Business Development Manager

The RPC Group of Companies is a leading designer and manufacturer of quality fibre composite products. This year marks our 50th year in providing fibre composite solutions to our chosen markets. We have built a global reputation as a specialist in the engineering, designing, and manufacturing of major industrial, rail, and defence-related projects. The Opportunity This exciting full‑time position can be based in either our Geelong (VIC) or Seven Hills (NSW) offices, or remotely from a location close to any of our sites or customers. The Business Development Manager will be responsible for the Defence Market and will manage the end‑to‑end business development lifecycle for this sector. This includes identifying and pursuing new opportunities, building and maintaining relationships with prime contractors, and leading the development and submission of proposals. The role also involves overseeing negotiations through to securing orders and facilitating a seamless handover to the project team, as well as supporting the preparation of cost estimations required for proposals. Note: the role requires a current Defence Security Clearance, or the candidate must be eligible to obtain NV1. Key Responsibilities Identify and pursue new business opportunities in the Defence sector in line with business core competencies. Stay abreast of changing market conditions to identify trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities in the Defence industry. Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, military organisations, and prime contractors. Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing teams to align product and service offerings with customer needs. Lead the preparation and submission of proposals, bids, and tenders for Defence contracts. Negotiate contracts and agreements to secure profitable and strategic partnerships. Monitor and maintain regular contact with project manager(s) to ensure contractual obligations and business objectives are understood and communicated to the operational team. Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and networking opportunities. Develop and implement business development strategies tailored to Defence sector requirements in line with company objectives. Provide regular reporting on sales pipeline, forecasts, and performance metrics to senior management. Ideal Candidate Demonstrated experience in a sales or business development role. Minimum of 10 years of experience in a technical role with customer‑facing experience, ideally in engineering. Current Defence Security Clearance (or eligibility to obtain NV1). Experience and understanding of the Defence market. Good communication skills, both written and oral. Experience managing multiple stakeholders. Proficient experience with the MS Office suite. Ability to interpret technical data, drawings, CAD, and specifications. Experience in the manufacturing industry. Experience in the application of composite materials technology. Basic understanding of SolidWorks/CAD. Benefits to YOU RPC's vision is to be the preferred choice of our customers for innovative engineered solutions where safety, quality, and reliability matter. We recognise that achieving this is through our employees and creating a strong 'OneRPC Team' by driving our core values of teamwork, accountability, performance, integrity, and respect. A high‑level list of the benefits that we provide our 'OneRPC Team' includes: Annual salary reviews, with rewards for achieving above and beyond your goals. Onsite parking included at each of our locations. Birthday celebrations. Employee referral program. Employee assistance program. Opportunity to access a novated lease. Professional membership reimbursement program. #J-18808-Ljbffr