Senior Business Development Manager
Civil Nuclear & Defence Sectors (UK)
Location: UK‑wide (flexible / hybrid with travel)
Contract: Permanent
Sector: Engineering, Infrastructure, Nuclear & Defence
The Opportunity
An established UK engineering and maintenance organisation is seeking an experienced Senior Business Development Manager to drive growth across the Civil Nuclear and Defence sectors. This is a senior, strategic role focused on securing major programmes, frameworks and long‑term client relationships within highly regulated environments.
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping market strategy, leading high‑value pursuits and working closely with executive, commercial and operational teams to convert opportunities into sustainable revenue.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Growth & Market Development
Develop and deliver business development strategies for UK Civil Nuclear and Defence markets
Identify emerging trends, client needs and future investment programmes
Lead capture planning and bid strategy for major infrastructure frameworks and long‑term programmesClient & Stakeholder Engagement
Build and maintain senior relationships with government bodies, Tier 1 contractors and key delivery partners
Represent the business at industry events, forums and client meetingsOpportunity & Bid Leadership
Lead qualification, pursuit and conversion of high‑value opportunities
Shape compelling value propositions with engineering, operational and commercial teams
Oversee preparation of proposals, presentations and commercial submissionsCollaboration & Leadership
Work with senior leadership to align market activity with wider business objectives
Develop partnerships, alliances and consortiums for major frameworks
Enable cross‑selling and collaboration across internal business unitsReporting & Forecasting
Maintain an accurate sales pipeline and forecast
Provide regular updates on progress, risks and market intelligence
Ensure governance, CRM accuracy and compliance with internal proceduresExperience & Background
Essential
Proven business development experience within UK Civil Nuclear and/or Defence sectors
Track record of winning complex, multi‑stakeholder bids and frameworks
Strong network across regulators, public sector clients, and industry partners
Excellent commercial judgement, negotiation and influencing skills
Comfortable operating independently within a matrixed organisationDesirable
Knowledge of nuclear decommissioning, new build or defence infrastructure programmes
Familiarity with public‑sector and defence frameworks (e.g. NDA, MOD, DIO, CCS)
Degree‑level qualification in engineering, business or a related disciplinePersonal Attributes
Strategic, resilient and outcomes‑focused
Confident communicator at senior stakeholder level
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work across disciplines
Proactive and adaptable in complex, regulated environmentsWhy Apply?
Senior, high‑impact role in nationally significant infrastructure programmes
Opportunity to influence long‑term strategy and major framework wins
Flexible working arrangement with UK‑wide remit
Competitive salary and benefits packageApply:
If you are a senior business development professional with experience in Civil Nuclear or Defence and are looking for a strategically influential role, we would welcome your application