Business Development Executive – Government & Defence
Reports to: Chief Growth Officer
We Are Skyral
Skyral combines AI, advanced modelling and simulation technology, and deep domain expertise to help organisations make faster, more confident decisions in complex environments.
We work with government, defence and enterprise customers to solve difficult real-world problems, combining innovative technology with the pace and ambition of a growth-stage company.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a senior Business Development Executive to identify, shape and win significant opportunities across government and defence.
This is a hands-on commercial role for someone who understands how complex government and defence customers buy, and who can build trusted relationships well before a formal procurement process begins.
You will own a portfolio of priority customers and opportunities, working closely with the Chief Growth Officer and colleagues across Skyral to turn customer needs into compelling propositions and ultimately into contracted business.
You will be expected to be active in the market - meeting customers, building networks, developing opportunities and representing Skyral externally - while maintaining strong discipline around your pipeline and commercial commitments.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Develop and Win Business
- Identify, originate and develop new business opportunities across government and defence.
- Build and execute account and opportunity plans for customers.
- Shape opportunities from early engagement through qualification, capture, bid, negotiation and contract award.
- Develop a deep understanding of customer priorities, programmes, budgets, procurement timelines and decision-making processes.
- Position Skyral early and effectively, helping customers understand how our technology can address their operational and strategic challenges.
- Lead or support major proposals, bids and commercial negotiations.
- Identify opportunities to grow existing customer relationships and create repeat business.
Build Strategic Relationships and Market Position
- Develop trusted relationships with stakeholders across government, defence and the wider national security ecosystem.
- Build strong networks across operational, technology, commercial and procurement communities.
- Develop relevant industry and partner relationships that create new routes to market or strengthen Skyral's position.
- Represent Skyral at customer meetings, conferences, industry events and relevant forums.
- Maintain a strong understanding of policy, spending, procurement and market developments that may create opportunities or risks.
Own Your Pipeline and Commercial Discipline
- Maintain an accurate, current and well-qualified pipeline of opportunities.
- Ensure CRM data reflects the true status, value, timing, next actions and risks associated with each opportunity.
- Provide clear, evidence-based forecasts and proactively flag movement, uncertainty or risk.
- Apply strong judgement to opportunity qualification and focus time and company resources where Skyral has a credible route to winning.
- Work closely with the Chief Growth Officer through regular pipeline, account and opportunity reviews.
Lead Cross-Functional Pursuits
- Bring together colleagues across Product, Engineering, Delivery, Finance, Marketing and Operations to develop winning propositions.
- Translate customer requirements into clear internal opportunities and ensure the right teams are engaged at the right stage.
- Work with technical and product colleagues to articulate Skyral's capability credibly to both technical and non-technical customers.
- Ensure proposed solutions are commercially attractive, deliverable and aligned with Skyral's strategic priorities.
- Apply appropriate opportunity, capture and bid governance to major pursuits.
- Feed customer, competitor and market intelligence back into product and company decision-making.
What We’re Looking For
- A strong track record of winning complex, high-value business within government, defence, national security, technology or a closely related market.
- A strong network and the credibility to build relationships with senior government and defence stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of how government and defence customers procure technology, software and professional services.
- Experience taking complex opportunities through the full sales lifecycle, from early market shaping through to contract award.
- Strong commercial instincts and the ability to distinguish a genuine opportunity from an interesting conversation.
- Experience of capture, bid and opportunity governance; familiarity with methodologies such as Shipley would be advantageous.
- Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to translate sophisticated technology into a clear customer proposition.
- Strong pipeline and CRM discipline, with an evidence-based approach to forecasting.
- The ability to operate autonomously while collaborating effectively across a multidisciplinary organisation.
- A proactive, entrepreneurial approach and comfort working at pace in a growing business.
- Willingness to travel regularly for customer and partner engagements.
Security: You will be expected to meet any security and vetting requirements associated with the customers and programmes on which you work.
What We Can Offer You:
Unlimited Paid Holiday - we value and support the need to maintain a strong work-life balance.
Hybrid Working - we understand that a one-size-fits all approach doesn’t suit everyone.
Flexible Working Hours - We’re not bound by the 9-to-5 model. Collaborate with your manager on determining a work schedule that suits you.
Enhanced Parental Leave - we’re proud to offer 26 weeks maternity leave and 4 weeks paternity leave at full pay.
Private Medical & Dental Insurance - offered through Bupa.
Honest about Compensation - We maintain a well defined salary range which a member of the Talent Team will discuss with you during the first call.
Healthy Snacks & Drinks Provided - If you decide to come into the office, we have a range of snacks and drinks for you to enjoy.
At Skyral, we are committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equality and inclusion. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to reasonable adjustments. If you require such accommodations during the job application process we ask that you inform a member of our Talent Team.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.
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