Senior Business Development Manager, Material Handling/Construction

Senior Business Development Manager - Construction & Industrial Logistics

Location: UK or Ireland (Remote, with UK & European travel)
Package: Competitive Base Salary + Car Allowance + Uncapped Bonus + Benefits

The Opportunity

An international provider of specialist and time-critical logistics solutions is investing heavily in its commercial growth strategy and is seeking an experienced Senior Business Development Manager to drive new business development across the construction, heavy manufacturing, engineering and material handling sectors. The business delivers bespoke logistics solutions for customers operating in highly demanding environments where delays can result in significant operational, financial or project-related consequences. Supporting customers across the UK and Europe, the organisation specialises in time-critical transportation, specialist freight movements, emergency equipment deliveries, critical spare parts logistics and complex supply chain solutions.

This is a strategic, high-visibility commercial role focused on winning new business from construction companies, equipment manufacturers, industrial producers, engineering firms and material handling organisations. You will have significant autonomy to develop your territory, build long-term customer relationships and establish a strong pipeline within some of the most resilient industrial markets across Europe.

The position offers the opportunity to work with a highly differentiated service offering, selling solutions that directly prevent production downtime, construction delays and supply chain disruption.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a strategic business development plan across the UK and Ireland.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities within construction, heavy manufacturing, engineering, industrial and material handling sectors.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers across procurement, operations, supply chain, engineering, project management and logistics functions.
• Develop opportunities involving emergency freight, critical spare parts, machinery movements and time-sensitive transportation requirements.
• Sell bespoke logistics solutions designed to support construction sites, manufacturing facilities and industrial production environments.
• Generate and manage a high-value sales pipeline through proactive prospecting and relationship development.
• Conduct customer meetings via Teams, telephone and face-to-face engagement across the UK and Europe.
• Work closely with operational teams to design tailored transportation and logistics solutions.
• Manage complex sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders and international decision-makers.
• Travel regularly throughout the UK, Benelux, DACH and Western Europe to support customer growth.

What We're Looking For

• Proven success in a Business Development Manager, Senior BDM or commercial sales role within logistics, freight forwarding, transportation or supply chain services.
• Strong track record of winning new business and generating profitable revenue growth.
• Experience selling into construction, engineering, industrial manufacturing, plant equipment, machinery, material handling or related sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to engage senior stakeholders and decision-makers.
• Experience managing longer-term consultative sales cycles.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to identify strategic growth opportunities.
• Excellent relationship-building, negotiation and presentation skills.
• Self-motivated and comfortable operating remotely with a high degree of autonomy.

Highly Desirable Experience

• Time-critical logistics or emergency freight experience.
• Critical spare parts logistics experience.
• Experience supporting heavy manufacturing or production-critical environments.
• Knowledge of material handling equipment, plant machinery or industrial supply chains.
• Experience selling solutions for construction projects or industrial operations.
• Existing relationships with construction contractors, OEMs, equipment manufacturers or engineering businesses.
• Additional European language skills.
• Experience operating across Benelux, DACH or wider Western European markets.

Success Measures

• Build a robust pipeline of qualified opportunities within the first six months.
• Secure strategic new business opportunities capable of supporting significant long-term growth.
• Achieve annual gross profit targets exceeding £600,000.
• Maintain healthy deal profitability with target margins of 25-30%.
• Establish a strong commercial presence across construction, heavy manufacturing and industrial markets.

Why Join?

• Join a rapidly growing international logistics provider with significant investment behind its commercial strategy.
• Sell highly differentiated, value-added solutions rather than commoditised freight services.
• Work with some of the world's leading construction, engineering and manufacturing organisations.
• Enjoy the flexibility of a remote-based role with international exposure.
• Attractive salary, car allowance and uncapped bonus structure.
• Clear progression opportunities as the business continues its expansion across Europe.

This is an excellent opportunity for a consultative sales professional who understands the operational challenges faced by construction and manufacturing businesses and can deliver solutions that keep projects moving and production lines running.

Desired Skills and Experience

Skills & Experience

• Proven success in business development, sales or commercial roles within logistics, freight forwarding, supply chain or specialist transportation.
• Demonstrated experience selling solutions into construction, heavy manufacturing, industrial, engineering or material handling environments.
• Strong track record of winning new business and securing high-value logistics contracts.
• Experience engaging senior stakeholders across operations, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, engineering and project management functions.
• Ability to develop opportunities involving critical spare parts, machinery movements, emergency equipment deliveries and production-critical logistics solutions.
• Proven capability in solution selling, strategic account development and consultative sales methodologies.
• Experience managing longer and more complex sales cycles involving multiple decision-makers.
• Strong pipeline generation and prospecting skills.
• Commercially driven with the ability to work autonomously and manage a large territory.
• Willingness to travel across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Highly Desirable

• Experience selling time-critical logistics, emergency freight, expedited transportation, AOG, critical parts or specialist logistics solutions.
• Existing relationships within construction companies, OEMs, heavy equipment manufacturers, engineering firms or industrial production businesses.
• Knowledge of material handling, plant equipment, machinery logistics or industrial supply chain operations.
• Experience supporting sectors such as construction, automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing, agricultural equipment or heavy engineering.
• Additional European language skills.
• Experience selling across Benelux, DACH and Western European markets.

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