International Partnerships Lead

International Partnerships Lead

We are seeking an experienced International Partnerships Lead to play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering our Digital Intelligence Partnering and International Strategies. Reporting to the Head of Partnerships, you will work closely with the International BD team to drive strategic growth and align partnering activities with current priorities.

This role offers hybrid and flexible working arrangements, with locations in Frimley, London, and Gloucester. Please be aware that international travel will be a requirement depending on the opportunity, capture, or campaign.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the development, execution, and ongoing management of the International Partnerships strategy.
• Identify, onboard, and manage new and existing long-term strategic partnerships.
• Collaborate across Digital Intelligence Domestic BD and the wider BAE Systems Group (including Group BD and CTIO) to ensure strategic alignment and value leverage internationally.
• Partner closely with International BD to align partnering activity with current priorities, campaigns, and long-term growth objectives.
• Interface with Business Units (BUs) and functional teams to ensure consistent practices and identify emerging partnerships of strategic value.
• Own and coordinate relationships with universities, think tanks, trade bodies, and other strategic partners.
• Be accountable for partner due diligence, data insights, reporting, and continuous optimisation of partner processes.

Your skills and experiences:

• Deep subject-matter expertise to shape Partnerships strategy and drive growth.
• Strong collaboration skills, comfortable working with large, multinational International BD teams.
• Ability to operate autonomously across competing priorities.
• Champion functional best practices and use 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.
• Demonstrated capability in partnership onboarding, management, and strategic development, ideally in a business-winning context.

Benefits:

As well as a competitive pension scheme, BAE Systems 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 and the International BD Team offer an opportunity to understand and influence best practices in business winning. These teams are centrally positioned to work across the organisation, ensuring our BD function operates consistently, confidently, and strategically to support growth.

Why BAE Systems?

BAE Systems is a place where you can make a real difference. We foster an inclusive culture that values diversity of thought, rewards integrity and merit, and empowers you to fulfil your potential. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to making our recruitment processes as inclusive as possible. If you have a disability or health condition that may affect your performance in 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 previous nationalities 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 typically need 5 to 10 years of continuous residency in the UK, depending on the vetting level required.