Business Development Director - Aerospace​/Defence

Job title: Business Team Lead – Aero & Defence / Industries

Reporting to: Head of Business

Location: London/ Bristol/ Scotland

Akkodis is a global leader in engineering, technology, and R&D, harnessing the power of connected data to drive digital transformation and innovation for a smarter, more sustainable future. As part of the Adecco Group, Akkodis combines the expertise of AKKA and Modis, with over 50,000 engineers and digital specialists across 30 countries in North America, EMEA, and APAC. Our teams bring extensive cross-sector knowledge in critical technology areas such as mobility, software services, robotics, simulations, cybersecurity, AI, and data analytics, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges in today’s rapidly evolving markets.

With a comprehensive solution portfolio across four service lines—Consulting, Solutions, Talents, and Academy—Akkodis supports clients from concept through to full-scale deployment and optimisation. Our diverse offerings help organisations rethink product development, accelerate productivity, reduce time-to-market, and prepare for the future. At Akkodis, you’ll join a dynamic environment that values continuous learning and global collaboration, where you can make a meaningful impact through innovative projects that shape the future of technology.

At Akkodis, Business Team Leads (BTLs) are responsible for driving commercial performance, team leadership, and strategic growth within Aerospace & Defence.

The BTL owns team-level P&L, leads annual planning, and builds a scalable, high-performing function through effective recruitment and workforce planning. Acting as the key interface between clients, engineering delivery, and internal leadership, they ensure solutions are commercially sound, deliverable, and aligned to client needs.

Balancing hands-on business development with leadership oversight, the BTL plays an active role in SLT/ELT engagement, performance reviews, and strategic decision-making, contributing to the wider success of the business.

As a Business Team Lead – Aerospace & Defence, you will lead a team of Business Managers focused on delivering engineering services across domains such as systems engineering, mechanical design, avionics, safety, and mission-critical programmes.

You will be responsible for driving revenue growth, improving margin performance, and expanding Akkodis’ footprint across key Aerospace & Defence clients. A core focus of the role is evolving engagements from contingent labour (T&M) to higher-value engineering solutions including work packages, statement of work (SoW), and managed service models.

You will play a critical role in bridging engineering capability with commercial opportunity, ensuring that solutions are technically robust, commercially viable, and aligned with client objectives.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Business Managers, driving a high-performance, accountable, and commercially focused culture.
• Own and manage team-level P&L, with accountability for revenue growth, margin improvement, cost control, and overall financial performance.
• Build and execute annual business plans and strategy for the Aerospace & Defence segment, aligned to wider business unit objectives.
• Drive new business and account expansion through proactive, insight-led engagement and strong market positioning.
• Build and maintain senior client relationships across engineering, programme, procurement, and executive stakeholders.
• Identify, shape, and close engineering-led opportunities including SoW, work packages, and managed service solutions.
• Lead and oversee pipeline management and forecasting, ensuring accuracy and visibility across short-, mid-, and long-term opportunities.
• Define and implement pricing strategies and cost models, ensuring margin integrity and commercial sustainability.
• Take ownership of team hiring strategy and workforce planning, partnering with Talent Acquisition to recruit Business Managers and support scaling of the business.
• Ensure alignment between sales demand and engineering delivery capacity, supporting effective mobilisation and utilisation.
• Oversee and coordinate high-quality…