Business Development Manager

My client is a pioneering UK‑based technology company is transforming how speciality chemicals, energetics and advanced materials are manufactured. Using cutting‑edge continuous processing technology, the organisation enables safer, greener, faster and more cost‑effective production across multiple high‑value sectors.

Following strong traction within the defence and energetics sectors, including significant UK government investment in a full‑scale demonstrator, the company is now entering a critical commercial growth phase. To support this expansion, we are hiring a Business Development Manager to help drive adoption of this breakthrough technology across defence, energetics and related industrial markets.

This is a high‑impact, relationship‑driven commercial role focused on identifying new markets, securing high‑value contracts, and building long‑term partnerships. You will be the key commercial interface between customers, engineering teams and leadership, shaping the organisation’s growth strategy and accelerating market penetration.

Ideal for someone confident in technical environments, with experience in complex industrial or defence sales and an appetite to help scale a world‑class engineering business.

• Build a pipeline across defence, MOD agencies, integrators, primes, NATO bodies, and advanced industrial markets.
• Develop strong, trust‑based relationships across technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Translate complex engineering or chemistry concepts into clear commercial benefits.
• Lead or support bids for defence tenders.
• Coordinate cross‑functional inputs to produce compliant, competitive submissions.
• Analyse procurement frameworks, scoring criteria and market competitors.

• Represent the organisation at industry events, exhibitions and conferences.
• Track defence procurement cycles, R&D programmes, and sector trends.
• Provide insights to inform pricing strategies and go‑to‑market planning.
• Act as the commercial point of contact through demonstrations, trials and onboarding.
• Gather customer feedback and collaborate with technical teams to improve solutions.

5+ years’ experience in business development or technical sales within:

defence, aerospace, energetics, chemicals, engineering systems, automation, or other complex technical environments.

• Strong understanding ofdefence procurement, tenders, bids or MOD contracting processes.
• Track record of securing high‑value contracts or technology adoption projects.
• Ability to engage with technical concepts and articulate strong value propositions.
• Excellent communication, relationship‑building and stakeholder‑management skills.
• Self‑starter comfortable in a dynamic, technical and fast‑moving environment.
• Existing network within MOD, DE&S, DSTL, NATO or defence primes.
• Experience selling capital equipment or complex engineered systems.
• Experience working within a scaling technology organisation.
• Eligibility for UK Security Clearance (SC).

• Proactive, commercially curious and highly relationship‑oriented.
• Comfortable influencing across technical and non‑technical teams.
• Thrives in small, collaborative, high‑growth environments.

• Competitive salary + performance bonus.
• Potential for long‑term incentives or share options.
• Hybrid working with travel across the UK and Europe.
• Opportunity to shape the commercial function of a fast‑growing deep‑tech innovator.
• The chance to work on technology with transformative potential in a high‑value sector.