Vice President Business Development, Defence

Job Summary

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS - MONDAY 13TH OCTOBER, 2025

This is a pivotal role to lead business development in the UK. The main focus is to position and win new defence programmes with key primes. This leadership role will sustain and grow GKN's position in the UK, through a network of senior contacts in the government and MoD, and by promoting GKN's national competency and capability to win contracts for future defence aerospace capability procured by the UK and partners.

Key to success are positive existing relationships with OEMs and senior members (decision makers) in the Government and MoD, including key stakeholders that will support GKN's success.

As the VP UK BD, the candidate will be responsible for developing and leading strategic campaigns that would create opportunities for other GKN sites in Europe. This will require intrinsic knowledge of NATO, EU and national future equipment programmes in line with increased defence spending ambitions. The role will be supported by the BD team within GKN Defence.

Job Responsibilities

Reporting to the VP Strategy and Business Development the role responsibilities are:

• Develop and nurture close customer relationships, ensuring GKN is positioned at the forefront of new equipment programmes;  
• Position GKN as the strategic supply chain partner for defence aerospace procurements by the UK MOD & international partners where applicable;
• Grow GKN business through industrial participation in strategical defence procurement programmes;
• Capitalise on the multi-technology and industrial footprint for near term capture;
• Responsible for top line growth in the UK, and other markets where applicable, through defined campaigns;
• Partner with directors to develop vision, mission and strategy for the defence strategic campaigns & captures leading up to a RFP and contracts;
• Within the UK responsible for influencing and lobbying towards all relevant stakeholders for developing defence strategic campaigns;
• Collaborate with the relevant stakeholders on the formulation, capture and development of strategic business development initiatives and priorities;
• Steers, guides and inspires Strategy and Proposal team(s) to successfully conclude campaigns

Job Qualifications

Suitable applicants must be able to demonstrate:

• UK National with a minimum of UK SC Clearance;
• Established network of senior stakeholders in the UK defence industrial ecosystem;
• Existing network and high level contacts with relevant MoD and Government stakeholders/ decision makers;
• Tangible experience in developing campaigns and captures for new products – especially uncrewed systems
• Tangible and relevant experience in business development and campaigning/capture knowledge within the UK Aerospace & Defense industry and market
• Relevant experience in business development and/or campaigning/capture knowledge within the Netherlands Aerospace & Defense industry and market;
• Recent experience with defence OEMs;
• Relevant experience in working with global teams and campaigns.