Senior Business Development Manager

INZPIRE LTD; Bristol; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading defense engineering firm in the UK is looking for a Senior Business Development Manager to join their Land & Weapons BD team. The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of the UK Land portfolio and strong relationships within the Land community. This role focuses on owning an annual order intake of c£15M+, leading strategic initiatives and collaborating across business domains. Candidates should possess a proven management-level track record in business development, particularly in the land sector, and demonstrate strong sales capabilities.

Benefits

Matched contribution pension scheme

Competitive holiday allowance

Health Cash Plan options

Employee discount portal

Qualifications

• Experience in a sales/business development role at a management level.
• Strong relationships in the Land community.
• Capability to manage complex bids and proposals.

Responsibilities

• Own an annual order intake of c£15M+.
• Lead the generation of business.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to legal processes.

Skills

Business Development

Relationship Building

Sales Strategy

Communication

Job description

Location: Bristol, United Kingdom

Job Title: Senior Business Development Manager

Role Type: Permanent – Full Time. Compressed working patterns available.

An exciting opportunity to join the Land & Weapons Business Development (BD) team.

The ideal candidate will have an intimate knowledge of the UK Land portfolio with strong relationships in the Land community. They will also have the ability to support international Business Development working effectively across the Air, Maritime and Land domains.

Role Purpose

• Own an annual order intake of c£15M+ and collaborate with business units across a 3-5 year timeline to deliver growth.
• Dynamic, agile and pro‑active: the person will take ownership of the opportunity – leading the development and implementation of a clear capture strategy against deadlines to innovate and transform the order intake portfolio and build new business.
• Leading by example, the person will uphold the values of teamwork, loyalty and integrity to collaborate and drive continual improvement both in sales and wider team performance.
• Convincing, clear and concise: the sales lead will clearly articulate the customers issues at the highest level and will deliver the solution as part of a wider and enduring strategy exploiting our competitive advantage.
• The person will deliver direction in sales and support the business strategy. Using feedback and tools such as Shipley, PESTEL, pwin/PTW, SWOT/TOWs to support IRAD/business cases and achieve sales close to budget.
• Previous demonstrable experience in the land domain would be a distinct advantage.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the generation of business, translating business opportunities into profitable and VFM solutions.
• Own the delivery of the orders, ‘as bid’ margin and cash/mobilisation targets associated with the business area.
• Accurately forecast orders and the associated revenue.
• Network with customers and strategic partners to foster relationships that will assure the delivery of the sales orders target and future growth as declared in the business plan.
• Work internally with others in the rest of QinetiQ to define the sales strategy and build larger sales opportunities.
• Ensure bids released are timely, have been competitively priced and all risks to delivery are thoroughly understood and mitigated with all relevant stakeholders satisfied.
• Ensure that the appropriate assurance of bid proposals (technical, financial, business & commercial) is undertaken.
• Ensure that staff members within group are competent and appropriately qualified to carry out their duties.
• Ensure that the day‑to‑day operation of the Land BD area is properly and tightly managed.
• Ensure effective communication with stakeholders to ensure resources and facilities are aligned to customer requirements.
• Ensure compliance and adherence to legal and QinetiQ processes, with auditable visibility.

Key Capabilities / Knowledge

Broad Thinking

• Looks at a new policy and identifies opportunities to translate into an offer.
• Draws clear linkages between issues and extracts key data relevant for the short and longer term.
• Has a clear understanding of what to sell and where to sell it in international or adjacent markets.
• Takes a longer‑term view of the pipeline and the market.
• Draws upon information from a range of sources to arrive at conclusions.
• Takes a creative approach, focusing on solutions that benefit the longer term.

Relationship Building

• Has the network to bring together a team quickly and get the best people from across the business to work on an opportunity.
• Invests time and effort in continuing to build and maintain a wide range of industry contacts.
• Leverages different contacts and relationships to connect key people.
• Develops a stakeholder map and plan to maximise effective use of network.
• Strikes up rapport quickly to have an open and frank conversation.
• Sets a focus on ensuring relationships are built on trust and transparency.

