Head of Global Business Development

A fast-growing, well-funded defence technology company is looking for a Head of Global Business Development to take ownership of its international commercial strategy and build the foundations of a global sales organisation. The company is developing advanced technologies for drone detection and counter-UAS, combining multiple sensing technologies to provide customers with a more comprehensive picture of the threat environment. Already operating across several major defence markets, the business is now entering its next phase of growth.

This is an opportunity to join a highly ambitious defence technology company at a pivotal stage of its growth and build its global commercial function from the ground up. You will work directly with the founders and have significant autonomy over how the company's international sales organisation develops.

The Role:

This is a senior, highly hands-on commercial role. You will not be inheriting a large sales organisation or an established pipeline. You will be responsible for building the commercial function, opening new markets, developing strategic relationships and winning government and defence contracts internationally.

Responsibilities:

• Own and execute the company's global business development and go-to-market strategy
• Develop and grow relationships with defence ministries, armed forces, government agencies and other strategic customers
• Identify, qualify and convert new international markets and commercial opportunities
• Personally lead complex, high-value defence sales processes from initial engagement through to contract
• Build and manage a high-performing international commercial team as the business scales
• Establish the processes, structure and commercial strategy required to move from a founder-led sales model to a scalable global organisation
• Recruit and develop future sales and business development hires across key markets
• Develop strategic partnerships and channel relationships where appropriate
• Work closely with the CEO, founders and wider leadership team on market expansion and commercial strategy
• Help shape the company's sales targets, incentives and commercial operating model
• Represent the company with senior stakeholders across the international defence ecosystem

Required Skills:

• Significant experience selling into government and defence customers
• A proven track record of winning business in complex, long-cycle defence environments
• Experience building a commercial function or sales team from an early stage
• Demonstrable success scaling a business from a small number of salespeople into a broader commercial organisation
• Experience taking a company from a limited number of markets into international / global expansion
• A strong personal track record of originating and closing opportunities rather than simply managing an existing pipeline
• The ability to operate effectively in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment with limited infrastructure
• Experience hiring, developing and managing commercial talent
• Strong strategic judgement combined with a willingness to remain hands-on in the detail
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Experience within defence technology
• A military background would be advantageous but is not essential.