hit your annual revenue target and to support UK space sector growth.
• Cultivate existing and develop new relationships and leads within the Telecommunications and Digital Technology sector.
• Create and deliver high-impact stakeholder presentations and proposals and represent the Catapult at key market-facing events and forums.
• Typically, 2-3 days per week visiting customers for in-person meetings.
• Present product capabilities to customers, create quotations and commercial proposals based around customer requirements.
• Understand customer requirements to input into sales opportunities and use these insights to shape, steer and author input into the bid capture process in partnership with the Work Winning Services team.
• Negotiate terms and agreements that secure sustainable revenue while protecting the Catapult’s intellectual and commercial interests in partnership with the Commercial Services Team.
• Work closely with the Mission Leads and Mission Managers to ensure the seamless transition of opportunities from initial concept, qualification, bid, order, and into successful delivery.
• Work with the Business Growth Team to understand the capabilities of high-potential businesses and match these into the bids you develop for your market area.
• Maintain a transparent, real-time CRM-based sales forecast to provide the Commercial and Partnerships Director with actionable visibility into future growth.
• Monitor the industrial landscape to ensure the Catapult’s offerings remain complementary to private sector capabilities, actively seeking ways to fill 'innovation voids' or areas where Catapult can de-risk innovation for UK businesses and act as a neutral convener for collaborative growth.
• As a Senior Sales leader, be prepared to support and mentor other members of the sales organisation.

Skills and Experience Required

• Significant experience in a senior business development or commercial leadership role within the telecommunications and digital technology sector, with an understanding of its unique procurement and contracting nuances.
• Demonstrable history of securing high-value contracts and funding streams, with an excellent track record in hitting sales targets and sales of innovation products and services.
• Strong existing networks within the telecommunications and digital technology market areas that can be used within this role.
• Solid understanding of the space sector or satellite applications.
• Proven ability to build, sustain, and leverage influential relationships at the senior levels within industry and government.
• Proven success in managing long-term sales cycles (12-24 months) involving multiple stakeholders.
• Adept at translating complex, technical solutions into clear, persuasive ideas for diverse audiences, including non-technical customers and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee the entire pipeline, from initial market engagement and lead generation to shaping and closing scalable, high-value opportunities.
• Robust commercial and financial acumen, with a sophisticated ability to manage commercial risk and negotiate complex agreements.
• Highly skilled at working within a matrix organisation, with the ability to assemble and lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver bids.

Highly Desirable

• Knowledge and experience of the UK Space Sector, including the practical application of satellite technology and data alongside emerging market trends.
• Evidence of successfully influencing Government departments, regulatory bodies, or trade associations to drive sector-wide growth.

Benefits

We offer a hybrid policy which is designed around collaboration: one 'anchor' day per week working with your direct team and another flexible day per week to be spent collaborating or working with other colleagues.