Head of New Business & Retention in Milton Keynes

IMServ is one of the UKs leading data collection and energy metering experts, delivering award winning services to more customers in more places, meeting industry targets and becoming a benchmark for excellence. We offer a range of specialist metering technology for electricity, gas and water along with highly accurate energy data collection services. All this is wrapped up with an easy-to-view online data management analysis and reporting software.

PURPOSE OF ROLE: As the Head of New Business and Retention at IMServ, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering IMServs commercial strategy to drive new business growth and ensure customer retention. Your primary responsibility will be to introduce new business; manage and enhance IMServ's strategic relationships with large end user clients ensuring best in class customer satisfaction; £ value and longevity. Ensure the team are aligned to strategic and tactical aims whilst identifying and capitalising on new business opportunities which bring is £growth to IMServ. Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. Lead the sales team in identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, leveraging market insights and industry trends. Develop and execute sales plans to achieve revenue targets.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the commercial aspects of client relationships, ensuring alignment with IMServ's strategic goals and contributing to long-term business growth.
• Provide commercial support for day-to-day operational challenges, particularly those with contractual or financial implications, ensuring effective and timely resolutions.
• Lead by example, mentoring Account/Sales Managers and fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the team.
• Support team members' professional development, enhancing their skills and helping them achieve career goals.
• Support projects from initial idea through product development, customer trials, and securing contracts. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and budget.
• Provide comprehensive sales and revenue reporting to monitor team performance against targets. Use insights to drive continuous improvement and strategic adjustments.
• Actively participate in key customer tenders to ensure account management visibility and smooth transitions from sales to onboarding. Provide strategic input to enhance tender submissions.
• Ensure a smooth and efficient onboarding process for new clients, facilitating seamless transitions and setting the foundation for successful long-term relationships.
• Retain, renew, and grow existing contractual arrangements. Develop high-level relationships within customer organisations.
• Lead/support operational teams through commercial issues to ensure they are resolved operationally and contractually if needed.
• Ensure quality and timeliness of work delivered to clients, including organising scheduled key account reviews with board sponsors and internal project reviews.
• Ensure profitable delivery of work through effective cross-department relationships and processes. Manage the financial aspects and reporting of the client portfolio.
• Represent IMServ in public arenas such as conferences or exhibitions to promote the IMServ range of products and services. Host corporate hospitality events when required, including identifying the strategy for exhibitions and working with the Marketing Team to ensure the messaging is correctly positioned.
• Provide mentoring within the team, specifically to new members to assist with their onboarding and development.
• Build and manage a high-performing team, fostering a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

• Knowledge & Qualifications: Educated to degree standard and/or hold relevant professional qualifications. Deep understanding of new business development and retention strategies, including industry-specific best practices. Project management experience including analysis, design, and execution.
• Skills: Strong knowledge of market research methodologies, segmentation, and customer insights. In-depth understanding of industry regulations, compliance standards, and competitive landscapes. Exceptional leadership and people management capabilities, with the ability to influence at all levels. Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, focusing on data-driven decision-making. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation and negotiation abilities. Strong project management capabilities to oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously. Proficiency in CRM systems and data analytics tools. Ability to think creatively and take initiative. Proactive approach to potential customers. Excellent communication skills, written and verbal comms. Discretion is important as highly sensitive information is an everyday part of the role.
• Experience: Proven experience of leading sales and account management teams. Demonstrated success in designing and executing comprehensive business and retention strategies. Significant experience in financial planning, budget management, and performance analysis. Knowledge of the utility industry and general deregulation. High-level commercial exposure (networking at Board / Senior Leadership level).

COMPANY BENEFITS:

• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Annual leave Buy & Sell scheme
• Enhanced Salary Sacrifice Pension Contributions
• Life Assurance up to 6 X Base Salary
• Subsidised Health cover
• Subsidised Dental Cover
• Contribution towards Eye Tests and Glasses
• In Office & Out of Office Social Events
• Retailer Discounts Platform
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing Centre
• Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Our people are our main asset. We strive to ensure they remain happy, competitive, and fulfilled - helping to propel our business forward and ensure we remain customer-centric and competitive. We are proud to remain the UKs leading and growing energy data collection and meter operations service provider. Diversity and inclusion have long been at the heart of IMServ's success. As we continue our growth, our focus remains on ensuring that equality, diversity and inclusion remain central to our business and recruitment practices. We recognise that we operate in an industry in which there has traditionally been a lack of diversity and we are keen to encourage applications from as inclusive a group as possible. We recognise that a balanced workforce encourages collaboration and innovation, promotes entrepreneurship and a feeling of ownership. These are the key drivers of our business, that our customers really look to us for.

(Please note that we reserve the right to close this position before the expiry date)