Business Development Manager – Prison Sector | Forensic Drug Systems

Building on more than 50 years of leadership in forensic science technologies and an installed base across more than 100 countries, we are opening a new chapter in Forensic Drug Systems (FDS). The initial focus is the prison sector, where synthetic cannabinoids such as Spice have become a serious and destabilising threat.

Spice is cheap, easily concealed and extremely potent. Its impact on prison safety, staff welfare and rehabilitation outcomes is profound.

We believe better detection can make a real difference.

Job Identification

Job Title:
Business Development Manager

Location:
USA

The Opportunity

In the second half of 2026, Foster + Freeman will launch ContraSCAN, a purpose-built technology designed specifically to detect synthetic cannabinoids in custodial environments.

ContraSCAN delivers instant results, is handheld and highly portable, and achieves a high degree of accuracy. It is designed for use by generalists rather than specialists and is priced to enable broad deployment. In doing so, it competes directly with more established technologies that are often less accurate, less mobile and significantly more expensive.

Pilot devices are already in use within UK and USA prisons and detention centres, with national media coverage in both countries. Early feedback has been strongly encouraging and points to substantial unmet need and global demand.

Alongside this, Foster + Freeman has an established portfolio of trace evidence technologies capable of rapid, microscopic drug identification. These systems are proven, highly accurate, and well suited to identifying illicit drugs and novel psychoactive substances. They have not yet been deployed into this sector, but form part of a broader product range available.

Further development is underway to extend activity beyond prisons into adjacent markets, including policing, emergency services and education.


The Role


We are seeking two Business Development Managers to lead commercial activity initially within the prison sector. One role will be based in USA and the other in the UK.

Reporting to the North America GM for the USA role, and to the International Sales Director for the other, these roles will take ownership of building sales from the ground up for a new product line and an emerging-market focus. It is a hands-on, outward-facing position with significant autonomy, visibility and influence across the business.

You will develop and execute a clear go-to-market strategy, convert pilot interest into meaningful revenue, and establish Foster + Freeman as a credible and trusted provider in this space.

Using your understanding of prison procurement, stakeholder structures and decision-making pathways, you will drive the adoption of ContraSCAN and lay the foundations for broader portfolio expansion. Over time, this will include introducing existing technologies and future innovations into prisons, and then extending activity into adjacent sectors.

What You Will Bring

  • Proven experience in business development or sales within custodial environments, prisons or closely related public sector settings
  • A strong understanding of procurement frameworks, tendering processes and stakeholder management within the prison sector
  • A track record of opening new markets, building credibility early, and scaling revenue over time
  • Confidence selling technical or technology-led solutions, with the ability to translate complex capability into clear operational value
  • Commercial judgement, including experience shaping pricing, positioning and market entry strategies
  • Comfort working in an evolving environment where products, routes to market and target sectors are still being defined
  • Strong communication skills, with the presence to engage senior decision-makers and the practicality to work at operational level
  • Willingness to travel across the UK and internationally as the role develops
  • Experience specifically in drug detection is not essential. Credibility in the prison sector, commercial drive and the ability to build something meaningful from an early-stage opportunity matter far more.

Apply for this role

no agencies please

Applications with full CVs should be sent via post or email to: