Director, Business Development - Institutional

About the role

ClearSpace is seeking an experienced Director of Business Development to lead its institutional pipeline across Europe. The role focuses on public‑sector and institutional customers such as the European Commission, ESA, DLR, CNES and the UK Space Agency, driving relationships, bids and funding.

Key responsibilities

• Monitor and evaluate institutional bid opportunities from the EU, ESA and national space agencies, matching them to ClearSpace projects.
• Maintain a database of prospective projects and support prioritisation of R&D and service strategy.
• Lead capture management and ensure coherence of institutional captures across ClearSpace entities.
• Manage end‑to‑end bid production, coordinating internal teams and external partners, and ensure compliance with ITT and ESA tender rules.
• Control bid finances, work with finance and partners on consortium‑style bids, and conduct win‑theme analysis.

Required profile

• Significant experience in bid management within the space industry, especially institutional programmes (ESA, EU/EIC, Horizon Europe, etc.).
• Deep understanding of the institutional space ecosystem and related stakeholder negotiations.
• Strong commercial awareness with ability to manage risk and identify opportunities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Knowledge of In‑Orbit Servicing (IOS) and Active Debris Removal (ADR) activities.