Job Description

Location: Reading, United Kingdom
Thales people architect solutions that are relied upon to deliver operational advantage at every decisive moment throughout the mission. Defence and armed forces customers rely on us to deliver the full range of defensive systems for land, sea, and air. From early warning, to threat neutralisation, our platforms cover all levels from very short-range systems, to extended protection across the entire battle-space including Airspace Mobility Solutions, Vehicles and Tactical Systems and Missile Defence, Optronics, and Radar.
Together we offer fantastic opportunities for committed employees to learn and develop their career with us. At Thales UK, we research, develop, and supply technology and services that impact the lives of millions of people each day to make life better, and keep us safer. We innovate across the major industries of Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space. Your health and well-being matters to us and thats why we offer you the flexibility to do whats important to you; whether thats part time hours, job sharing, home working, or the ability to flex your start and finish times. Where possible, we support a working pattern that suits your lifestyle and helps you reach your ambitions.
Business Lead Missile Electronics
Reading Hybrid
Thales Optronics (OME) designs a range of state-of-the-art solutions for some of the most technically advanced defence and security platforms in the world. Our Glasgow Optronics teams design and manufacture a diverse range of Electro-Optical products including Thermal Imagers, Laser Rangefinders & Designators, Vehicle Sighting Systems and Submarine Periscopes & Optronics Masts.
We are recruiting for Business Lead for our Missile Electronics business within the wider Thales Optronics business domain.
Primary Purpose of the Role:

• Management of the Thales UK Missile Electronics (MiE) business within the Optronics and Missile Electronics (OME) Business Line (BL).
• Management of the Thales Fuzes Product Line, its evolution and business performance throughout the whole product lifecycles: from feasibility study to product withdrawal.
• Be the primary interface for the various customers and end users both domestic and international.
• Be responsible for the creation, identification, development and winning of new profitable business and oversee the management of the development of new products and associated business cases.

Principal Relationships:

• UK & Export Government and Commercial Customer base
• Sales Director OME UK
• Strategy Director OME BL
• Thales Business Line and Global Business Unit

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Own and communicate the vision for the MiE UK business.
• Develop and manage the delivery of Product Roadmaps, Investment Business Cases, Strategic Business Plan, the Multi Year Budget (MYB) and associated plans and strategies.
• Maintain Competitive & Marketing Intelligence and the analysis of worldwide market trends, market/customer needs, segmentation and competitions relevant to the product line
• Prepare and present Technological Research and Product Development Plans as input to Product Life Cycle Decision Reviews, including Business Plan, Roadmap, Differentiation, Value Proposition, Reuse Strategy, Market & Customer Requirements etc.
• Manage and deliver Key Stakeholder Management Plans
• Develop and manage key customer relationships.
• Identify, develop and capture new business opportunities for the OME UK business and convert to a profitable order intake that will ensure achievement, or better, of the MYB.
• Work coherently with the OME BL Sales Team and coordinate relevant activities in association with the BL and GBU.
• Develop and personally lead specific high value and strategically important capture plans.
• Manage Business Winning and Self-Funded Research and Development budgets.
• Participate in all relevant bid, programme and development reviews to ensure alignment to product and business strategies.
• Participate in all Customer and Prospect reviews to ensure accuracy of data and alignment of financial and S&OP forecasts.
• Proactively work with the UK and BL Strategy and Marketing teams, the Sector management team and existing/potential Customers to develop solutions which meet key user requirements and budget aspirations, but which always represent sound business prospects for the business.
• Work closely with the Communications teams to maximise the Political and PR messages for the Sector and enhance awareness and promotion in conjunction with Thales Corporate, Global exhibitions, conferences and Industrial bodies
• Ensure compliance with company processes (Chorus 2.0), UK and International laws.

Skills, knowledge and experience required
We are looking for the successful individual to manage the OME Missile Electronics Business Line, including within technical development, stakeholder management and budgetary responsibility. The successful individual:

• Have a strong understanding of the US domestic and FMS military market and stakeholders.
• Be degree qualified in a technical or associated business area.
• Hold experience in managing the development and/or integration and /or use of complex weapon systems.
• Understand the technologies and products relevant to OME UK MiE portfolio.
• Have excellent communication skills and have effective internal and external networking skills.
• Be ability to manage and maintain complex business and technical relationships
• Be accountable for the high performance of the business.
• Ability to maintain gravitas, personal presence and respect at senior levels both internally and externally.

Security Clearance statement
Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions. This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment. If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a Non-ITAR country may be considered. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance. To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.
For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency -
What We Can Offer
This role will come with a significant package, including car, strong bonus potential, competitive pension contribution and opportunities for future progression through the Thales leadership pathways.
Were committed to giving you opportunities to be your best. We believe in embracing the passion and potential of our people, and to achieve this we offer market leading training, development and experiences, along with the opportunity to be mentored and coached by some of the smartest minds in the industry. We hire from within as our first priority, so youll have a myriad of opportunities within our diverse, global organisation.
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In line with Thales' Baseline Security requirements, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of identity, eligibility to work in the UK and employment and/or education history for up to three years. Some vacancies may require full Security Clearance which can require further evidence to be provided. For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting (DBS NSV) Agency.
At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working.
Thales UK is committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment process. We will provide reasonable adjustments and support to ensure neuro-diverse applicants or those with a disability or long-term condition can be their best during the recruitment process. To request an adjustment, if you need this job advert in an alternative format or if you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact for mid to senior roles, or the for graduate and apprentice roles.
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