Director of Business Development

Employer undisclosedRole managed by a recruiter

Lead sales, marketing, and fundraising for an optical technology startup in Cambridge.

10 days ago ago

£100,000

Expert & Leadership (13+ years), Intermediate (4-7 years), Experienced (8-12 years)

Full Time

Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom

Office Full-Time

Your recruiting firm

The company focuses on delivering high-quality talent solutions across multiple industries, offering specialized expertise in recruitment and consulting.
Nicholas Associates is particularly well-regarded for its work in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and industrial.
With decades of experience, they have developed a deep understanding of client needs, making them a go-to partner for complex projects.
The company has an impressive portfolio of delivering critical projects across commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.
Through their targeted recruitment and consultancy services, Nicholas Associates has a reputation for matching top-tier talent to challenging roles.
Their industry insights help clients navigate complex project demands, whether in construction, energy, or large-scale infrastructure developments.

Role

Description

fundraising

investor relations

partnership development

sales strategy

product demo

market positioning

This position combines commercial leadership with strategic influence, helping shape the company’s business roadmap and market positioning. You will lead sales, marketing, and fundraising activities to support the commercialisation of advanced optical technologies designed for next-generation extended reality devices. The company can offer a competitive salary up to £100,000 plus share options.

Identify and pursue non-dilutive funding opportunities such as grants and strategic programmes.
Deliver engaging presentations and product demonstrations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Provide input on product-market fit, positioning, and commercial strategy.
Build and manage investor relationships, CRM, and reporting.
Support financial modelling, KPI tracking, and investor communications.
Represent the company at industry events, investor meetings, and trade shows.
Identify and secure key partnerships and customer opportunities.
Lead all aspects of fundraising including narrative development, investor outreach, and due diligence.
Collaborate across engineering, R&D, and leadership teams to align product and market goals.
Build and manage a qualified pipeline of enterprise customers, strategic partners, and investors.
Develop and execute a comprehensive sales, marketing, and fundraising strategy.

Requirements

optical engineering

fundraising

mba

business development

5-10 yrs

tech commercialization

We are seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to join the leadership team of a pioneering start-up company in Cambridge. This is a strategic role focused on driving growth through commercial partnerships, fundraising, and go-to-market execution.

Strong ability to translate technical innovation into commercial value.
Knowledge of Optical Engineering, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
5–10+ years of relevant experience (10+ years for Director-level applicants).
Experience aligning sales and marketing plans with technical product roadmaps.
Proven success in business development or commercial leadership within a high-tech product or optics-based environment.
Track record in fundraising (pre-seed, seed, or Series A) or securing non-dilutive funding.
MBA or equivalent business training is advantageous.