Business Development Manager, Corporate Partnerships

Location: London, Hybrid

Contract: Full time, Permanent

About Springer Nature Group

Springer Nature opens the doors to discovery for researchers, educators, clinicians and other professionals. Every day, around the globe, our imprints, books, journals, platforms and technology solutions reach millions of people. For over 175 years our brands and imprints have been a trusted source of knowledge to these communities and today, more than ever, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that fundamental knowledge can be found, verified, understood and used by our communities - enabling them to improve outcomes, make progress, and benefit the generations that follow.

About the Team

Reputation Solutions is a division of Springer Nature’s Commercial Partnerships business that focuses on selling solutions that help research-based organisations build their reputation, connect with our audiences and amplify thought leadership in front of the global research community. The Reputation Solutions division comprises of two teams: Corporate Partnerships and Strategic Partnerships. We are looking to recruit a seasoned Business Development Manager within the Corporate Partnerships team to sell our portfolio of solutions to corporate markets in North America and Europe.

Purpose of Role

The Business Development Manager will form part of the established Corporate Partnerships team, primarily focusing on selling solutions including but not limited to sponsored awards and events, thematic editorial supplements and multimedia as well as training solutions for research professionals within the corporate markets. They will be targeting the R&D segments of corporations in North America and Europe and be responsible for driving commercial revenues through proactive business development and effective strategic account development. They will be consultative, perceptive to customers’ needs, and be adept at portfolio-selling at the highest, decision-making level. Fundamental to this role is an adept understanding of client marketing solutions; a passion and curiosity for science and its impact on planet and society, confidence and ability to build connections with C-suite; help them amplify their pioneering work and innovations and connect with audiences that matter to them. Of additional importance is the ability to always manage an effective sales pipeline, convert opportunities and close deals in a timely manner. Central to this is a collaborative approach to working across internal teams and stakeholders.

Main Duties:

• Acquire meetings and establish relationships with relevant C-suite within the corporate markets in North America and Europe.
• Identify customer needs and generate opportunities to actively pitch solutions that amplify thought leadership and pioneering work in science and technology.
• Exceed annual revenue targets.
• Possess a passion and develop a thorough understanding of brand partnerships, especially in science and technology.
• Demonstrate our product capabilities, overcome objections and create a customer-centric buying vision.
• Actively collaborate with other sales colleagues on shared accounts across the wider commercial teams.
• Proactive business development.
• Professional territory, pipeline and opportunity development and management with regular status reporting and updates to commercial management and product partners.
• Understanding the roles of key customer touch points involved in R&D, innovation and sustainability strategies within the corporate sectors.
• Consultative, strategic and competitive selling.
• Selling new solutions to customers and closing significant six-figure deals.
• Building rapport and securing meetings with senior decision makers/Economic Buyers.
• Collaborating across teams and with internal stakeholders.

Skills / Experience:

Essential:

• Significant commercial experience, preferably within a B2B environment.
• Proven track record of strategic and solutions selling.
• Sales experience in corporate markets such as Pharma and Biotech, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Tech.
• Experience of selling a wide portfolio of events, awards, digital, print and offline products.
• Effective pipeline management and financial forecasting.
• Deep familiarity with the corporate markets, especially research and innovation.
• Strong personal presence and influencing skills; ability to quickly establish rapport and productive relationships with senior-level executives.
• In-depth understanding of media and events sales.
• Understanding of structures and decision-making process within corporations.
• Proficient public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to collaborate within a complex team environment to close commercial projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and relationship building skills.
• Fluent English language skills, Proven ability to achieve and exceed sales quotas.

Desirable:

• Experience in CRM systems and CRM Best Practice.
• Additional European Language.
• Willingness to travel within territory for client meetings and events.

Springer Nature is a Disability Confident Committed Employer and we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities. If you consider yourself to have a disability or learning difficulty and wish to submit your application in an alternative format or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments during the application and interview process, please get in touch either by phone on +44 (0)207 014 4020 or by email so we can make any necessary arrangements. At Springer Nature we value the diversity of our teams. We recognize the many benefits of a diverse workforce with equitable opportunities for everyone. We strive for an inclusive workplace that empowers all our colleagues to thrive. Our search for the best talent fully encompasses and embraces these values and principles.