Senior Business Development Manager - Civil Nuclear & Defence

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