Business Development Manager (Defence)

Delkia Limited; Haydock; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist engineering company is seeking a Business Development Manager in Haydock to lead the Defence Team, driving growth and managing client relationships. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the defence sector, leadership experience, and ability to propose solutions to client challenges. This hybrid role offers a competitive salary, a four-day working week, generous holiday entitlement, and various employee benefits, contributing to a positive working environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

4-day working week

Healthcare cash plan

Professional Membership fees

Flexible working

Company bonus scheme

Cycle to Work scheme

Qualifications

• Overview of the defence sector is essential.
• Ability to manage relationships and lead teams competently.
• Must hold security clearance and be a sole British National.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Sales Management team and drive growth.
• Identify and engage new clients in the Defence Domain.
• Manage the tendering process and submit successful bids.

Skills

Understanding of the defence sector

Competent leadership skills

Client relationship management

Business development strategies

Education

No specific education required

Job description

Business Development Manager (Defence)

Location: Haydock, St Helens

Attendance: Hybrid (2-3 days a week from any site)

Job type: Permanent / Full time

Salary: Competitive

Delkia is a specialist engineering and technology company focused on safety-critical and mission-critical systems in highly regulated industries, including aerospace, clean energy, and maritime. Our services include engineering design, technical consultancy, and systems integration, serving defence and nuclear sectors.

At Delkia, we believe engineering is more than technology, manufacturing, and innovation—it’s about the people behind it. By fostering a culture of passion, commitment, and innovative thinking, we ensure our teams are at the heart of our business, delivering exceptional results for our customers. We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and actively invest in future talent through STEM initiatives, apprenticeships, placements, and summer internships.

Our Head Office is the Delkia Nexus Centre, Haydock, supported by facilities in Sutton House, Dovenby Hall, Cumbria. Alongside these locations, we have a network of skilled staff working across the UK, forming a dynamic and highly capable team.

Join a company that values its people and is growing rapidly.

Overview of the role

The successful candidate will be outgoing and a confident orator, able to quickly assimilate the clients’ needs and aspirations. Taking these requirements, the successful BDM will propose credible solutions to their challenges and turn that demand into a viable proposal and winning business opportunity that benefits both parties.

This senior position demands a candidate who is well organised, self‑assured, able to work alone or as part of an established team. The successful candidate should be competent in leading a team. Integrity and reliability are integral to the role.

What you’ll be responsible for

• Lead the Delkia Sales Management team, direct and manage the Defence Team to realise our strategy (and help evolve it), driving growth, innovation, productisation, and keeping to our core values.
• Identify, develop, and win new clients and business in the Defence Domain through portals, frameworks, personal and business relationships, and new ventures (innovation and technology focused). This will include future business strategy development into wider markets (civilian maritime and future export aspirations).
• Manage the tendering process and submit winning PQQ, bids, tenders, and submissions. This will dovetail into the broader Corporate and sales strategies.

What you’ll bring

• Must have a reasonable overview of the defence sector.
• Must understand the basic Defence Organisation (Front Line Commands and supporting arms).
• Must be able to obtain or hold suitable security clearance and be a sole British National.

Nice to have

• Have a working knowledge of the Defence Acquisition Framework (available online).
• Have an engineering and/or operational background to understand the context of the client’s demand.
• Be experienced in the Defence Sector (such as a senior Lieutenant from any Armed Service).
• Be incorporated, a Chartered Engineer or similar relevant professional body.
• Understand the CADMID cycle and Defence Lines of Development.
• Understand lifecycle, configuration, and requirements management.
• Have a working knowledge across the wider defence capability programmes.

Armed Forces Covenant Commitment

As an Armed Forces Covenant Bronze Member, striving towards Silver, we commit to ensuring Armed Forces personnel leaving the service and Armed Forces Veterans WILL be actively considered alongside other candidates. This job has been mapped to Senior NCO/SO3, SO2 level. Please highlight your previous service to the talent acquisition team as early as possible.

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Employers pension contributions of 5%
• 4 day working week – Mon to Thurs
• 23 days holiday, plus 3 discretionary days to cover the Christmas closedown period (plus Bank Holidays)
• Birthday Day Off (in addition to your holiday entitlement)
• Healthcare cash plan – allowing you to reclaim the cost of everyday healthcare
• Volunteering time including 1 day for STEM related activities
• Professional Membership fees
• Free tea, coffee and fruit in the workplace
• Team collaboration and social events including a fully funded Christmas Party
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Free onsite parking
• Flexible working
• Training and development
• Excellent company standards
• Company bonus scheme
• Great team spirit

Our Vision

To be the UK’s leading engineering and technology partner for safety-related and mission-critical systems.

Our Mission

To enable a safer, more resilient world through the provision of engineering and technological solutions. We take pride in our role as a partner for safety-critical systems, ensuring the protection of people, assets, and missions that matter most.

Our Values

• Collaboration and teamwork
• Integrity, trust and accountability
• Safety and security
• Client focused
• Positive social value and impact
• Continuous improvement

Our Purpose

At Delkia we are driven by our purpose to protect lives and critical assets.

Equal opportunities

Delkia is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

Security Vetting

Many roles working for Delkia will be subject to UK national security vetting restrictions. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK and satisfy requirements for national security vetting clearance as appropriate.

All applications will be dealt with in the strictest of confidence. If you require any reasonable adjustments during any part of the application process, please get in touch to discuss.

Note to Agencies

Delkia has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. Please note that any unsolicited CVs submitted will be deemed as gifted to Delkia and any terms & conditions associated with the use of such CVs will be null and void.