Were building the UKs next generation engineering powerhouse providing critical technology that strengthens national security and resilience.
N.b. This role may also suit candidates with titles such as: Capture Manager Business Development Director Bid Director or Sales Director (Defence).
At Rowden we design and integrate advanced mission systems that sense connect and protect data in environments where fast informed decision-making is vital. Our goal is to deliver mission advantage to those working to safeguard national security public safety and critical infrastructure.
As Capture Lead youll be responsible for leading and delivering complex captures in regulated procurement environments. This is a senior role with dual focus: leading from the front on major government sales (across defence national security CNI and emergency response) whilst amplifying the impact of the wider sales team.
This role will suit a professional with strong first-principles analytical ability and genuine creativity someone who can deconstruct complex problems generate original approaches and shape competitive strategy from the ground up rather than simply replicating processes learned elsewhere. This is an ideal role for someone who has experience leading high value (10m) complex captures looking for their next challenge as part of a dynamic high growth business.
Compensation
We are offering a competitive base salary with performance-linked OTE (details to be discussed during the process). We welcome candidates at different stages of their careers and the salary will reflect the skills and experience you bring to the role.
Due to the sensitivities of work involved candidates must be willing to obtain UK National Security Vetting clearance with SC required and DV desirable.
Key areas of responsibility
First and foremost this role is about converting qualified sales opportunities into contracted work in our order book. You will work across sales engineering and delivery to make that happen but you will be expected to do the substantive work yourself shaping bids structuring arguments and driving submissions. This is not a managerial post; it is a hands-on capture role with direct accountability for outcomes.
Sales Strategy & Execution
- Lead enterprise-scale sales opportunities (typically 10M) from origination to closure ensuring momentum across qualification capture bid negotiation and contracting.
- Develop clear win strategies including competitor analysis differentiation and risk mitigation.
- Identify evaluate and secure strategic industry partners to form bid winning teams.
Reporting & Sales Operations
- Work closely with revenue operations and executive leadership to ensure robust sales discipline and accountability.
Leadership
While this is not a line management role we would expect you to use your experience to raise the standard of capture across the business coaching colleagues sharing judgement and helping others think more clearly about how we pursue and win work:
- Role model the behaviours and habits of a high-performing sales organisation - energising the team reinforcing customer-centricity and fostering accountability and ownership.
- Guide and coach the wider team to develop capture strategies across key verticals: defence national security emergency response and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).
- Serve as a coach and mentor: encouraging creative thinking and helping team members overcome technical commercial or political blockers.
Key skills experience and behaviours
You do not need to meet every criterion in this section we are more interested in capability and potential than a perfect checklist but a consistent track record of converting opportunities into won work is essential.
Experience & Capabilities
- Strong track record of closing complex enterprise sales (ideally 10M deals) within the public sector.
- Deep knowledge of UK public sector procurement regulations routes to market and multi-year contracting.
- Proven ability to guide opportunity strategy - incorporating capture planning stakeholder mapping bid development and win themes.
- Experience engaging both technical and non-technical stakeholders with the ability to bridge engineering depth and executive-level messaging.
Mindset & Behaviours
- Mission-focused: You care deeply about the end-user and the impact of your work on public safety and national security.
- Creative and tenacious: You bring original thinking to how we win business and arent deterred by complex or ambiguous routes to market.
- Technically fluent: While not necessarily an engineer youre able to grasp technical concepts and translate them into compelling customer narratives.
- Hands-on leader: You get stuck in with proposals negotiations and strategic discussions.
- Trusted advisor: You can build trust and influence at C-suite level across customers and partners.
Working at Rowden
We are committed to building a flexible inclusive and enabling company. Our aim is to create a diverse team of talented people with unique skills experience and backgrounds so please apply and come as you are!
We also recognise the importance of flexible working and support this wherever we can. We typically operate a flexible hybrid-working model with an average 3 days in the office each week (dependent on the role). We welcome the opportunity to discuss flexibility part-time working requirements and/or workplace adjustments with all our applicants.
Rowden is a Disability Confident Committed company and we actively encourage people with disabilities and health conditions to apply for our roles. Please let us know your requirements early on so that we can make sure you have everything you need up front to help make the recruitment process and experience as easy as possible.
Finally if you feel that you dont meet all the criteria included above but have transferable skills and relevant experience wed still love to hear from you!