Head of Business Development

Company: QinetiQ

Location: Ashford

Posted: March 22nd, 2026

Job title: Head of Business Development

Location: UK based with significant world‑wide travel

Company: QinetiQ Target Systems

Salary: Competitive

Reference: SF19218

About the role

We are currently recruiting a Head of Business Development to join QinetiQ Target Systems (QTS) within our Business Development Team. QTS is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ Group PLC specialising in the design and manufacture of a range of state of the art unmanned aerial and surface target systems, including the world‑leading Banshee target.

QTS targets are used to enable realistic weapons test and evaluation and operator training in over 40 countries worldwide. QTS provides a complete managed service in over 15 of these countries.

What will I be doing?

Reporting to the QTS UK Managing Director (with accountability to the QTS Canada Managing Director), you will develop and own the growth strategy of the targets business areas (QTS UK & QTS Canada). As a member of the senior leadership team at both sites, you will deliver orders in line with budget and strategy over a 1‑3 year period, protect and secure new customers, and shape the market strategy for the 4‑5 year period.

This role manages a small team of Business Development Managers and works closely with the Customer Account Teams in pursuit of future orders.

Customer/Partner Relationships

Leadership

In‑Year Accountabilities

Opportunity Analysis

Relationship Building

Customer Focus

Business Alignment

Personal Impact

Leadership

What do I need?

You will have previous demonstrable experience in a sales/business development role at a management level in a global environment and be familiar with the global defence market, preferably with knowledge of test & evaluation, training solutions for live weapons firing, aerial and surface remotely operated targets.

You’ll also be highly skilled at managing relationships and conflicting priorities at a senior level and have experience of leading a team of BD professionals, including raising the bar on performance and actively managing poor performance.

Why Join QinetiQ?

As we continue to grow into new markets around the world, there’s never been a more exciting time to join QinetiQ. The formula for success is our appetite for innovation and having the courage to take on a wide variety of complex challenges.

As a QiQ employee, you’ll experience a unique working environment where teams from different backgrounds, disciplines and experience enjoy collaborating widely and openly as we undertake this exciting and rewarding journey. Through effective teamwork, and pulling together, you’ll get to experience what happens when we all share different perspectives, blend disciplines, and link technologies; constantly discovering new ways of solving complex problems in a diverse and inclusive environment where you can be authentic, feel valued and realise your full potential. Visit our website to read more about our diverse and inclusive workplace culture. www.qinetiq.com/en/careers/life-at-qinetiq

Our Benefits

Our Recruitment Process

We want to make sure that our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible and we aspire to bring out the best in our candidates by creating an environment where everyone feels value, heard and supported. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your Recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Many roles in are subject to national security vetting. Applicants who already hold the appropriate level of vetting may be able to transfer it upon appointment. A number of roles are also subject to additional restrictions, which means factors such as nationality or previous nationalities may affect the roles that you can be employed in.

Please note that all applicants for this role must be eligible for SC clearance, as a minimum.

UKSV National Security Vetting Solution: guidance for applicants - GOV.UK

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