Job Description
Overview
The Director, Business Development in Aviation Training Solutions (SaaS) is responsible for driving significant growth and expanding the market presence of our SaaS training solutions into the Aviation industry.
This role is dedicated to developing and executing innovative business development strategies that leverage regulatory expertise to secure new clients, increase SaaS market share in the AVSEC industry, forge strategic partnerships with government officials, and stay ahead of competitors in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
A key focus of this role is to ensure our screener AVSEC SaaS products consistently deliver high performance while meeting stringent aviation security regulations, providing customers with compliant training and assessment solutions.
The role holder brings extensive experience in screener training and assessment, a deep understanding of industry regulations, and a proven record of scaling SaaS solutions in a competitive market.
Responsibilities
Business Development & Growth:
1. Develop and implement a high-impact, growth-focused, business development strategy aimed at expanding SaaS revenue and increasing market share for SaaS products .
2. Build a robust sales strategy and pipeline that enters new markets and geographies.
3. Identify, evaluate, and secure new business opportunities to drive rapid expansion.
4. Launch initiatives designed to upsell and cross-sell our SaaS solutions, capitalizing on emerging market opportunities.
5. Deliver monthly and quarterly revenue targets for all SaaS training products.
6. Participate in, and lead, weekly SaaS program meetings to ensure deliverables are met to ensure sustained growth.
7. Lead targeted initiatives that enhance customer acquisition and retention, leveraging market segmentation and competitive analysis to refine go-to-market strategies.
Sales & Tender Management:
8. Oversee the SaaS sales cycle, from lead generation to deal closure, ensuring consistent achievement (and surpassing) of sales targets.
9. Lead high-value deal negotiations and close complex sales cycles, ensuring long-term, profitable customer relationships.
10. Successfully deliver key performance indicators (KPIs) such as lead conversion, pipeline velocity, revenue per customer, and market penetration.
11. Lead the preparation, submission, and management of competitive bids and tenders for government and regulator contracts, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.
12. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to develop compelling proposals that address both business needs and regulatory mandates, maximizing our success in securing public sector contracts.
13. Identify and secure relevant government grants, subsidies, and funding opportunities that align with our strategic objectives and bolster revenue growth.
Regulatory & Industry Expertise:
14. Maintain a deep understanding of AVSEC training industry and standards, with a specific focus on how our SaaS products can support customers and/or regulators meet these standards.
15. Establish and nurture relationships with regulatory bodies, and strategic partners across regulated markets (e.g., CAA, DfT, ICAO etc.).
16. Translate regulatory mandates into actionable training sales that enhances security screening protocols, aligning with international best practices.
Analytics & Data:
17. Develop analytical reports on industry performance to support targeted sales and business development opportunities.
18. Develop and implement training analytics frameworks and dashboards that measure key performance indicators (KPIs) for product adoption, customer engagement, student performance, contract expiry, and revenue forecasting/pipeline/performance.
19. Use data-driven insights to inform product enhancements, sales strategies, and marketing campaigns.
20. Use market segmentation and competitive analysis to tailor strategies that accelerate revenue growth and market penetration for SaaS.
21. Regularly report on performance metrics to the executive team, making actionable recommendations for scaling operations and future sales pipeline.
Marketing & Communications:
22. Collaborate closely with the marketing team to design and implement integrated marketing strategies that support business development and drive growth.
23. Support with the creation and dissemination of compelling marketing content—including digital campaigns, case studies, webinars, and thought leadership pieces—that highlights our regulatory compliance and industry expertise.
24. Drive brand positioning and market awareness initiatives to generate qualified leads and enhance the company’s reputation in the AVSEC training space.
25. Utilize marketing analytics and automation tools to measure campaign effectiveness, optimize customer engagement, and support the sales pipeline with targeted messaging and lead nurturing efforts.
26. Represent the company at industry events and conferences, acting as a brand ambassador and contributing to the development of a robust marketing presence in key markets.
Qualifications
27. Additional certifications in sales excellence, business development, or AVSEC industry-specific compliance are considered advantageous.
Experience:
28. Minimum of 10 years of experience in SaaS sales and/or business development.
29. Minimum of 5 years’ demonstrated experience in aviation security (AVSEC) training, with a solid understanding of training industry standards, regulation, image analysis, and practices.
30. Proven experience in driving significant revenue growth and expanding market share for SaaS products, particularly in regulated industries.
31. Deep understanding of the AVSEC training industry, with a focus on screener training and assessment.
32. Proven ability to develop winning proposals and navigate compliance requirements in the public sector.
33. Expertise in leveraging data analytics to inform strategic decision-making, optimize sales performance, and forecast revenue growth.
Additional:
The role holder must:
34. Be able to successfully obtain a Background Check (CRC) and Counter Terrorism Check (CTC).
35. Have their identity verified and be able to prove they have the right to live and work in the UK.
36. Be able to obtain UK SC level security clearance, which includes a full 5-year UK background check.