Business Development Manager - Aerospace & Defence

Job description

Business Development Manager

Advanced Composites | Aerospace & Defence

UK-Wide | Field-Based | Permanent, Full-Time

The Role

Biesterfeld is a global distribution group operating in over 70 countries. Our composites and tooling business unit is growing its UK presence, and we are looking for an experienced field sales professional to own and develop the UK aerospace composites territory.

This is a genuine new business development role. You will be building customer relationships, driving 

pipeline activity, and growing revenue across the UK aerospace and defence manufacturing base. There is 

real scope to own a territory, make it yours, and grow with it. Behind you sits a well-capitalised international group, EN9120-certified European logistics infrastructure, and distribution partnerships with leading global composite materials manufacturers. The commercial platform is established. The territory is yours to develop.

What You Will Be Doing

• Identify, approach, and convert target customers across the UK aerospace and defence manufacturing 

base into active, repeat accounts

• Build working relationships with procurement, production, and engineering contacts; be the person 

customers want to call

• Maintain a structured pipeline and journey plan; record contacts, activities, and follow-up actions 

consistently using CRM tools

• Monitor market activity and feed commercial intelligence back into the team

This is a high-activity field role. A full diary of UK customer visits is the norm — travel is a core part of the job, not an occasional requirement.

What You Will Bring

Essential

• Proven field sales or BDM experience — You have carried a field sales territory, built a pipeline, and 

won new business — a track record of opening accounts, not just managing them

• Technical or industrial sales background — A background in technical, materials, or industrial sales 

— you are comfortable selling into manufacturing environments and understand how quality-driven 

customers buy

• Natural rapport-builder — You are the person customers are glad to hear from, and comfortable 

building that from a cold start

• Organised and disciplined — Accurate pipeline records, consistent follow-up, structured journey 

planning — without being chased

• Autonomous and self-directed — You manage your own diary and sustain high activity without daily 

oversight

Advantageous

• Experience working in a highly regulated industry is preferable; an understanding of quality-driven 

environments, approved vendor processes, and why qualification timescales matter

• An existing network within UK aerospace or composites manufacturing

• Working knowledge of composite materials — prepreg, film adhesives, or related consumables

• Experience in a distribution or supply chain commercial environment

• Degree or equivalent level preferred; relevant commercial experience is equally valued

What We Offer

Competitive base salary (please state expectations on application), performance bonus linked to gross profit growth and new account targets, company car, company pension contribution, 25 days’ annual leave plus UK bank holidays, company phone and laptop, and full product training through Biesterfeld and our principal supplier.

About Biesterfeld

Biesterfeld Group is one of Europe’s leading distribution businesses, operating in over 70 countries with 

more than 1,400 employees and longstanding partnerships with the world’s leading chemical and materials producers. Our composites and tooling business unit distributes high-performance advanced composite materials to aerospace, defence, and industrial customers across Europe, underpinned by EN9120-certified logistics infrastructure and deep technical knowledge of the sector.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a brief note on your background and salary expectations to:

careers@biesterfeld-petroplas.com

We will be in touch with all suitable candidates promptly. We are looking to make this appointment as soon as we find the right person.

**Please note that applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role.

Extra information

Status

Open

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

United Kingdom

Type of Contract

Full-time jobs

Published at

12-04-2026

Profession type

Sales

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English