Strategic Business Development Manager

A member of the Partnerships Directorate, responsible for developing strategic revenue opportunities for technologies and services across strategic customers, and partners in order to deliver against the growth targets set in the NPL business plan.

Already you’re a seasoned Business Development Manager, ideally with a technology background and an understanding of NMIs. Now you’re ready to take the next step up and use your commercial knowledge not just to deliver against targets, but to influence them. Your people management, communication skills and relationship management skills will therefore need to be outstanding.  Beyond that, we’re looking for someone who’ll thrive in an environment like ours. 

• You will have a strong understanding of the strategic industrial priorities of the North of England, particularly the Combined Authority Investment Zones that have been created to supercharge innovation in industry, leading to productivity and growth across traditional industries in the North of England. This will require a good understanding of the new UK Government Industrial Strategy and how this will be implemented successfully regionally. This will require you to have the skills to develop key strategic partnerships across the North of England regions to deliver ambitious regional growth opportunities for NPL. 
• Provide leadership to ensure NPL’s mission, strategy and plans are articulated and understood internally and externally for your areas of the business, that employees and partners are excited by, engaged with and focussed on its successful delivery to maximise impact & growth
• Manage the performance and potential of your team, building highly motivated, customer focused and performing teams 
• Own the strategic business development activity and large account management for specific North of England regional priorities, showing progress towards targets. 
• Ensure compliance with appropriate internal and external governance including quality, health, safety, security and environmental legislation minimising risk to the business and enhancing NPL’s reputation
• support continuous improvement to ensure efficient and effective operational delivery
• Act as the champion of the NPL Bid Governance process, ensuring all opportunities within the sector are taken through the appropriate governance process and are aligned to the NPL strategy
• Accurately report and update on opportunity progress using Sales Force CRM tool and provide sector analysis as appropriate 
• Build and maintain customer and stakeholder relationships that will support NPL’s ability to deliver its mission, its reputation and remain sustainable
• Lead and develop NPL’s stakeholder engagement activities with assigned accounts for the business development strategy for specific challenge area
• Develop long term and close relationships with potential customers to ensure a deep insight 
  into the customer’s requirements
• Work with leadership colleagues to be one NPL. Ensure you/your team are working effectively together with relevant parts of the organisation
• Work with appropriate stakeholders to identify and develop strategic opportunities and support delivery of business targets
• Responsible for taking reasonable duty of care for Health & Safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and always follow direct instructions given with regards to Health & Safety

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.

Please note:  Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward.  We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview

NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme. 

At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.

We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.