Business Development Manager - East London On-Trade
Field-based | Shoreditch, Hackney, Dalston, Bethnal Green, Hoxton, London Fields & surrounding areas
Fancy owning East London's most exciting drinks scene?
If you get a buzz from walking into a bar and knowing exactly how to make a brand come alive there, this one's for you. We're looking for a Business Development Manager to represent a premium beverage portfolio across East London's independent on-trade, the bars, the music-led venues, the specialist retailers that set the tone for what's next in drinking culture.
This isn't a role where you'll be chasing supermarket shelf space or sitting behind a desk. You'll be out in the field, building genuine relationships, and helping brands find their place in some of London's most exciting venues.
What you'll actually be doing:
- Owning the patch: day-to-day handling of up to 200 on-trade accounts across East London, from brand presentations to ongoing relationship management
- Building real relationships: getting to know the independent bars, music-led venues and specialist retailers that make this scene what it is, and becoming a trusted face behind the brands
- Driving growth: developing sales strategies that protect existing listings and win new distribution
- Bringing brands to life in-outlet: implementing POSM and trade marketing activity that actually gets noticed
- Holding the standard: making sure brand execution stays sharp and consistent across your whole account base
- Making budgets work harder: partnering closely with brand teams to get the most out of contracted marketing spend
- Owning your numbers: performing against clear KPIs as part of the wider business
- Getting stuck into the extras: ad-hoc projects that push the business forward, because no two weeks look the same here
What you'll bring:
- A genuinely self-motivated, ambitious streak - you don't need someone standing over you
- The ability to work independently while still being a strong team player
- Sharp communication skills - you're articulate, numerate, and know how to read a room
- The confidence to influence people, whether that's a bar owner or a brand partner
- A creative, solutions‑first mindset, when something doesn't work, you find another way
- A track record (or the raw potential) for juggling multiple projects without dropping the ball
- F&B or sales experience is a strong plus, and knowledge of the East London on‑trade scene will put you ahead of the pack, but neither is essential if you've got the drive
Why this role is different:
This is a business built on transparency, initiative and genuine collaboration - not corporate box‑ticking. You'll be encouraged to make proactive suggestions, challenge the way things are done, and help shape strategy rather than just execute someone else's plan. If you want a role where your ideas actually go somewhere, this is it.
Ready to make your mark on East London's drinks scene?
Send your CV, or get in touch for a chat - we'd love to hear from you.
Business Development Manager, East London employer: DrinkAbility
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