Director of Business Development, Belgium

Want to influence the bigger picture? At Saab, you can realise amazing innovations that keep people and societies safe. Together, we can truly make an impact – and your part matters. What you will be a part of The Saab Group Business Development (GBD) function covers Saab AB’s all global Business Development activities. Saab GBD function has local offices in selected Countries, and you will be part of our established country Belgium, based at the Saab Belgium Branch office in Brussels.

Your role

We are seeking a dynamic Director of Business Development to spearhead our efforts in the Belgium and Luxembourg defence markets, based in Brussels. The role is defined as customer sales responsible (CSR), focusing on Saab's business development activities, with an emphasis on selected land, naval, or air solutions. You will also support in-country execution projects. Reporting directly to the Country Manager for the Netherlands, within our Region Western Europe & Baltics, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our market strategy and business development in those two countries, part of the Benelux and in connection with other regional strategic markets such as the Netherlands, France and Germany. The role may also involve providing customer sales support across other countries within the Region, depending on business needs and priorities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in the Belgium or Luxembourg Ministry of Defence, its procurement agencies (such as DGMR), the local Defence Industry, or the Armed Forces. You should possess an extensive network and deep expertise in the Belgium and Luxembourg defence governmental and industrial markets, with the ability to independently identify, pursue, and drive business opportunities. While travel will primarily be within Belgium and Luxembourg, you should be prepared for frequent visits to our Saab office in the Netherlands, other countries in the Region and to the Saab’s Headquarters, Business Areas, or Business Units in Sweden.

Expectations

• Accelerate business growth by converting prospects into orders and leading strategic business development campaigns for Saab's products and services in Belgium and Luxembourg.
• Exceed targets by delivering order intake and gross margin in line with Saab Belgium and Luxembourg’s budget, adhering to the Saab Winning Business (WB) process.
• Lead and collaborate with a team of product specialists, monitoring the Saab CRM system, and fostering a strong team spirit.
• Contribute to strategic planning by supporting the Country Market Plan (CMP) and other initiatives in coordination with other CSRs and the Country Manager.
• Actively support Saab's delivery project execution in-country.
• Build and cultivate a high-value network within the Belgium and Luxembourg defence ecosystem, driving innovation and growth.

Experiences

• Proven experience in the Belgium and Luxembourg defence sector, with 5 to 10 years in the defence governmental organization, defence industrial company, or the armed forces.
• Successful track record in business development, marketing, and sales, with an entrepreneurial spirit and creative problem-solving skills.
• Solid negotiation skills and understanding of business processes and CRM tools.
• Proficient in navigating Government-to-Government, Business-to-Government, and Business-to-Business processes.
• Effective project management skills, with a history of converting prospects and projects into order intake.
• Technical knowledge and commercial awareness, with an understanding of product specifications and the ability to assume the customer sales responsibility (CSR) role.
• Experience in international and domestic industrial relations, with a strong ability to build and maintain productive industry partnerships.

Skills

• Good relationship-building abilities, with an understanding of relationship selling and strong interpersonal skills.
• Leadership and teamwork skills, with high personal integrity and solid business ethics.
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to create persuasive presentations, documents, and proposals in French, Dutch and English. Additional languages are a plus.
• Customer-focused and service-oriented, with the ability to work flexibly and maintain high-quality standards under tight deadlines.

Network

Established connections within the Belgium and Luxembourg armed forces and/or defence industry, with experience in building and maintaining successful partnerships.

As a candidate, you should be outgoing and possess strong marketing, sales, and communication skills, with a tenacious and driven mindset. You'll thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple business opportunities and complex sales issues simultaneously. Your ability to deliver high-quality work under tight