Business Development Manager in Southampton
Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager in Southampton

Southampton Full-Time 36000 - 60000 ยฃ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
C

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Drive new business growth in retail by building relationships and managing the full sales cycle.
  • Company: Join Swan Retail, part of ClearCourse, a leader in retail technology solutions.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, uncapped commission, flexible working, and extensive employee benefits.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in a growing tech brand with strong support and career progression opportunities.
  • Qualifications: Proven success in business development, strong commercial awareness, and experience with CRM systems.
  • Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities for ongoing learning and development.

The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ยฃ per year.

Company description: ClearCourse

About Swan Retail

Swan Retail is part of the ClearCourse Group and delivers powerful retail EPOS and back-office software solutions to multi-site and independent retailers across the UK. Our platform goes beyond point of sale. Swan provides a fully integrated retail ecosystem, combining front-of-house EPOS, robust back-office management, omni-channel connectivity, loyalty functionality, and embedded payments powered by ClearAccept. With over 20 years of product evolution, Swan is a mature, feature-rich retail solution with high customer retention and deep operational capability. From fashion and department stores to furniture and sports retail, we help retailers run smarter, more connected operations.

The Role

We are looking for a commercially driven Business Development Manager to accelerate new business growth within Swan Retail. This is a new role within the team, created to expand market reach and drive additional revenue. You will focus on identifying and securing new retail customers, particularly within fashion, department stores, furniture, beauty, homeware and specialist retail sectors. While there is inbound support and marketing activity, this role requires a proactive mindset. We are looking for someone who can build their own campaigns, open doors, and develop relationships across the retail landscape. You will own the full sales cycle, from prospecting through to close, working closely with product managers, implementation teams, and senior leadership to deliver well-structured, commercially sound deals.

What Youโ€™ll Be Doing

  • Driving new business acquisition across key retail verticals
  • Identifying market opportunities through networking, outreach, and targeted campaigns
  • Managing the full sales cycle from first contact through demo, proposal, negotiation and close
  • Responding to RFPs and structured tender processes
  • Delivering product presentations (remote and in person), supported by product and implementation teams
  • Building professional relationships with retail decision-makers
  • Creating development plans, sales forecasts and revenue projections
  • Working closely with marketing and SDR teams to maximise campaign performance
  • Accurately managing pipeline and activity within HubSpot
  • Meeting agreed quarterly revenue and new logo targets

What Weโ€™re Looking For

Required:

  • Proven success driving new business growth within IT, Tech, SaaS, or Retail Software
  • Strong commercial and technical awareness
  • Experience managing full sales cycles, including RFP processes
  • Strategic and analytical thinking skills
  • Strong forecasting and pipeline management capability
  • Organised, structured and target-driven
  • Experience using CRM systems (HubSpot preferred)

Desirable:

  • Background in retail software, EPOS, or e-commerce solutions
  • Experience selling into fashion, department stores, furniture, or specialist retail sectors
  • Experience within a PE-backed or scale-up environment
  • Strong professional network within retail
  • Excellent negotiation and stakeholder management skills

Why Join Swan Retail?

  • Join a growing retail technology brand within ClearCourse
  • Strong marketing investment and SDR support
  • Full product and implementation backing during the sales process
  • Clear, structured targets and uncapped commission with accelerators
  • Opportunity to grow within the wider ClearCourse retail portfolio

Benefits

  • Competitive base salary with uncapped commission
  • 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
  • Hybrid and flexible working options
  • Private medical cover
  • Health cash plan
  • Life assurance
  • Access to the Calm wellbeing app
  • Perkbox employee benefits platform
  • Enhanced parental leave
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Volunteering days
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Ongoing learning, development, and career progression across the ClearCourse Group

Business Development Manager in Southampton employer: ClearCourse

Swan Retail, part of the ClearCourse Group, is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and supportive work culture, particularly for the Business Development Manager role. With a strong focus on employee growth, competitive benefits including uncapped commission, hybrid working options, and a commitment to ongoing learning, Swan Retail empowers its team to thrive in a rapidly evolving retail technology landscape. Join us in Hampshire or South, where your contributions will directly impact our mission to deliver innovative retail solutions.
C

Contact Detail:

ClearCourse Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice ๐Ÿคซ

We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager in Southampton

โœจTip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the retail sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online groups, and donโ€™t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities you might not find otherwise.

โœจTip Number 2

Showcase your expertise! When youโ€™re chatting with decision-makers, make sure to highlight your knowledge of retail software and EPOS systems. Share insights and trends that could benefit their business. This positions you as a valuable resource, not just another salesperson.

โœจTip Number 3

Be proactive in your approach! Donโ€™t wait for leads to come to you; create your own opportunities. Develop targeted campaigns and reach out to potential clients directly. The more effort you put into prospecting, the better your chances of landing those key accounts.

โœจTip Number 4

Utilise our website for applications! Weโ€™ve got a streamlined process that makes it easy for you to apply for roles like Business Development Manager. Plus, it shows youโ€™re serious about joining our team at Swan Retail. Letโ€™s get you on board!

We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager in Southampton

Business Development
Sales Cycle Management
Market Opportunity Identification
Networking
Campaign Development
RFP Management
Product Presentation Skills
Relationship Building
Sales Forecasting
Pipeline Management
CRM Systems (HubSpot preferred)
Negotiation Skills
Stakeholder Management
Commercial Awareness
Analytical Thinking

Some tips for your application ๐Ÿซก

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in driving new business growth, especially in retail or tech sectors. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about Swan Retail and how you can contribute to our growth. Be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role.

Showcase Your Sales Cycle Experience: Since you'll be managing the full sales cycle, make sure to detail your experience in this area. Talk about your successes in prospecting, closing deals, and handling RFPs. We love numbers, so include any relevant metrics!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you donโ€™t miss out on any important updates from us!

How to prepare for a job interview at ClearCourse

โœจKnow Your Product Inside Out

Before the interview, make sure you understand Swan Retail's EPOS and back-office solutions. Familiarise yourself with their features, benefits, and how they stand out in the market. This will help you demonstrate your genuine interest and ability to sell the product effectively.

โœจShowcase Your Sales Cycle Mastery

Be prepared to discuss your experience managing the full sales cycle. Use specific examples from your past roles to illustrate how you've successfully driven new business growth, handled RFPs, and closed deals. This will show that you have the skills needed for the role.

โœจNetwork Like a Pro

Since this role involves building relationships across the retail landscape, come ready with examples of how you've leveraged your professional network in previous positions. Highlight any connections you have within the retail sectors mentioned in the job description, as this could give you an edge.

โœจPrepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your strategic and analytical thinking skills. Prepare for scenario-based questions where you might need to outline how you'd approach identifying market opportunities or managing a sales pipeline. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly during the interview.

Business Development Manager in Southampton
ClearCourse
Location: Southampton

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

Youโ€™re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

C
Similar positions in other companies
UKโ€™s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>