Group Head of Business Development

Company Overview

Active PCB Solutions Limited specialises in the manufacturing of Printed Circuit Boards and other electronic products across diverse sectors including aerospace, motor racing, oil & gas, and music. We are committed to innovation, quality, and supporting our talented team members in a dynamic industry environment.

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Group Head of Business Development to lead new business growth across Active-PCB Solutions and Garner Osborne Circuits .

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for developing and delivering the Group's business development strategy, securing profitable new business opportunities, and building a high-performing commercial team. You will play a key role in shaping the future growth of the business by identifying strategic market opportunities, winning new customers, and ensuring a consistent, professional approach to business development across both companies.

Alongside leading and developing our commercial teams, you will maintain personal responsibility for strategic customer acquisition and achieving an individual new business target.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development Leadership

• Develop and execute the Group-wide business development strategy across Active-PCB Solutions and Garner Osborne Circuits.
• Identify priority market sectors, customer profiles, geographic targets and growth opportunities.
• Create annual business development plans aligned to the Group's strategic objectives.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, emerging technologies and potential threats.
• Identify strategic partnerships and growth opportunities to support long-term business expansion.
• Establish effective opportunity qualification processes and commercial governance standards.
• Provide commercial insight and recommendations to the Senior Leadership Team.

Revenue Growth & Commercial Performance

• Deliver agreed annual new business revenue and gross profit targets.
• Manage and achieve your own new business sales target.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Improve sales conversion rates and customer acquisition performance.
• Secure strategic customer wins that support growth and profitability objectives.
• Ensure commercial focus remains aligned to Group capabilities and strategic priorities.

Lead and Develop High-Performing Teams

• Lead, coach and develop Business Development Managers within Active-PCB and Sales Managers within Garner Osborne.
• Create a high-performance, accountable sales culture across the Group.
• Set clear objectives, KPIs and development plans for direct reports.
• Conduct regular performance, forecasting and pipeline reviews.
• Recruit, retain and develop top commercial talent.
• Drive CRM discipline, forecasting accuracy and data quality across the team.
• Develop succession plans for key commercial roles.

New Business Development & Customer Acquisition

• Generate, qualify and convert strategic business opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with senior decision-makers and target customers.
• Lead major customer presentations, sales pursuits and commercial negotiations.
• Develop acquisition plans for priority target accounts.
• Represent the Group at trade exhibitions, networking events, customer meetings and industry forums.
• Support the ongoing development of the Group's value proposition and market positioning.

Opportunity Governance & RFQ Management

• Direct and prioritise business development activities across both businesses.
• Chair regular sales, pipeline and opportunity review meetings.
• Oversee the allocation and management of new RFQs and prospect enquiries.
• Work closely with the Bid Manager to ensure opportunities are managed effectively.
• Ensure opportunities are routed appropriately to Bid Management, Account Management or Programme Management teams.
• Monitor RFQ responsiveness, quotation turnaround times, win rates and overall conversion performance.
• Ensure opportunities are appropriately qualified before significant resources are committed.

Commercial Governance

• Lead NDA negotiations and approvals within delegated authority limits.
• Negotiate customer terms and conditions in line with approved authority levels.
• Conduct commercial risk reviews and escalate concerns where required.
• Develop commercial negotiation standards, templates and best practice processes.
• Support bid reviews and commercial decision-making on major opportunities.
• Ensure contractual commitments remain aligned with operational capability and business risk appetite.

Market Intelligence & Competitive Positioning

• Maintain a detailed understanding of the EMS, CEM and PCB manufacturing sectors.
• Monitor competitor activity, pricing trends, acquisitions and market developments.
• Identify emerging customer requirements and future market opportunities.
• Provide commercial and market intelligence reports to senior leadership.
• Identify opportunities for strategic partnerships, acquisitions and market expansion.

Sales Process Excellence

• Own and continuously improve the Group's business development and sales processes.
• Ensure CRM accuracy, forecasting reliability and pipeline visibility.
• Develop commercial reporting structures, dashboards and performance metrics.
• Implement best-practice sales methodologies and qualification processes.
• Drive continuous improvement in commercial effectiveness and efficiency.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Quality and Programme Management teams.
• Ensure customer commitments align with operational capability and strategic priorities.
• Support budgeting, forecasting and strategic planning activities.
• Facilitate smooth handover of won business into operational delivery and account management.
• Promote a collaborative "One Group" approach to customer engagement and growth.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum 10 years' experience within EMS, CEM, PCB manufacturing, electronics manufacturing or a related technical industry.
• Proven commercial leadership experience with responsibility for sales and business development performance.
• Demonstrable track record of delivering significant profitable revenue growth.
• Experience leading and developing successful business development or sales teams.
• Strong experience managing complex sales opportunities with OEM and industrial customers.
• Excellent understanding of electronics manufacturing, supply chains and commercial market dynamics.
• Proven experience in contract negotiation, NDA management and commercial risk management.
• Strong CRM, sales forecasting and pipeline management expertise.
• Outstanding stakeholder management, relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.

Desirable Experience & Skills

• Degree qualified in Business, Engineering, Electronics or a related discipline.
• Experience across both PCB manufacturing and PCB assembly environments.
• Experience supplying into aerospace, defence, industrial, medical or high-reliability electronics sectors.
• International business development experience.
• Formal sales leadership or commercial management training.
• Experience implementing best-practice sales methodologies and CRM systems.

Why join us?

This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of the Group's growth strategy and make a significant impact across two established businesses operating within the electronics manufacturing sector. You'll work closely with senior leadership, influence strategic direction, develop talented commercial teams and play a pivotal role in shaping the future success of the Group.

Our Values:

High Standards – We take pride in delivering quality work

Positive Energy – We bring enthusiasm and support to our teams

Solutions Driven – We focus on improvement and problem-solving

Integrity & Respect – We do the right thing and value others

Benefits:

• Early Friday finish
• Company events
• Company pension
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing (EAP) programme
• Enhanced Holiday
• Employee Recognition Scheme
• Employee Discount Scheme

Our Ref: AGI202602

Pay: £65,000.00-£80,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Reading RG2 0RJ