External Stakeholder Director

Join BAE Systems and become part of something bigger, contributing unique skills to pioneer progress and protect what matters most. You'll be trusted to deliver advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace, and security solutions, shaping a safer future.

Role Description:

The External Stakeholder Engagement Director will shape and deliver Digital Intelligence’s engagement with key external stakeholders, driving influence across Defence, wider Government (including Public Sector and Space), and selected international senior stakeholders. You will lead high-impact senior stakeholder engagement, enabling business growth across complex UK and selected international pursuits to support the implementation of the Digital Intelligence strategy.

Working within Business Development, you will be responsible for developing, leading, and implementing senior stakeholder strategies, leading a small specialist team, and collaborating with Market and Policy Analysis to ensure insight-led delivery. You will bring a strong understanding of defence environments or adjacent sectors, act with autonomy, and build credibility, relationships, and timing advantage to secure outcomes. You will also act as a senior advisor to the Digital Intelligence Leadership Team on external engagement priorities and positioning.

This is not a development role; it requires judgement, authority, and the ability to act decisively with minimal direction.

Core Duties:

• Setting and leading external stakeholder engagement strategy, aligned to business priorities, campaigns, and long‑term growth.
• Building and sustaining trusted, senior relationships Defence, pan-Government (including Public Sector and Space), and key international stakeholders at all levels.
• Leading high-impact engagement, using insight and judgement to influence direction and position the organisation effectively.
• Managing and supporting a small team, ensuring coordinated, prioritised activity with clear, measurable outcomes.
• Partnering with analysts and teams to deliver insight-led, inclusive strategies aligned to policy, funding, and priorities.
• Advising on campaigns and ensuring engagement messaging and priorities are defined, aligned, and consistently delivered across Business Units, Strategy, and Communications functions, ensuring engagement is ethical, consistent, and supports successful business outcomes.
• Coordinating closely with BAE Systems Head Office functions and other sectors to ensure aligned external engagement and maximum enterprise value.
• Engaging with leading policy think tanks (e.g. RUSI, IISS, Chatham House) to inform and shape policy influence and thought leadership.
• Leveraging digital tools to plan, prioritise, and optimise senior stakeholder engagement activity.
• Maximising the impact of key engagement platforms and events (e.g. DSEI, S&P, FIAS, and internal events) to deliver business value.

Essential Skills:

• Relevant senior defence, government, or adjacent sector experience, with strong understanding of stakeholder environments and decision-making.
• Proven ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders in complex, sensitive, and fast‑moving environments.
• Experience leading small, high‑impact teams and coordinating contributions from specialist functions and partners.
• Strong knowledge of defence structures, procurement approaches, and evolving policy or delivery landscapes.
• Strong understanding of cross-government engagement and the role of policy, thought leadership, and strategic communications in shaping outcomes.
• Commercially aware, linking engagement activity to campaign success, business outcomes, and strategic positioning.
• Able to act with autonomy, sound judgement, and prioritisation while managing multiple demands at pace.

About BAE Systems Digital Intelligence:

BAE Systems Digital Intelligence delivers trusted digital and operational capabilities across UK defence and national security. We support decision advantage across all domains and aim to be the UK’s most trusted digital defence partner through credible, sustained engagement with senior Defence, Government, and industry stakeholders.

Why BAE Systems?

Build a career with purpose and limitless possibilities, with lifelong learning and meaningful work. Grow your career with confidence, be empowered to be your best, and receive recognition and rewards tailored to you. Enjoy support for your financial and personal wellbeing, and a balanced lifestyle in an environment embracing sustainable working and a strong sense of shared purpose. Our supportive culture fosters belonging and pride in making a difference.

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported, recognising that diversity of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences strengthens our teams and is vital to our work.

Please be aware that many roles at BAE Systems are subject to 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. 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.