Director of Business Development Land & Ground Combat

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Your role

We are seeking a dynamic Director of Business Development Land & Ground Combat to spearhead our efforts in the Finnish defence market.

The role is defined as customer sales responsible (CSR), focusing on Saab's business development activities, with an emphasis mostly on land & ground combat solutions. You will also support in-country execution projects. Reporting directly to the Head of Business Development of Finland, you will also play a pivotal role in shaping our market strategy.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in the Finnish Defence Forces, Finnish Ministry of Defence or in the Finnish Defence Industry. You should possess an extensive network and deep expertise in the Finnish defence governmental and industrial markets, with the ability to independently identify, pursue, and drive business opportunities.

While travel will primarily be within Finland, you should also be prepared for frequent visits to Saab’s Headquarters, Business Areas or Business Units in other countries as well as taking part of certain fairs abroad.

• Expectations
• Military education, preferably a General Staff Officer graduation with Army training or technical Masters´ degree with General Staff Officer graduation
• Accelerate business growth by converting prospects into orders and leading strategic business development campaigns for Saab's products and services in Finland
• Exceed targets by delivering order intake and gross margin in line with Saab Finland's budget, adhering to the Saab Winning Business (WB) process
• Lead and collaborate with a team of product specialists, monitoring and updating the Saab CRM system from your own part and fostering a strong team spirit
• Contribute to strategic planning by supporting the Country Market Plan (CMP) and other initiatives in coordination with other CSRs and the Head of Business Development.
• Actively follow and support Saab's delivery project execution in-country
• Build and cultivate a high-value network within the Finnish defence ecosystem, driving innovation and growth
• Experiences
• Your skills and experiences
• Proven experience in the Finnish defence sector, with 15+ years in the Finnish Defence Forces, defence industry or the Ministry of Defence
• Understanding organizations, functions, acquisition processes, current and future needs and governmental agencies is essential for this position
• Solid negotiation skills and understanding of business processes within the field of defence administration
• Proficient in navigating Government-to-Government, Business-to-Government, and/or Business-to-Business processes
• Effective project management skills are preferable
• Technical knowledge with an understanding of product specifications and the ability to assume the customer sales responsibility (CSR) role.
• Familiarity with Saab’s product portfolio is beneficial
• Experience in international and domestic relations, with a strong ability to build and maintain productive partnerships
• Skills
• Good relationship-building abilities and strong interpersonal skills
• Leadership and teamwork skills, with high personal integrity and solid business ethics coupled with self-driven hands-on attitude and drive
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to create persuasive presentations, documents, and proposals in Finnish and English.
• Additional European languages will be considered in your favor, especially Swedish.
• Customer-focused and service-oriented, with the ability to work flexibly and maintain high-quality standards under tight deadlines and contribute beyond your role when needed
• Network
• Established connections within the Finnish armed forces and/or defence industry, with experience in building and maintaining successful partnerships
• As a candidate, you should be outgoing and possess strong marketing, sales, and communication skills, with a tenacious and driven mindset.
• You'll thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple business opportunities and complex sales issues simultaneously.

What You Will Be a Part OfThe Saab Group Business Development (GBD) function covers Saab AB’s all global Business Development activities. Saab GBD function has local offices in selected Countries, and you will be part of the BD-team in Saab Finland’s Office in Helsinki.

This position is a permanent position.

On top of joining a team of highly talented professionals and fun people, we offer you a good benefit package, including full lunch benefit, exercise & culture benefit, transport-related options, and many more.

We highly value work-life balance and offer flexible working hours and the possibility of partial remote work.

In this job, some of your tasks have a connection to defense secrecy. Therefore, a drug test and approved security clearance in accordance with the Finnish Security Clearance act 726/2014 is required for the selected applicant.

Please, apply for this position no later than 30th June. We will proceed with interviews in mid August.

Starting date is preferably 1st October 2026 with some monthly flexibility.

About SaabExplore a wealth of possibilities. Take on challenges, create smart inventions, and grow beyond. This is a place for curious minds, brave pioneers, and everyone in between. Together, we achieve the extraordinary, each bringing our unique perspectives. Your part matters.

Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring purpose, to help nations keep their people and society safe.

Empowered by its 28,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer and more sustainable world.

Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems.

Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.

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