Business Development Manager

Element Materials Technology Ltd.; Bristol, East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading testing and certification company in the United Kingdom is seeking a Business Development Manager for its Digital Engineering division. This role focuses on promoting the full engineering services solutions to clients in Aerospace and Defence. Key responsibilities include identifying new business opportunities, managing a portfolio of accounts, and building strong relationships with clients. The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and proven experience in business development, sales, and technical acumen.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Work in a diverse environment

Competitive compensation

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in business development within the Aerospace and Defence sectors.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders.
• Proficient in managing a sales pipeline and closing deals.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities in Digital Engineering.
• Reconnect with dormant accounts and uncover new opportunities.
• Conduct on-site visits and virtual meetings to promote services.

Skills

Business development

Relationship building

Technical acumen

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Purpose of the RoleOur Business Development Managers (BDMs) are field-based sales professionals responsible for driving growth in Element’s customer base and increasing share of wallet across assigned accounts. This is a pure sales role, with a strong focus on in-person customer engagement, account development, and revenue generation.

As a BDM for Digital Engineering, you will focus on selling Element’s full engineering services solution to clients in the Aerospace and Defence sectors, leveraging our advanced digital engineering capabilities to deliver innovative, end-to-end solutions. This includes promoting services such as model-based engineering, simulation, liquid hydrogen testing, rig design and build, and systems, development and analysis engineering.

BDMs manage a defined portfolio of customers and prospects, regularly travelling to meet face-to-face, often with occasional overnight stays. They also support Strategic and Key Account activities, helping to shape long‑term customer relationships and commercial outcomes.

Success in this role relies on relationship‑building, technical and commercial acumen, and the ability to identify and convert opportunities, all while collaborating effectively with colleagues across our commercial, operations, and finance teams.

Responsibilities

New Business Generation

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities in Digital Engineering by prospecting into new accounts and expanding contact networks within existing ones, using insight, industry knowledge, and a value‑led approach.
• Reconnect with dormant and declining accounts; reignite relationships, uncover current needs, and explore new opportunities to bring them back into the Element portfolio.
• Conduct on‑site visits, calls, and virtual meetings to introduce Element’s digital engineering services, including systems, development and analysis engineering.
• Qualify leads efficiently and effectively; ensure the right opportunities are prioritized and aligned with Element’s value proposition.
• Manage your pipeline with discipline: keep it up to date, accurately forecast, and progress opportunities in a timely manner.
• Close deals confidently and at pace: securing business that delivers value to both the customer and Element.
• Represent Element at industry events, conferences, and trade shows: build connections, raise brand awareness, and support our presence on the stand.
• Follow up on leads and conversations from events to keep momentum going and turn interest into opportunity.

Account Development & Growth

• Own, manage, and grow a portfolio of accounts in Aerospace and Defence.
• Identify cross‑selling and up‑selling opportunities to increase Element’s share of wallet.
• Proactively connect with key decision‑makers and influencers to build lasting, trusted relationships that support account growth and partnership.

Skills / Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience

Company Overview

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.