At Element, we are pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in Aerospace & Defence across EMEAA. We are seeking a visionary Business Development Director for Germany and the Netherlands. A dynamic leader who thrives on building lasting partnerships, unlocking new market opportunities, and driving sustainable growth.

In this pivotal role, you’ll not only take charge of our most strategic accounts but also inspire, coach, and empower a high-performing business development team. With an enterprise-wide perspective, you’ll set the tone for success, fostering a culture of collaboration, ambition, and accountability. Reporting directly to the Division Sales Director, you’ll have the autonomy and influence to shape market expansion, strengthen our competitive edge, and deliver measurable impact on the future of our business.

If you’re a bold enterprise seller with the vision to navigate traditional and emerging markets and the leadership to bring others with you, this is your opportunity to lead from the front and make your mark at the forefront of Aerospace & Defence.

Strategy and Planning

• Contribute to and support the preparation, execution and ongoing progress toward the annual sales and marketing plan
• Understand, monitor, and communicate competitor activity throughout the market, identifying key strengths and weaknesses
• Collaborate with the sales & operational leaders, and assigned marketing team member, to identify and execute new lead generation campaigns

Own Accounts

• Establish and proactively maintain a strong professional relationship with key decision makers and influencers within assigned accounts
• Expand business with dormant and existing accounts; prospects and develop new potential accounts
• Identify opportunities early in the sales cycle to ensure maximum share of wallet for Element
• Follow up in a timely manner on quotations for the assigned customer base
• Achieve sales goals by converting, retaining and penetrating accounts
• Actively utilize CRM to record activities, ensuring contact details are accurate, duplicates are removed, new information is added, and accurate call / visit logs are entered

Team Management

• Oversee a team which will primarily consist of Business Development Managers and Business Development Associates but may also include Application Sales Engineers and Customer Service Representatives
• Provide effective coaching and direction to their team, to achieve rollup sales goal
• Set clear goals for the team, that will enable the Business Unit to meet or exceed targets
• Actively lead and participate in regular pipeline reviews, ensuring all CRM records are up to date and critical success factors are identified for key opportunities
• Define expectation around response time, follow-ups, pipeline management etc and proactively monitor and manage these
• Assess and coach direct reports, including making joint calls/visits and provide them with the tools necessary to improve the required skills and competencies
• Ensure direct reports are prioritizing highest opportunities and/or accounts, for the greatest potential impact on generating organic growth for Element
• Ensure sales team uses desired behaviours and actions to execute the sales strategy, working with the Commercial Excellence team to drive adoption of commercial excellence initiatives and processes
• Drive proactive positive enterprise sales approach through the commercial organization
• Build a competitive and motivating atmosphere of selling
• Engage other Element resources to help team members to advance opportunities
• Partner with Operations in order to have seamless execution
• Actively utilize PowerBI to monitor performance and drive activity

• Proven technical sales experience, including sales management
• Degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience in interpreting testing procedures and requirements
• Experience of working with PowerBI advantageous
• Ability to analyse data and provide evidence-based recommendations
• Interpersonal skills - particularly in dealing with senior stakeholders around the business
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as customer quotes/contracts, marketing materials, and customer testing specifications
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions and proportions
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions, data and details furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Proficiency in Microsoft Applications (Dynamics AX and CRM, Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
• A valid driver’s license, with an acceptable driving record under Element’s policy, is required for driving on company business

#LI-LM1

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) 

“If you need an accommodation filling out an application, or applying to a job,  please email Recruitment@element.com”