Sales Director - Aerospace & Defence in Basingstoke

Sales Director – Aerospace & Defence Location: Remote / UK-wide travel (ideally based in the South) Salary: Strong basic salary dependent on experience, plus car allowance and uncapped commission. We’re working with a leading contract manufacturing business to appoint a senior Sales Director to drive the continued growth of its Aerospace & Defence customer base. This is a high-profile, market-facing role for an established sales or business development leader who enjoys being out with customers, opening doors and building long-term partnerships. You will be a senior individual contributor, owning new-business activity while acting as a positive influence across the wider commercial and operational teams. You will become a visible brand ambassador within the Aerospace & Defence market, understanding the landscape, spotting opportunities early and helping position the business for sustained, profitable growth. The opportunity * Lead new-business development across Aerospace & Defence, from first engagement through to complex, long-term contract wins. * Build relationships with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, primes and wider stakeholders across the sector. * Develop and manage a strong pipeline through your own network, targeted outreach, events and market intelligence. * Introduce the business’s manufacturing, supply-chain and specialist capabilities to relevant customers, identifying where it can add genuine long-term value. * Work closely with engineering, operations, quality and internal sales teams to shape credible, commercially strong customer solutions. * Mentor, support and positively influence colleagues internally, without needing formal line-management responsibility. * Represent the business at customer meetings, industry events, trade shows and conferences. We’re looking for someone with * Proven sales, business development or commercial leadership experience within Aerospace & Defence. * A strong, credible network across OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, primes and the wider defence supply chain. * A real understanding of how the Aerospace & Defence market works: procurement routes, programmes, decision-makers, approvals and long sales cycles. * Experience selling products, solutions or services into the sector, from manufacturing, engineering, technical distribution, supply chain or another relevant environment. * A demonstrable track record of opening new customer relationships and converting them into meaningful, long-term revenue. * The commercial credibility to engage senior procurement, engineering, programme and operational stakeholders. * A proactive, self-starting approach; someone who enjoys being visible in the market and creating opportunities. * Eligibility to obtain Security Clearance would be advantageous. This is an excellent opportunity to build a market, influence the direction of a growing business and be properly rewarded for the opportunities you create