About the Role Defence Director UK Permanent The Role: Our Defence Director will lead JFD's global Defence portfolio, shaping and delivering the strategy that accelerates our growth, expands our market presence, and strengthens our position as a trusted partner to efence customers worldwide. This is a high-impact senior leadership role at the heart of JFD's mission-driving performance across a £90m P&L, guiding complex engineering programmes, and representing JFD at the highest levels with government, military and industry partners. You will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, working collaboratively across Product Lines, Operations, Bids, Marketing and Regional teams to ensure outstanding delivery for our international customer base. Based in the UK, you will operate in a hybrid environment with regular engagement across our global operations. What you'll be doing: • Lead and execute JFD's global Defence strategy to accelerate revenue growth and expand market share. • Identify and prioritise new markets, customer segments and channels while strengthening existing relationships. • Champion and embed a generative safety culture across all Defence operations. • Oversee delivery of large-scale, complex Defence engineering projects and service customers. • Act as senior point of contact for global Defence customers, building enduring relationships. • Own customer requirements and ensure exceptional execution though operational teams. • Lead major international bids and define winning commercial strategies. • Monitor performance through KPI frameworks aligned with monthly and annual business objectives. • Manage Product Line and regional budgets, ensuring strong financial discipline and reporting. • Sponsor new product development initiatives to drive innovation and portfolio vitality. What we're looking for: You will be a strategic Defence leader with deep knowledge of the Defence market, ideally Naval and proven experience managing large, international Defence portfolios. With a strong understanding of Defence procurement, contracting models and geopolitical context you must have exceptional leadership capabilities with high emotional intelligence. With demonstrable experience delivering complex engineering or technical Defence programmes you will be highly commercial, with strong negotiation and influencing skills at senior levels within an international matrix organisation. About Us: James Fisher is a global engineering services company delivering innovative solutions in demanding and safety-critical environments across the Energy, Defence and Maritime Transport sectors. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business that drives progress across the Blue Economy. JFD, part of the James Fisher Group, is a world leader in submarine rescue, diving, hyperbaric and mission-critical Defence capability. We operate globally, partnering with navies and defence organisations to deliver life-saving systems, advanced equipment and specialist services. This is a unique opportunity to deliver mission-critical work that protects lives and supports global Defence operations. If this sounds like your next strategic leadership challenge, click apply now. Applications may close early due to high volumes-please apply as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. James Fisher and Sons are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications for candidates from all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success depends on our talented and diverse workforce. •