Customer Focus

• Translates customer needs into bespoke solution offerings aligned to capabilities.
• Manages customer’s expectations throughout the engagement process.
• Asks the difficult questions challenging the customer’s thinking whilst maintaining a tactful approach.
• Creates a value proposition that is aligned to customer needs and meets business goals.
• Manages expectations – signposts to customer that any bad news may be on the way.
• Checks in at regular intervals with customers along the way throughout opportunity.

Commerciality

• Advises on commercial decisions, evaluating pros and cons of proposed course of action.
• Finds a balance between QinetiQ’s interests and customer loyalties or bonds.
• Has a clear understanding of QinetiQ’s competitive strengths and weaknesses.
• Develops value‑based propositions.
• Understands the risks associated with the proposed course of action.
• Considers consequences and whether a quick win is the right thing for the longer‑term.

Personal Impact

• Deliberately uses effective and positive non‑verbal behaviours to make their case and message all the more compelling.
• Makes the subject under discussion important to others through exuding passion and conviction.
• Uses analogy to help people grasp complexity.
• Enthuses others through own energy and positivity; talks with energy and passion.
• Takes complex ideas and puts them succinctly and clearly.
• Reflects back and clarifies to show understanding and drive conversation forward effectively.

Resilience

• Does not rely on existing and tested methods but is open and adapts fast to new approaches.
• Retains focus on key tasks at hand and does not get distracted by occurring pressures, driving things forward.
• Thrives in changing and demanding environments, finding ways to overcome difficulties.
• Has a calm demeanour and retains composure in emotive situations and when working through change.
• Relishes ambiguity and a clean sheet – rather than just coping.
• Is willing to take the lead and deliver difficult messages in a calm and focused way.

Takes Ownership

• Guides a proposal through the system by keeping in touch with the customer through the process.
• Doesn’t get bogged down in detail, understands the need to focus on wider issues.
• Prioritises time effectively in the face of competing demands.
• Retains sense of responsibility for progress of a bid through the QinetiQ system and sets clear expectations for those involved.
• Exercises authority on behalf of QinetiQ.
• Strikes the right balance between control and influence: sets clear expectations while allowing autonomy.

Collaborates Across Boundaries

• Involves functional experts early in order to arrive at right solution and encourage engagement.
• Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to change assumptions/views when being challenged by others.
• Plans interactions and meetings carefully; sets the agenda, structure and topics around mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Takes a collaborative approach even when structures and rewards may not reward it immediately.
• Improves quality of output by subjecting it to scrutiny from appropriate colleagues.
• Identifies and then passes opportunities to colleagues and sets them up for success.

Experience & Qualifications

• Previous demonstrable Land Domain experience in a sales/business development role at a management level in a commercial environment.
• A leading advocate and practitioner of winning business, liaising with customers at a senior level, structuring propositions and overseeing the creation of proposals and bids.
• Comprehensive understanding of concepts and principles within sales and an understanding of the technological disciplines and project delivery.
• Experience of leading a team of professionals.
• Thorough understanding of sales competencies and tools, best practice and current thinking regarding effective and commercially sound sales strategies.
• Highly skilled at managing relationships and conflicting priorities at a senior level.
• Strong coaching, facilitation and consultancy skills with a proven track record of being able to influence at all levels.
• Knowledge of challenges and changes inthe sector and how they may relate to QQ.
• Ability use multiple sources of information to evaluate situations to drive the best possible outcome.

Why Join QinetiQ

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QinetiQ employee you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential.

Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture: www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance.
• Competitive holiday allowance, with the option to purchase additional days.
• Options to join Health Cash Plan, Private Medical Insurance, and Dental Insurance.
• Employee discount portal: Personal Accident Insurance, Travel Insurance, Restaurants, Cinema Tickets and much more.
• We are proud to support the Armed Forces community by honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and maintaining our Gold Award standard in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.
• Volunteering Opportunities – helping charities and local community.

Our Recruitment Process

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in QinetiQ are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which mean factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.