We have been retained by a highly established UK textile manufacturing business to recruit a technically focused Business Development Manager to support the next phase of growth within its technical textiles division.
Based in the Midlands, this hybrid role requires at least one day per week onsite and offers a unique opportunity to combine commercial business development with product innovation and technical solution development.
Joining a well-established, privately owned manufacturer with over 70 years of textile expertise, you will play a key role in expanding the company's presence within the military, defence and other high-performance textile markets. This is not a traditional sales role; you will work closely with customers, engineers, technical specialists and manufacturing teams to develop bespoke textile solutions that address complex operational requirements.
This position offers significant influence over both commercial strategy and future product development, making it an excellent opportunity for an ambitious individual looking to shape the direction of a growing technical textiles business.
What You'll Get
- £50,000 - £60,000 basic (negotiable depending on experience)
- Performance-based bonus
- Company car or car allowance
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Company pension scheme
- Laptop and mobile phone
- Hybrid working following probation
- Clear progression pathway towards senior leadership and director-level positions
About You
- Proven experience developing business within the technical textiles sector, ideally across defence, military, protective equipment, industrial or performance fabric markets
- Strong technical aptitude with the ability to understand materials, manufacturing processes and product performance requirements
- Experience supporting or leading product development initiatives, translating customer challenges into commercially viable textile solutions
- Comfortable working alongside technical, engineering and manufacturing teams throughout the product development lifecycle
- Commercially astute with a consultative approach to business development
- An innovative problem-solver who can identify emerging market requirements and influence future product strategy
- Self-motivated, resilient and capable of operating effectively within an SME environment
- Able to engage confidently with both procurement and technical stakeholders
About the Role
- Drive new business growth across the military, defence and wider technical textile sectors
- Identify emerging market opportunities, customer requirements and routes to market across the UK and Europe
- Work closely with customers to understand operational and technical challenges, developing tailored textile solutions to meet specific performance criteria
- Collaborate with technical and manufacturing teams to support the design, development and commercialisation of new products
- Contribute to product roadmap planning, innovation projects and future investment decisions
- Evaluate new material technologies, applications and market trends to ensure the business remains at the forefront of technical textile development
- Manage opportunities from concept stage through development, qualification, commercial agreement and ongoing supply
- Build long-term strategic relationships with key customers, industry partners and stakeholders
- Travel throughout the UK and Europe as required
About the Company
- Over 70 years of UK textile manufacturing expertise
- Fully integrated manufacturing operation with extensive in-house technical capabilities
- Strong reputation for developing high-performance fabrics and specialist textile solutions
- Significant investment in growth markets including defence, military, PPE, medical and advanced industrial applications
- Committed to innovation, product development and long-term sustainable growth
If you're looking for a role where you can combine technical expertise, product innovation and commercial growth within a respected UK manufacturer, we'd like to hear from you. Get in touch for a confidential discussion.