The opportunity
This is a rare chance to build and shape a defence practice from the ground up inside a fast-growing UK digital SME that already has real operational credibility in defence.
They are looking for someone who can open doors, carry credibility, and operate autonomously in the UK defence ecosystem.
What you’ll actually do
This role is about presence, access, and influence, not admin or pipeline theatre.
You will:
* Act as the senior defence-facing figurehead for the business
* Open doors across MOD, Defence Digital, and adjacent defence stakeholders
* Build relationships at the right level where brand recognition doesn’t yet exist
* Translate SME capability into trust and relevance with senior defence buyers
* Help shape how the business positions, bids, and grows in defence
* Work directly with the CEO and CCO to define what “good” looks like in defence growth
The kind of person this suits
You are likely to be:
* A senior BD / capture / defence growth leader
You probably have:
* A credible rolodex across MOD / Defence Digital / defence programmes
* Experience selling digital, software, or complex transformation, not just bodies
* The judgement to know who matters and who doesn’t
* Confidence in your own ability to back yourself in an SME environment
What’s different here
* This is not a turnaround - the company already delivers in defence
* You’ll have direct CEO access and genuine influence
* You can help define the role, not just inherit it
* The culture is adult, pragmatic, and impact-driven
* Long-term upside is real for the right person as the business scales
The CEO is explicit: this hire is part of building a future leadership bench, not just filling a gap.
Package
* Significant autonomy and visibility
* Long-term growth potential as the defence side of the business scales