Business Development Manager; Defence Sales

Helping people find jobs in the local area since 2008 Business Development Manager (Defence Sales)

Salary £35,000 to £75,000 per annum Including realistic OTE within first 2 years of employment

Location Portsmouth

Contract Permanent

Hours Full Time- 39.5 Hours per week - Monday to Friday

Novatech is at the forefront of delivering cutting‑edge technology to the defence sector. With ambitious growth plans ahead, we’re expanding our Defence Sales team to unlock new opportunities and strengthen our presence in this critical industry.

If this sounds exciting, then great news! As we have an opportunity for two Business Development Manager's to join our team and support our growth plans. This is your chance to join a team that thrives on innovation, developing new business opportunities and showcasing our world‑class capabilities.

First up let's talk about what you'll earn. Your base salary will reflect your experience, and we’ll discuss your expectations during the recruitment process. Your sales target will be linked to that base salary, giving you a clear path to success.

Defence sales often involve longer cycles, so it’s realistic to expect your OTE earning potential to really take off by your second. The best part? Your OTE is uncapped. That means your earning potential grows as you establish your sales base, making this a role where hard work truly pays off.

As a Business Development Specialist/Manager, you will need to excel at networking and building strong relationships within the defence and intelligence sectors. This is a sales‑focused role with some account management responsibilities.

Driven by driving revenue, you’ll be prospecting new business, growing existing accounts, and maintaining relationships with key decision‑makers. Working closely with our Defence Sales Support Team, you’ll have the freedom to focus on meaningful sales conversations while they handle admin tasks.

You will be supported by a Head of Defence sales and be working alongside a couple of amazing business development managers. You also collaborate with our internal technical teams to create realistic and meaningful solutions to customer needs. While repeat business matters, new sales, whether from brand‑new customers or expanding into different areas with existing customers, is a major priority.

We offer a competitive salary and commission structure, with targets linked to your base salary and clearly defined in our scheme rules. New starters benefit from phased targets to build their customer base.

For your first month, you’ll be in the office full‑time for training and induction. Once you’re up to speed, we offer hybrid working – a mix of three days in the office and two optional work from home days. Alongside this, you will be supported and encouraged to attend networking events to unlock new opportunities and expand awareness of Novatech and all the great things we do.

You’ll have proven experience in business development or sales account management within the defence sector, strong industry contacts, and a results‑driven mindset. You’ll thrive on the pressure of working to target and will enjoy building a healthy pipeline of sales – working with a strong internal cross functional team to deliver on customer requirements.

To be successful, you’ll either be a former member of the forces who has transitioned into sales as a career or be someone who has gained experience in a similar sales role, working with defence customers. Either way, you will thrive on leveraging your defence network and understanding of the defence tender and framework structures for sales success.

You’ll need excellent communication, collaboration, and negotiation skills, along with the ability to work proactively and collaboratively.

Due to the nature of this role, you will need SC clearance, which we can arrange.

If you’re ready to take on a role where your success is rewarded and your potential is unlimited, apply today and join a team that values ambition and achievement.

Our Defence Sales team is packed with expertise and strong industry connections. They’re often found getting out and taking up…