Business Development Assistant

With our recent transition into a primarily digital brand, we are revolutionising the online department store experience. In 2024, we have over 10,000 brands and have expanded into multiple new categories, providing unparalleled opportunities for retailers, brands and manufacturers to showcase their products to millions of customers through one of the UK's most recognisable brands. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started! Join us in shaping the future of fashion, beauty, and home retailing – together, we will redefine the shopping experience for generations to come.

Your Role

We are looking for a Business Development Assistant to join our Marketplace team and help us manage our clientele. You will focus on growing and scaling our partner portfolio across all categories. As part of the front-facing team of the company, you will have the dedication and passion to create and develop strong relationships with new partners. You will be supporting the team in identifying new partners and prepping negotiations and support for new sellers onto Debenhams.

Your Team

As an established and much-loved household name, you know all about our high street roots and bricks and mortar stores. In some way, shape or form we’ve always had a concessionary offering. Now, we’re looking to the future. We have over 10,000 partners live on our site and are constantly striving for more, becoming the number one destination for fashion, beauty, and home. Our growing marketplace proposition plays a crucial role in fulfilling our vision. That’s why we need you. The team’s mission is to make Brand Partners successful on Debenhams and for us to be the Brand Partner of choice.

What You Will Be Doing

• Support identifying brand gaps and hunting strategies across multiple categories.
• Supporting in outreach/negotiation: Promoting the company and signing of new partners/sellers.
• Work closely with Aggregator partners and service providers.
• Supporting on building scalable processes and implementing them in community development daily operations.
• Liaise with the Onboarding and Account Management teams to successfully transition sellers from signed to full launch.
• Attend trade fairs/Marketplace Seminars/Presenting at Lunch and Learns and conferences etc.
• Administrative tasks and reporting.
• Trend monitoring.

What You Can Bring

• Strong understanding and use of Microsoft Excel.
• Can-do entrepreneurial attitude.
• Commercial awareness and good understanding of retail is beneficial.
• Ability to prioritise workflow and ensure challenging deadlines are met, in line with critical path and partner’s needs.
• Exceptional communication skills to build productive relationships.
• Always strives to improve the department’s operation and increase knowledge of own and related job functions.
• Ability to manage the detail as well as the bigger picture, especially by working collaboratively as a team and being a team player at all costs.

Why Join Us?

• You’ll get the opportunity to take part in our various share schemes.
• Core hours enable you to flex your working times around your needs on an ad hoc basis.
• Benefits that support your health and wellbeing.
• There’s up to 40% discount off all of our brands.
• Our social calendar? Next level!
• With HQs in Manchester and London and offices across the globe (some are dog friendly!), we offer a buzzing atmosphere and the boohoo family culture wherever you work.