Business Development Manager (Automotive)

We have an exciting opportunity for a driven and inspirational Business Development Manager to join our UK Specialty Cluster team. Our team works collaboratively with regional sales, design, and commercial functions on a day-to-day basis to deliver sustainable packaging solutions that exceed expectations. Our business is fuelled by curious minds from diverse backgrounds, and this is an incredible time to join us at DS Smith as a key driving force behind our Automotive segment strategy.

This role will focus on leading the development, conversion, and delivery of targeted, profitable, and sustainable sales growth across the UK & Ireland Automotive ecosystem. You will act as a true hunter, identifying new high-value prospects, designing robust market strategies, and deploying our full value-led sustainable packaging portfolio. This position will partner with cross-functional internal teams on major commercial initiatives, offering a fantastic opportunity to build relationships across a global footprint while transforming won accounts into structured, repeatable operational successes before handing them over to our Strategic Account Managers.

A successful candidate must be a proven self-starter and commercial leader, who is comfortable with pro-actively communicating directly, working collaboratively in a multi-level matrix environment, and liaising at all levels.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Strategy & Growth: Lead the continuous development and execution of long- and medium-term market segment strategies for the UK&I Automotive cluster to secure sustainable growth.
• Pipeline & Acquisition: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospective accounts, utilising a pure hunter mentality to convert high-value target categories.
• Value-Led Pitching: Coordinate with Sales, Marketing, CX, and Design teams to construct world-class pitches and account playbooks that focus on closed-loop solutions rather than tender activity.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the senior point of contact for target Automotive clients, leading complex stakeholder workshops and delivering deep industry-specific insights.
• Tender & Onboarding Management: Establish smooth internal frameworks to coordinate cross-functional tender responses and oversee the post-award transition period for seamless account handovers.
• Performance & Insights: Own performance metrics, sales forecasting, and budgeting protocols while actively tracking changing market trends, supply chain dynamics, and competitor activities.

So, if you are an experienced Business Development professional within the Automotive or Packaging space, looking for a new challenge in a business which prioritises creativity and encourages you to make a difference — then we might be looking for you!

About you:

• Extensive B2B business development experience with a clear hunter mentality and a proven track record of securing new business wins.
• Deep knowledge of the Automotive ecosystem, logistics networks, and manufacturing supply chains; packaging industry experience is highly valued but not essential.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate, influence, and collaborate effectively within multi-level, complex matrix organizations and central functional teams.
• Strong financial skills encompassing budget ownership, sales forecasting, target delivery, and the capability to navigate conflict or challenging negotiations.
• Confident presenter with excellent written and verbal English communication skills, capable of delivering dynamic, high-impact materials to senior executives.

Benefits:

• Discretionary bonus
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Discounts
• Cycle to work scheme

Location: This is a remote role with regular travel required for client pitches, site visits, and internal stakeholder meetings across the UK.

About us: We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

Fair recruitment at DS Smith: To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.