Customer Director (Maritime)

About the role You own a maritime defence unit that designs and scales AI for Royal Navy and NATO operations. You will drive market creation, manage complex deals, and mentor a team focused on high-stakes technology delivery. Your work turns naval constraints into reliable, responsible AI systems that define strategic advantage. Key facts

Location: UK

Engagement: Full-time

Compensation: £130,000 to £160,000 per year What you'll do Building dedicated maritime AI solutions for defence clients and their operational environments. Expanding our presence with Royal Navy, NATO, and AUKUS partners through calculated commercial initiatives. Crafting data-driven propositions that address navigation, logistics, and mission readiness challenges. Negotiating complex agreements and pricing while managing the full sales cycle from discovery to closure. Guiding multidisciplinary teams to deliver sophisticated technology projects that satisfy strict security standards. Cultivating strategic relationships with senior Navy, MOD, and industry leaders to unlock long-term partnerships. Translating intricate maritime requirements into scalable systems that support critical defence decision-making. Mentoring commercial and delivery professionals in a fast-paced, high-growth national security context. Requirements You must possess deep maritime sector experience, likely from Navy service followed by commercial technology success. You demonstrate a record of managing complex deals and hitting ambitious revenue targets in professional services. You navigate defence procurement processes and convert operational needs into concrete AI capabilities. You operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, starting initiatives from scratch and staying hands-on for execution. You communicate persuasively with senior stakeholders and explain technology value without relying on jargon. You lead multidisciplinary teams while maintaining focus on collective success and high performance. Nice to have Prior experience working with government clients on defence or national security projects. Skills & tools Microsoft Azure Tableau Snowflake Python Azure ML Practical notes This role requires United Kingdom Security Vetting DV clearance and occasional on-site client work in the UK. The position is based in London with standard office hours; travel may be required. Our business, and reputation, is growing fast and we're always on the lookout for individuals who share our intellectual curiosity and desire to build a positive legacy through technology. AI is an epoch-defining technology, join a company where you'll be empowered to envision its most powerful applications, and to make them happen. ABOUT THE TEAM Our Defence team is focused on building and embedding human-centered AI solutions which give our nation a competitive edge in the defence sector. We collaborate with our clients to bring ethical, reliable and current AI to high-stakes situations and maintain the balance of global powers essential to our liberty. Because of the nature of the work we do with our Government clients, you will need to be eligible for United Kingdom Security Vetting's DV (Developed Vetting) clearance and willing to work on site with our clients from time to time. ABOUT THE ROLE As a Customer Director for Maritime Defence, you will lead the creation and growth of a dedicated unit focused on solutions for customers in the Royal Navy, NATO/AUKUS and broader maritime domain. You will act as a strategic entrepreneur, building our market presence and bridging the gap between current AI and mission-critical naval needs. By blending deep domain expertise with commercial flair, you will secure high-stakes partnerships and oversee multidisciplinary teams to ensure our technology delivers transformational capability for national security. WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING: - Leading the identification and acquisition of high-value maritime accounts to establish and scale a new sub-business unit within our Defence portfolio. - Driving significant revenue growth by owning the full sales lifecycle, from initial market creation to executing complex contract and pricing negotiations. - Cultivating deep, strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across the Navy, MOD, NATO/AUKUS and maritime industry to unlock long-term partnership opportunities. - Developing innovative AI and data-driven propositions that solve specific maritime operational challenges and demonstrate clear, measurable value. - Overseeing the delivery of sophisticated technology projects, ensuring high-quality outcomes and maintaining ultimate responsibility for client satisfaction. - Mentoring and coaching a growing team of commercial and delivery professionals, fostering their development in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. - Collaborating with technical experts to translate complex maritime requirements into scalable AI solutions that support critical decision-making. WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR: - You bring deep domain expertise in the maritime sector, likely gained through time in the Navy or closely related environments, followed by success in a commercial technology role. - You possess a proven track record of managing complex deal processes and meeting ambitious revenue targets within a professional services or high-growth tech setting. - You are a strategic thinker who can navigate the unique procurement processes of the defence sector and turn operational needs into concrete AI solutions. - You demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit, comfortable starting projects from the ground up and getting "hands-on" to ensure the success of a new business area. - You are a compelling communicator, able to build trust with senior stakeholders and explain the strategic value of technology without getting lost in jargon. - You have the leadership maturity to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, maintaining a focus on collective success and a high-performance culture. THE INTERVIEW PROCESS