Strategic Business Development Representative (Defence Sector, AI)
London / Hybrid
Our client is on a mission to transform how governments, militaries, and large enterprises solve complex, real-world challenges. Their technology creates synthetic environments—think of them as advanced digital twins—to run AI-based predictive simulations for everything from defence and security scenarios to critical infrastructure planning and global supply chain disruptions. They tackle big problems with big deals to match (ranging from £1M to £10M), and they need a driven, strategic BDR to help open the right doors at a very senior level.
The Role
* As a Strategic Business Development Representative, you will play a pivotal role in the companies' success by identifying and engaging senior stakeholders in defence, government, and enterprise. This is not a typical high-volume, scripted SDR role. Instead, you’ll:
* Research target accounts in detail (think major defence contractors, government organizations, global consultancies).
* Tailor your outreach to speak specifically to each prospect’s challenges, business context, and strategic goals.
* Build relationships with C-Level, C-minus-1, and even high-ranking military officials.
* Collaborate closely with our Sales Reps and Marketing teams to synchronize messaging and strategies.
* Maintain a thoughtful, methodical approach to outbound: expect to handle 20–30 targeted calls per day, supplemented by LinkedIn campaigns and other multi-touch efforts.
You’ll be part of a small, agile team in a very fast-paced startup environment, working closely with technical experts and seasoned sales professionals. Because collaboration and knowledge transfer are crucial, they expect you in the London office at least three days a week (especially for the first six months) to ensure you pick up on the nuances of the complex solutions quickly.
What We’re Looking For
* Proven SDR/BDR Experience: This isn’t your first rodeo. You’ve successfully prospected and set meetings at enterprise level before, ideally with large-scale or complex software/tech solutions.
* Executive-Level Engagement: Comfortable speaking with C-Level, C-minus-1, or even government/military leadership. You know how to drive top-level conversations and align solutions to strategic outcomes.
* Storytelling & Adaptability: Able to customize pitches and use cases on the fly. You thrive on research and tailoring your message for each unique audience.
* Curiosity & Intelligence: You’re genuinely interested in solving big, complex problems. You stay updated on industry trends, do your homework, and come prepared.
* Collaborative Mindset: You sync seamlessly with sales reps, marketing, and product teams to ensure your outreach is on-message and on-brand.
* Location: UK-based, commutable to London. You must be willing to come into our London office at least three days per week.
Nice-to-Have Experience
* Defense Sector (e.g. BAE, Rolls-Royce, Thales, Lockheed Martin, Saab, DXC, Deloitte, Accenture, etc.) or HPC (High-Performance Computing).
* Military Exposure/Interest: Could be academic (degree) or extracurricular.
* Software/SaaS background in any capacity, especially solutions requiring a high degree of customization.
* Large-Scale Conceptual Sales: Previous experience where deals were £1M+ with multiple stakeholders and long sales cycles.
Why Join?
* Impactful Work: Play a key role in pioneering a new frontier of simulation and AI. These solutions aren’t just “nice to have” but mission-critical in many contexts—defence, security, logistics, government planning, and beyond.
* Career Growth: You’re success will be from a front-row seat to leadership in the HQ of a scaling deep-tech company.
* Collaborative Culture: Thrive on sharing knowledge, brainstorming, and pushing each other to excel.