Regional Defence Sector Lead

willmott dixon group

As our new Regional Defence Sector Lead, you will play a pivotal role in building and growing Willmott Dixon’s defence portfolio across our South/Midlands region, developing high-value relationships within the defence market, shaping a compelling pipeline of opportunities, and helping convert them into secured work.

Reporting to one of our National Sector Lead ( Defence) who sits within our strategic accounts and services division, this is a newly created position that reflects our strategic commitment to defence as a priority growth sector.

This is a relationship-led, field-based role. You will spend much of your time with clients, consultants, and MOD stakeholders across the region, acting as a credible and trusted face of Willmott Dixon in the defence sector. You will work closely with our central defence team, Pre-Construction, and Business Development colleagues to ensure opportunities are shaped, positioned, and progressed effectively.

This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to join at the ground floor of a strategic growth push, with the autonomy to shape your own approach and real influence over the direction of our regional healthcare business.

NB. This role is regionally based covering the South of England, Central England and surrounding areas region. Due to the nature of the role, regular travel across the region, and occasional national travel will be required. Candidates are expected to be office-based at least once per week, with most of the time spent with clients and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with MOD, DIO and key defence consultants to generate and sustain a strong pipeline of regional opportunities.
• Lead early-stage business development activity, identifying, shaping, and pre-positioning on healthcare opportunities including feasibilities, negotiated routes, and competitive bids.
• Support delivery of the Willmott Dixon national defence strategy at a regional level, providing market intelligence and insight to inform pipeline planning and investment decisions.
• Provide technical defence input to proposal and pre-construction teams, improving bid quality, consistency, and overall win rates, including input on defence planning, operational continuity, and compliance.
• Represent Willmott Dixon externally at industry events, conferences, defence working groups, and networking forums to enhance the company’s visibility, reputation, and influence in the defence sector.
• Collaborate with senior executives, Business Development, Marketing, and Operations colleagues to ensure defence opportunities align with regional priorities and company capabilities.
• Monitor and share good practice and market intelligence across LCOs to support a consistent, high-quality, work-winning approach.
• Track and report on pipeline metrics, growth forecasts, and business development KPIs to assess progress and refine strategy.

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Strong, demonstrable experience working within or alongside the MOD or wider defence sector, with a deep understanding of MOD governance, policy drivers, funding routes, business case approval processes, and key sector challenges.
• Proven track record of building and sustaining senior relationships with defence sector clients, DIO, and/or defence consultants, with an established and credible network.
• Good understanding of MOD procurement routes and frameworks, with the ability to work closely with regional framework leads.
• Strong market awareness, ability to anticipate demand, shape opportunities, and align solutions to client needs.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and influencing skills, with the ability to operate credibly at board and senior executive level.
• Customer-focused mindset with high emotional intelligence, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build rapport quickly across a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Collaborative, ‘one team’ approach, comfortable working across central and regional functions.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly across the region.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• MOD or direct defence operational or management experience.
• Knowledge of defence technical requirements and security clearance procedures, and operational continuity in live MOD environments.
• Experience within the construction or built environment sector (business development, pre-construction, or client-side) will be highly valued but not essential; the right candidate’s defence expertise and transferable skills are the priority.
• Experience of bid and capture planning in a complex public sector procurement environment.
• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience in a defence or related field.

About Us

With over 170 years of rich history, Willmott Dixon’s purpose is beyond profit; delivering brilliant buildings, transforming lives, strengthening communities and enhancing the environment so our world is fit for future generations. Ensuring that we add lasting value to the neighbourhoods we work in; our values, people, innovation, partnerships and focus on sustainability has allowed us to build a successful and solid privately owned business where our people can thrive.

Willmott Dixon was recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the Top 10 “Big” Companies to Work For in 2025, named among the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality in 2024, and ranked in the Top Five of Europe’s 1,000 best workplaces by the Financial Times in 2025.

Willmott Dixon is also the first major contractor and developer to win a King’s Award for Enterprise in the category of sustainable development.