Senior Sales Manager, Defence

We are looking for a

Senior Regional Sales Manager (m/f/d) - Defence & Security

to join our Suunto EMEA Export Team in France, Benelux or the UK.

Do you want to have a positive impact on the way people live an active and adventurous life? At Suunto, we build the most reliable and robust products that our consumers take to their adventures in the deepest oceans and the highest mountains. Ready to join the adventure? Keep on reading

About the Role

As a Senior Regional Sales Manager (m/f/d) - Defence & Security, you will be responsible for driving sales growth in the Defence & Security segment. You will primarily work with the Export and Product Team to further strengthen our defence business, reporting to Sales Leadership/VP Sales or Country Manager. You will collaborate across functions including bid/proposal management, product management, project operations, marketing, and finance, as well as external partners such as armed forces, defence contractors, system integrators, and channel distributors. Preferred location:France, Benelux (e.g. Belgium/NATO HQ) or the UK – home-based/hybrid, with frequent travel within the region (approx. 30%) and occasionally internationally.

Key Activities for the role

• Develop and execute the sales strategy for Defence & Security to achieve order intake, revenue, and margin targets.
• Identify, qualify, and win new business with defence forces and other government agencies, defence contractors, system integrators, and security providers.
• Manage and grow key accounts, including frame agreements and multi-year programs; own the full sales cycle from prospecting to handover.
• Assess project feasibility (technical, economic, strategic) and coordinate technical/cost proposals and follow-up.
• Build trusted-advisor relationships with senior stakeholders (commercial, technical, operational, executive).
• Coordinate local channel partners (distributors, agents) with joint planning and performance management.
• Provide market/competitor intelligence on trends, programs, budgets, and moves.
• Ensure compliance with export controls, security regulations, tenders, and procurement rules.
• Represent Suunto at industry events, trade fairs, and demonstrations.
• Maintain CRM pipelines, forecasts, account plans, and KPI reports.

What You Bring

• University degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Security/Defence Studies, or a related field (equivalent experience also considered).
• Several years of successful B2B/B2G sales in Defence, Security, Aerospace, Cyber, Communications, Sensors, or high-tech fields.
• Proven track record meeting/exceeding targets in complex, long-cycle projects with large national accounts.
• Experience with government procurement, public tenders, and framework agreements.
• Fluent in English (written/spoken); additional regional languages are an advantage.
• Willingness to travel frequently within the region and occasionally internationally.
• Already established network in the defence/military industry.
• Military officer background is a plus.
• Strong hunter mentality with structured account management.
• Ability to explain complex technical solutions and translate missions into value propositions.
• Excellent C-level communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinking, business acumen (pricing, margins, deal structuring).
• High integrity, compliance focus (export/security regulations).
• Proficiency in CRM and MS Office (Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook).
• Good project management and communication skills.

What We Offer

At Suunto, you’ll immerse yourself in consumer wearables with cutting-edge tech and innovation. Join a versatile global team in the sporting world with a passionate, adventurous atmosphere. Enjoy work-life balance via flexible hours, cultural benefits, mobile package, weekly test runs, and 1 h