At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business and build relationships with senior leaders to shape Circl's growth.
- Company: Join Circl, a purpose-driven company transforming leadership through empathy and inclusion.
- Benefits: Enjoy 37 days holiday, flexible work options, and personal development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on inclusive leadership while growing your career in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in B2B business development with a strong network and strategic vision.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to social impact and personal growth.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Location: Remote + 1 Day per week (Thursdays) in London Office (Storey Club, Paddington)
Salary: £50k - £70k (uncapped commission OTE £110k) + Share Options
About Circl
At Circl, we’re reimagining leadership for the modern world — one built on empathy, inclusion and empowerment. Our award-winning Leadership Development Programme pairs business professionals with young Future Leaders (aged 18–24 from underrepresented backgrounds) to learn coaching skills together and create a new generation of inclusive leaders. We’ve supported 5000+ young people and professionals in over 200 organisations, across 57 countries worldwide.
Circl Perks & Flexibility:
- Social Impact & Purpose: make a real difference to underrepresented young people.
- 37 Days holiday including your birthday, bank holidays and the period between Xmas & New Year.
- 1 Day in the London office per week, with access on other days when required.
- Flex Fridays with limited internal meetings and reduced working hours.
- 3 Work From Anywhere Weeks, including 1 International Week working across time zones.
- Work from Home Cash Allowance.
- Personal Development Plans across the team to focus on personal growth.
- Dedicated External Senior Mentor for every team member.
- Internal Coaching support.
- Regular Team Socials & Wellbeing initiatives.
- Potential for EMI share options.
- Hundreds of perks, discounts and freebies from pirkx.
- 24/7 counselling and mental health support.
- 24/7 telephone and online GP and prescription service.
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Director of Business Development — a confident, relationship-led commercial leader who thrives on opening doors and shaping growth. Working closely with our CEO, Charlie, and an advisory network of top-tier business leaders, you’ll take charge of driving new business with C-Suite and senior HR/L&D/DEI decision-makers, positioning Circl as the go-to partner for inclusive leadership and culture transformation.
Initially, this is a pure new business role. You won’t manage a team or existing accounts, your sole focus will be personally bringing in new clients, but in this process you will be heavily involved in shaping Circl’s commercial growth strategy, alongside Charlie and our Marketing Team. Over time, the role will evolve into leading and building out Circl's Commercial strategy, go-to-market plans, and future growth.
This is your chance to lead, build and scale the commercial function of a purpose-driven business poised for its next big leap.
Key Responsibilities:
- New Business Acquisition: Identify, engage, and win partnerships with enterprise and mid-market organisations aligned with Circl’s mission.
- Relationship Management: Build trusted, long-term relationships with senior stakeholders (C-suite, HR, Talent, DEI, and L&D leaders).
- Strategic Growth: Shape Circl’s commercial direction through market insights, data-led decisions, clear KPIs and scalable sales systems.
- Thought Leadership: Represent Circl externally as a credible voice on inclusive leadership and coaching.
- Future Team Building: Play a key role in building and leading a high-performing commercial team to deliver sustainable growth.
The Ideal Candidate
You’re an accomplished business developer with a natural ability to connect with senior leaders, speak with credibility about leadership development and convert conversations into partnerships. You combine strategic thinking with commercial drive and relentless tenacity. You believe deeply in coaching as a leadership tool to create genuine inclusion and social impact.
You’ve had:
- (Ideally) 8+ years in senior B2B new business roles.
- (Ideally) Experience selling, coaching, L&D, Leadership, HR solutions or consultancy.
- A proven record of exceeding revenue targets through consultative relationship-based selling.
- An established network of senior contacts in large and mid-market organisations.
- Comfortable using Salesforce.
- Strategic vision and the ability to build scalable commercial structures.
- A passion for purpose-led business, coaching and leadership development.
What Success Looks Like:
- Significant new revenue growth through strategic partnerships.
- Long-term, trusted client relationships that strengthen Circl’s impact and reach.
- A scalable, high-performing commercial function shaped by your leadership.
Inclusivity is at Circl’s Core
Circl has 5 Values: Own it, Embrace Challenge, Be Intentional, Be Human and Practice What we Preach. As an organisation that literally trains people to use coaching as an inclusive leadership tool, it goes without saying that we want to create an environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best work. We believe having a diverse team is the right thing to do and support diversity in all forms, including socio-economic background, gender, race, disability, age, religion, sexual orientation and life experience so we welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.
If you have any questions about the role before applying please get in touch with charlie@circl.org. Appointment subject to references and DBS check. We’re excited to hear from you… 🙂
Director of Business Development in London employer: Circl®
Contact Detail:
Circl® Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Business Development in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your existing connections and let them know you're on the hunt for new opportunities. Don't be shy about asking for introductions to decision-makers in companies you admire.
✨Tip Number 2
Get social! Use platforms like LinkedIn to engage with industry leaders and share your insights on inclusive leadership. This not only showcases your expertise but also puts you on their radar for potential opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Research Circl and its mission thoroughly, so you can speak passionately about how your experience aligns with their goals. Show them you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly believes in their purpose.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Circl team and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Business Development in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director of Business Development role. Highlight your experience in new business acquisition and relationship management, as these are key to what we're looking for at Circl.
Showcase Your Network: Since this role involves engaging with senior leaders, don’t forget to mention your existing network. Share how you’ve successfully leveraged these connections in the past to drive growth and partnerships.
Demonstrate Your Passion: We want to see your enthusiasm for coaching and inclusive leadership. Use your application to express why these values resonate with you and how they align with Circl’s mission.
Apply Through Our Website: For a smooth application process, make sure to apply directly through our website. This helps us keep track of your application and ensures you’re considered for the role!
How to prepare for a job interview at Circl®
✨Know Circl Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Circl's mission and values. Understand their approach to leadership development and how they empower underrepresented young people. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you align your answers with their core values.
✨Leverage Your Network
As a Director of Business Development, your connections matter. Be ready to discuss your existing network of senior contacts and how you plan to leverage these relationships to drive new business for Circl. Highlight any relevant partnerships you've built in the past.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to discuss your strategic vision for Circl’s commercial growth. Think about market insights and data-led decisions that could shape their direction. Bring examples from your previous roles where you successfully implemented scalable sales systems.
✨Emphasise Inclusivity and Coaching
Circl is all about inclusive leadership and coaching. Be prepared to share your thoughts on these topics and how you’ve used coaching as a tool in your previous roles. Show them that you not only understand the importance of inclusivity but also embody it in your professional life.