Strategic Lead - Cyber and Digital (Defence)

Defence clients are facing significant change in how they exploit technology, data and digital capability. Success increasingly depends on understanding where operational need, technology evolution and organisational change intersect.

This is a senior market-facing strategic leadership role, working closely with our Defence Market leadership team and Client Directors to understand where Defence demand is heading, how our cyber and digital capability aligns to that demand, and where we need to strengthen, invest or partner to continue delivering for our clients.

You will operate across client engagement, market strategy, capability development and technical leadership. You will spend much of your time externally with clients and industry partners, bringing credible cyber and digital insight into strategic conversations, and the rest of your time converting that insight into practical action across our business.

In the first six months, success will mean opening 3-5 qualified leads and progressing 2-3 into solution development.

Why this role matters

This role sits at the intersection of client engagement, strategic growth and delivery excellence. You’ll have the opportunity to influence significant Defence outcomes; shape the services we provide and help develop the next generation of capability across our business.

At AtkinsRéalis, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, and we’re passionate about building teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Your role

Understand Defence demand and shape client conversations

• Work alongside Client Directors to engage with Defence clients and understand current and emerging challenges in cyber, digital, data and technology transformation.
• Identify trends, changing priorities and future requirements before they mature into formal procurement activity.
• Build trusted senior relationships across Defence clients, industry partners and relevant stakeholder groups.
• Bring informed technical insight into conversations around digital transformation, cyber resilience, operational technology, information advantage, data exploitation and emerging technologies.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, practical language that resonates with a range of Defence decision-makers.

Turn market insight into capability action

• Assess how AtkinsRéalis cyber and digital capability aligns to Defence priorities, operating challenges and technology roadmaps.
• Identify capability gaps, emerging technology areas and opportunities for strategic investment.
• Shape investment choices across recruitment, partnerships, acquisitions and capability growth.
• Work with practice leaders to translate market signals into practical capability development plans.

Influence growth and strategic opportunities

• Identify capability gaps, investment priorities and growth opportunities.
• Support the development of propositions, strategic bids and market plans.
• Help ensure our cyber and digital capabilities stay aligned to Defence’s future needs.
• Provide technical leadership for client solution development, ensuring insight is shared clearly, understood and acted upon across the business.

• Significant experience delivering cyber, digital, data or technology-enabled services within Defence or closely related environments, engaging with senior stakeholders across military, civil service, industry and technical communities.
• The ability to move effectively between technical discussions, client conversations and strategic business decision-making.
• Commercial awareness, with the ability to identify opportunities where client need and AtkinsRéalis capability can create mutual value.
• Experience working within, alongside, or in support of, Front Line Commands, Strategic Command or the wider National Armaments Director Group.
• Experience in Signals, communications, information systems, cyber operations, digital transformation, operational technology or military technology environments would be valuable.

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive - at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people., At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.