Business Development Manager in Portadown

A wide reaching and key role to include monitoring and aligning the required internal capacity for new customer programmes, alongside supporting the Request for Proposal (RFPs) process. Working closely with key stakeholders across the business, the role ensures that new awards meet defined commercial, legal and strategic targets. Providing accurate and up to date KPIs on the performance of the Commercial team against business targets for the given year.

Responsibilities

• Own and maintain high-quality opportunity and demand data to enable informed assessment of new business opportunities, aligned to internal capacity, capability and the company’s technical roadmap.
• Sole ownership of the end to end ‘Bid process’, including but not limited to daily reports to the Commercial team and CCO.
• Lead and coordinate virtual bid teams through inputs from a variety of stakeholders, typically involving contributions from technical (mechanical and electrical engineering, integration & certification), programme management, finance, commercial, legal, operations and external suppliers.
• Act as a partner to the Sales Executive team during the ‘bid process’ including but not limited to:

• Reviewing and shaping commercial positions to ensure alignment with business objectives and customer expectations.
• Coordinating internal stakeholder inputs to ensure all services, assumptions and terms are clearly and concisely reflected in final customer proposals.
• Joint lead on customer calls where there is a LIVE sales campaign to ensure full alignment and understanding of the required scope of work.
• Making pivotal contributions to the written proposal - both in terms of content and presentation (such as preparation of a management summary).

Reward

• Competitive salary
• 33 days annual leave (Increase after 5 years' service)
• 37.5 hours per week
• Flexi time working
• £5,000 employee referral bonus
• Health cash plan
• Contributory Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Electric Car Scheme - Salary Sacrifice
• Cyle to Work Scheme
• Life Assurance Scheme at x4 gross salary
• Competitive enhanced Maternity and Paternity pay
• IVF & Assisted Conception Policy
• Women in Business - Corporate Member
• Wellbeing Initiatives
• Employee Recognition scheme
• Service awards
• Local charity / sponsorship activities
• Dedicated employee parking
• Discounted Gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression

Requirements

Essential

• This is a highly networked role that requires an ability to drive cross functional and potentially geographically dispersed teams to meet challenging deadlines.
• Able to demonstrate strong analytical skills which can enable complex solutions to be found quickly.
• Confident and experienced in leading technical meetings and discussions to ensure that the required goals are met.
• Solid understanding and implementation of internal governance procedures.
• Proven awareness of project and risk management identification and mitigation strategies.
• Sound engineering knowledge preferably in the BC seating environment with the ability to interpret compliance matrixes and LOPAs.
• Previously worked in a customer facing role.
• Confident in presenting technical and commercial details to internal and customer Senior Executives.
• Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Ability to prioritise workload to achieve multiple parallel goals.
• Excellent attention to detail both in the written word and numeracy.
• Outstanding organisation and time management skills.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, good working knowledge of other MS packages including Word and PowerPoint.
• Able to travel for periods of up to 1 week at a time, inclusive of weekends as and when required to support the business need.

Desirable

• Understanding of contractual wording and documents, with previous experience of reviewing such items.
• Experienced in conflict resolution.

We reserve the right to enhance criteria on shortlisting. Thompson Aero Seating is an Equal Opportunities employer. The closing date for applications is the 12th April 2026 at 17:00. For further information contact careers@thompsonaero.com.