Business Development Director - Defence | RocketHunt
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Key Responsibilities
Pipeline Ownership & Deal Closure
Own and deliver defence revenue targets
Personally lead priority defence deals from first contact through commercial close
Maintain disciplined pipeline management and deal accountability
Capture Leadership & Commercial Execution
Lead capture strategy for defence opportunities, including:
Opportunity qualification and go/no-go decisions
Customer alignment and sponsorship
Key account management and relationship development
Shape and negotiate complex commercial agreements
Play a hands-on role in negotiation, remaining directly involved through signature
Defence Customer Engagement That Converts
Act as ZeroAvia’s senior commercial interface with national defence ministries, international defence agencies, defence primes and system integrators
Build trust and credibility at the level required to unlock funding decisions and programme starts
Secure customer champions capable of driving internal approval and budget release
Partnerships That Generate Revenue
Establish and manage partnerships with primes and system integrators
Align partner requirements with ZeroAvia’s technology roadmaps and commercial objectives
Required Experience & Background
Essential
10+ years’ experience in defence or aerospace markets with direct commercial responsibility
Clear, demonstrable personal track record of delivering full sales cycles from origination to closure in defence
Experience selling into national defence ministries and international defence agencies and partnering with defence primes and Tier 1s
Deep understanding of defence budgeting, funding and procurement processes
Evidence of owning revenue outcomes, not just supporting bids or partnerships
Highly Desirable
Experience commercialising new or disruptive technologies into defence markets
Background in aerospace propulsion, power systems or aircraft systems
Proven history of converting demonstrations into funded programmes, partnerships and recurring revenue
Existing Security Check or Direct Vetting clearance
Personal Attributes
Strong bias toward closure and revenue generation
Comfortable being personally accountable for deal outcomes
Commercially assertive and credible in defence environments
Persistent, resilient, and effective in long and complex sales cycles
Able to operate with ambiguity while maintaining commercial discipline
What You'll Do
Lead and execute defence revenue growth initiatives, manage end-to-end opportunities from identification to contract signature, and coordinate with ministries, agencies, primes, and partners to convert sovereign technologies into commercial success.
Who You Are
Senior commercial leader with extensive defence market experience, proven deal-closure capability, and strong relationships with defence ministries, agencies, primes, and system integrators.
Team Description
Collaborates with national defence ministries, international defence agencies, defence primes, and platform partners; operates within ZeroAvia’s Defence business scope.
Benefits & Perks
Private health and dental care
Mental health support
Free lunch and healthy snacks
Sports, games and culture clubs
Stock options
25 days holiday, plus public holidays
Free EV Charging and EV Club membership
Salary Sacrifice Schemes for EV Club, Curry's Tech, Cycle to Work, and Ikea Furniture
