Market Director Defence and Nuclear

London, Glasgow, Derby, York or Bristol with hybrid working across COWI offices.

Do you want to drive growth within an engineering consultancy? Can you collaborate with an international market team? Are you experienced in business development within the defence and nuclear sector? Then join us to shape a sustainable and liveable world.

To lead growth for COWI across the UK nuclear defence market, we are looking for a commercially astute and strategically credible Market Director to join us. In this role you’ll shape and deliver market strategy, build trusted client relationships, and convert priority opportunities into sustainable revenue. Working across major programmes, secure infrastructure and complex engineering environments, you’ll position the business as a valued partner to defence and nuclear clients, delivery organisations and strategic collaborators.

• Develop and implement a focused growth strategy for the nuclear defence market, aligned to COWI business objectives and priority client accounts.
• Identify, qualify and pursue opportunities across defence nuclear infrastructure, major programmes, secure facilities and long‑term frameworks.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with defence clients, government bodies, delivery partners, prime contractors and wider supply‑chain stakeholders.
• Lead capture planning and support high‑value bids, proposals and presentations, working closely with technical, operational and commercial teams.
• Shape compelling value propositions that combine engineering excellence, programme delivery capability and client outcomes.
• Maintain a robust pipeline and provide accurate forecasting, reporting and market intelligence to senior leadership.
• Support strategic partnerships, framework positioning and cross‑business collaboration to strengthen market presence and client value.

Like us, you believe that leadership success comes from setting a clear and meaningful direction for your team and supporting them in taking ownership of their work. You always delegate responsibility and ensure an open and safe dialogue, and you coach your people to achieve their aspirations through constructive, fact‑based feedback. Attracting and nurturing a diverse group of high‑potential team members is at the top of your agenda, as is creating an inclusive, caring and trusting culture in your team.

• Relevant degree or professional qualification in engineering, energy, business or a related discipline; chartered status or equivalent professional recognition.
• Proven experience in business development, client engagement or market leadership within UK nuclear, defence, or other highly regulated infrastructure sectors.
• Track record of securing complex opportunities, frameworks or major programmes in multi‑stakeholder environments.
• Strong understanding of the UK defence and nuclear landscape, including procurement routes, client decision‑making and delivery models.
• Commercially aware with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, negotiate effectively and shape winning propositions.
• Degree qualified in engineering, business, project management or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience working within consultancy, engineering or professional services environments is highly desirable.

• Able to meet baseline personnel security requirements and, where required, hold or obtain UK security clearance appropriate to nuclear defence work. UK Security Vetting explains that formal clearance must be sponsored by the employer.
• Demonstrates integrity, sound judgement and professionalism in secure and safety‑critical environments.
• A strategic and collaborative leader who can work effectively across technical, commercial and management teams.
• Resilient, proactive and confident operating in complex pursuit cycles with long lead times and multiple stakeholders.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to represent…