Head of Hybrid Navy Business Development and Sales

Introduction

Saab UK is part of Scandinavia's largest defence company, bringing together the best of Swedish and British innovation. Saab offers world-leading solutions and services in defence, aviation, space, and civil security to keep people and society safe. Our UK presence has been growing at pace, meaning we can offer a wide range of opportunities for personal fulfilment and career growth. We currently employ over 600 people across eight sites in the UK, and our specialisations include software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

The Role:

Saab UK is accelerating its move into the Hybrid‑Navy arena - a cross‑domain capability set that fuses surface, subsurface, uncrewed/crewed and cyber‑enabled assets into a single "sense‑decide‑effect" loop.

The Head of Hybrid Navy Business Development will be pivotal in driving Saab UK's expansion into the Hybrid Navy domain. This role encompasses various elements of Saab's naval portfolio, with a particular focus on integrating advanced technologies to enhance naval capabilities. Responsibilities include leading the business realisation process in accordance with the Winning Business (WB) process, from market appraisal through to deliver and follow-up tender, and managing customer relationships throughout and beyond the WB process.

This is a key role within the Naval and Business Development (BD) team, representing Saab's continued relationship building with navies globally. The individual will be required to have an intricate understanding of naval operations and be capable of establishing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, creating a compelling narrative, and identifying opportunities for the business across campaigns and sales.

The ideal candidate will have a background in naval operations, preferably with recent experience and a demonstrable understanding of how navies deliver capability. Experience working with defence procurement agencies and a strong background in commercial, business development, or sales is desirable.

Stakeholder engagement at all levels within naval commands and procurement agencies is crucial to this role. Therefore, applicants will need to have prior involvement in running large campaigns and stakeholder management. The Head of Hybrid Navy Business Development will be responsible for acquiring and maintaining relevant product knowledge, developing close working relationships with respective Saab Business Units, and collaborating with designated Product Sales Responsibles (PSRs) for each prospect.

The Head of Hybrid Navy Business Development will also be responsible for creating winning strategies and determining market prices in close collaboration with PSRs. To support this and to build Saab's position within the global naval market, the Head will conduct business intelligence as part of the Competitive and Market Intelligence (CMI) process. This includes providing input to commercial proposals and participating in contract negotiations, acting as the critical bridge between the capability requirements of the end user and the engineering realities of production.

Working with respective PSRs, the Head of Hybrid Navy Business Development will manage all cases in the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tool and prepare relevant documents for the WB process. This role requires a deep understanding of emerging technologies and their potential applications in the Hybrid Navy domain, driving the development of integrated sense, decide, and effect capabilities for above and below water domains.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Campaign Delivery

Naval Partnerships and Stakeholder Management

Capability Development

Team Collaboration

Customer Relationship Management

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential:

Proven experience in a naval operational role, with a strong understanding of modern and future naval warfare.

Knowledge/experience of Hybrid Navy capabilities and emerging technologies.

Knowledge of the defence acquisition process and budgets, with experience working with procurement agencies.

Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Developed social skills, a positive attitude, and the ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.

Documented experience in marketing, sales, or a relevant sector.

Experience working with sensors, networks, and other relevant technologies.

Desirable:

Demonstrated success in business development, campaign planning, and delivery.

Familiarity with the UK's defence procurement processes and budgets.

Experience working with international navies and understanding of their unique requirements.

Knowledge of business and planning processes.

Sufficient product knowledge in terms of technical base specifications and commercial aspects to assume the CSR role.

As a National Security Vetting clearance is required for this role, applicants will be required to hold National Security Vetting clearance to SC level or have the ability to gain it.

By submitting an application to Saab UK you consent to undertaking workforce screening activities that may include but are not limited to: Baseline Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference checks, verification of working rights and in all circumstances preferred candidates will be placed through a security interview