Business Development Manager

Atlas NextWave is exploring opportunities to expand our specialist technical recruitment and workforce solutions activities within the German defence sector.

Building on our experience supporting the Dutch defence market, we're looking for a commercially driven professional with strong industry connections and a proven record of securing staffing contracts, framework agreements and public tenders to help validate opportunities in Germany.

We're open to experienced Business Development Managers, Directors and commercially successful Senior Recruitment Consultants. Previous team management experience isn't essential. What's important is your understanding of the German defence market and demonstrable success winning staffing and workforce solutions contracts through commercial negotiations, frameworks or public procurement processes.

What You'll Be Doing

• Validating commercial opportunities in the German defence and public sector markets, assessing client demand and building a viable pipeline of staffing and workforce solutions opportunities.
• Building relationships with defence organisations, government agencies, prime contractors, engineering companies and other relevant stakeholders.
• Pursuing and securing staffing contracts, framework agreements and public tenders for the supply of specialist engineers and technical professionals.
• Navigating German public procurement processes, qualifying tender opportunities and leading bids or commercial negotiations through to contract award.
• Working closely with international colleagues to develop our commercial strategy and market approach.
• Establishing commercial traction and a sustainable pipeline as the initial priority; opportunities to build a local team or broader organisation would follow demonstrated market demand and contract wins.

What We're Looking For

• A strong background in technical recruitment, engineering consultancy, staffing or workforce solutions, ideally within the German defence or public sector market.
• An established network within the German defence industry, government organisations or relevant engineering and technical contractors.
• Practical experience of German public procurement procedures, tenders and framework agreements (Rahmenverträge), including participation in successful bids or contract awards.
• A proven track record of personally securing staffing or workforce solutions contracts, framework agreements and/or public tenders. General business development or relationship-building experience alone is not sufficient.
• An entrepreneurial, commercially disciplined approach to testing market potential, qualifying opportunities and establishing a viable pipeline before scaling operations.
• Previous leadership or people management experience would be advantageous but is not essential.
• Professional fluency in German and English.

Why Atlas NextWave?

Atlas NextWave is an international recruitment and workforce solutions business supporting clients across energy, infrastructure, marine and specialist technical sectors.

This opportunity offers the chance to validate and develop a commercially viable presence in the German defence market, drawing on your local industry knowledge and the capabilities of an established international business. Any future expansion into a local team or wider organisation would be driven by proven commercial traction.

Location:

Candidates can be based anywhere in Germany, with remote working supported.