International Partnerships Lead

Location(s): UK, Europe & Africa : UK : Frimley || UK, Europe & Africa : UK : Gloucester || UK, Europe & Africa : UK : London

Job Title: International Partnerships Lead

Location: : Frimley, London, Gloucester, please be aware that there will be a requirement to travel Internationally dependant on the Opportunity, Capture or Campaign.

We offer a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements – please speak to your recruiter about the options for this particular role

What you’ll be doing –

Plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the Digital Intelligence Partnering and International Strategies, reporting to the Head of Partnerships and working closely with the International BD team.

Leads the development, execution, and ongoing management of the International Partnerships strategy.

Identifies, onboards, and manages new and existing long‑term strategic partnerships.

Works across Digital Intelligence Domestic BD and the wider BAE Systems Group (including Group BD and CTIO) to ensure strategic alignment and value leverage internationally.

Partners closely with International BD to align partnering activity with current priorities, campaigns, and long‑term growth objectives.

Interfaces with BUs and functional teams to ensure consistent practices and identify emerging partnerships of strategic value.

Owns and coordinates relationships with universities, think tanks, trade bodies, and other strategic partners as appropriate.

Accountable for partner due diligence, data insights, reporting, and continuous optimisation of partner processes.

Your skills and experiences

• Applies deep subject‑matter expertise to shape Partnerships strategy and drive growth.
• Strong collaborator, comfortable working with large, multinational International BD teams.
• Self‑starter able to operate autonomously across competing priorities.
• Champions functional best practice and uses influence to deliver aligned outcomes.
• Confident communicator of Partnerships strategy to senior internal and external stakeholders.

• Strong understanding of Business Winning processes and procedures.
• Proven experience in Partnerships management and industry best practice.
• In‑depth knowledge of the Digital Intelligence partner ecosystem.
• Clear understanding of BAE Systems’ markets, competitors, and business strategy.

• Relevant, hands‑on professional experience.
• Demonstrated capability in partnership onboarding, management, and strategic development, ideally in a business‑winning context.

Benefits

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE also offers employee share plans, an extensive range of flexible discounted health, wellbeing & lifestyle benefits, including a green car scheme, private health plans and shopping discounts – you may also be eligible for an annual incentive

The Functional BD & Engagement Team where the role sits and the International BD Team which this role will work closely with, offer an opportunity to understand and influence best practices in business Winning at Digital Intelligence. These teams are centrally positioned to work across the organisation and be the engine room ensuring our BD function operates consistently, confidently and strategically to support growth.

Why BAE Systems?

This is a place where you’ll be able to make a real difference. You’ll be part of an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity, and merit, and where you’ll be empowered to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want to make sure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition (for example dyslexia, autism, an anxiety disorder etc.) that may affect your performance in certain assessment types, please speak to your recruiter about potential reasonable adjustments.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to both security and export control restrictions. These restrictions mean that factors such as your nationality, any nationalities you may have previously held, and your place of birth can restrict the roles you are eligible to perform within the organisation. All applicants must as a minimum achieve Baseline Personnel Security Standard. Many roles also require higher levels of National Security Vetting where applicants must typically have 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK depending on the vetting level required for the role, to allow for meaningful security vetting checks.

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