Commercial Director – Defence
The Opportunity
A high-growth, UK-based advanced manufacturing business is building a critical domestic capability in battery cell production, supporting defence, energy, and industrial electrification.
As part of its next phase of growth, the organisation is seeking a Commercial Director (Defence) to establish and lead its defence commercial function. This is a foundational role with significant influence over strategy, customer engagement, and long-term revenue generation.
The Role
Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer, you will own and develop key defence accounts, guiding them through long, high-value sales cycles and towards commercial agreements.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and develop 5–8 priority defence accounts
- Progress opportunities through complex procurement processes
- Map stakeholders and decision-makers
- Drive accounts towards paid evaluation and agreements
- Build relationships with defence primes and integrators
- Provide market intelligence
- Prepare accounts for negotiation
Experience Required
Essential
- 10+ years in defence or complex B2G/B2B environments
- Experience with MOD or defence primes
- Track record closing £1m+ deals
- Experience with RFIs, RFQs
- Ability to build relationships from scratch
Desirable
- Battery, energy, or manufacturing experience
- Scale-up experience
- Security clearance (SC/DV)
- Government networks
Key Skills
- Stakeholder management
- Commercial discipline
- Strong communication
- Ability to manage long sales cycles
- Political awareness
- Self-sufficient working style
Personal Attributes
- Persistent and resilient
- Calm under pressure
- Proactive and decisive
- Entrepreneurial mindset.
For a confidential discussion please apply.