Are you an expert in driving real business growth and shaping new business opportunities? Whether you’ve built your career in business development, bid management, or followed a path through project or programme management with strong commercial experience — you could be a great fit for this role.
We’re looking for a Principal Business Development Consultant who champions business growth, shapes high-impact deals, and has delivered tangible results for fast-growing teams.
This senior, delivery-led role is designed for commercially minded consultants who own new business development- actively converting high-value leads into lasting partnerships. You will join Whitetree’s respected Business Winning Practice, influencing strategy, developing propositions, leading pursuits, and guiding client teams.
Since our establishment in 2018, Whitetree has been on a mission to empower clients, make lasting impacts, and provide unmatched career growth opportunities. We're passionate innovators driven by our values of Trust, Integrity, Innovation, and Excellence.
To support effective collaboration and client delivery, you will ideally live within a commutable distance to Bristol.
The Role
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This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced, commercially minded consultant who thrives on building strategic relationships, identifying new opportunities, and delivering measurable outcomes for clients.
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You’ll be joining a growing and respected Business Winning Practice within Whitetree, working alongside experienced consultants to help clients improve how they pursue, secure, and deliver work.
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The role combines strategic business development and hands-on consulting delivery — giving you the opportunity to shape Whitetree’s offer and influence the future of business development consulting within the Defence, Government, and Health sectors.
Your responsibilities will include:
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Playing a critical role throughout the business development cycle, opportunity scoping, pursuit strategy, bid management and solution delivery for the Business Winning Practice across Defence, Aerospace, Government, Healthcare, and related sectors.
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Championing best practice and mentoring colleagues, sharing proven methodologies in capture planning, proposal development, and commercial growth.
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Collaborating internally to strengthen the brand and expand capability.
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Balance commercial growth goals with high-quality client outcomes, setting the standard for delivery excellence.
In your first 3-6 months, success might look like:
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Win new clients and revenue for our Business Winning Practice by actively originating and converting new opportunities.
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Balance commercial growth goals with high-quality client outcomes, setting the standard for delivery excellence.
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Sharing best practice and mentoring colleagues across projects.
Skills & experience required
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Proven track record of originating, pursuing and converting deals through proactive engagement and direct client delivery.
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Strong commercial acumen - pricing, risk, governance, and financial performance.
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Experience engaging senior stakeholders within Defence, Aerospace, Government or Healthcare.
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Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the credibility and professional gravitas to engage with senior client stakeholders.
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Self-motivated and confident working remotely and independently, managing your own workload and client portfolio.
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Collaborative, professional, and delivery-focused mindset.
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Ideally located within a commutable distance to Bristol
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Current right to live and work in the UK
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Current SC clearance or willing and eligible to undergo a Security Clearance check
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Willingness and ability to work from home and travel for client engagements, including overnight stays away from home around the UK when required
Desirable Experience & Attributes
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Understanding of procurement lifecycles, commercial models, and complex delivery environments.
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APMP certification, project/programme management qualifications (e.g., APM, MSP), or equivalent professional experience.
Life at Whitetree
At Whitetree, we are proud to provide a collaborative and supportive environment in which you can grow and develop your career, with the chance to work alongside some of the best people in the industry.
We're proud to have recently become one of the select few Chartered Management Consultancies in the UK. This prestigious accreditation reflects our commitment to the highest standards of professional practice and ethical conduct in consulting. As part of our dedication to your professional growth, we're eager to sponsor suitable candidates on their journey to becoming Chartered Management Consultants themselves.
Whitetree’s success hinges on hiring great people and creating an environment where we can be happy, feel challenged, and do our best work. We hope that excites you enough to apply.
Our competitive benefits package includes:
Our Commitment to you
We're proud of our Silver Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Award, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment and supporting diverse communities, including the Armed Forces.
Whitetree values the differences that a diverse workforce brings to the organisation and will not discriminate. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all applicants and employees, building a culture that values openness, fairness, and transparency.
We are a disability confident employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email
talent@whitetree.co.uk.
I don’t meet the criteria?
If you don’t meet the role criteria and are still interested in Whitetree careers, contact
talent@whitetree.co.uk.
Compulsory National Security Vetting
Whitetree jobs are subject to national security vetting. Your eligibility for Security Clearance may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held, or any time you have spent outside of the UK. Please check your eligibility: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-national-security-vetting-solution-guidance-for-subjects
Are you ready to join us? Click the apply button now or email talent@whitetree.co.uk for more information.