Business Development Manager in Loughborough

Ready to make a real impact without committing to a full-time role? Are you someone who enjoys opening doors, building relationships and turning conversations into opportunities? Would you relish the chance to take ownership of business development and help shape the growth of an established professional services business? If so, this could be an exciting opportunity to make your mark.

The Company

Our client is an established and successful professional services business based in Market Harborough, working with clients across the UK. With an experienced senior team and a strong reputation in their market, they are now looking for a Business Development Manager to take a proactive approach to developing new business, building relationships and creating a strong future pipeline. This is a newly focused opportunity where you will have genuine scope to get out into the market, meet people, identify opportunities and develop relationships. You’ll work closely with the Directors and experienced internal team, who will provide the technical and commercial support needed to convert opportunities into successful appointments.

The Role

This is a hands-on business development role for someone who enjoys being out there making things happen. Working approximately 22.5 hours per week, the role offers flexibility across three days or over four/five days, depending on preference. There will be a mixture of office-based working, home working, client meetings, networking and industry events.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Proactively identifying and developing new business opportunities through networking, referrals, research, direct engagement and existing contacts.
• Building strong relationships with prospective, existing and previous clients.
• Opening doors with new contacts and developing those relationships into genuine commercial opportunities.
• Managing and progressing a sales pipeline, ensuring leads are followed up and opportunities are moved forward.
• Meeting prospective clients to understand their needs, identify opportunities and build trust.
• Working closely with Directors and the wider team to develop appropriate solutions and support the conversion of opportunities.
• Supporting fee proposals and following opportunities through to appointment, before ensuring a smooth handover to the delivery team.
• Identifying relevant frameworks, tenders and other routes to market and bringing suitable opportunities to the attention of the senior team.
• Attending networking events and meetings to raise the profile of the business and develop new connections.
• Providing regular updates on pipeline activity, market opportunities and potential new business.

Importantly, this is not a bid-writing role. You will identify and develop the opportunities, with the experienced internal team taking responsibility for the technical detail, fee proposals and formal bid submissions.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is commercially minded, proactive and confident in developing relationships. You may currently be working in business development, sales, account management, client development or a similar role, ideally within professional services, construction, property, consultancy or another environment where you are selling a complex service.

You’ll bring:

• A proven ability to generate new business and proactively open doors.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Confidence engaging with decision makers and developing relationships at different levels.
• Commercial judgement and the ability to manage and prioritise a pipeline effectively.
• A consultative approach to selling, with the ability to understand client needs rather than simply sell a product.
• Drive, resilience and persistence particularly when developing new relationships and opportunities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organisation and follow-up skills.
• The confidence and professionalism to represent the business externally.

Experience within architecture is not essential. What matters most is your ability to develop relationships, identify opportunities and convert those opportunities into new business. Experience of selling professional or complex services would be highly relevant.

What's on Offer?

• £40,000 FTE basic salary, pro rata to 22.5 hours per week
• Performance-related commission
• Flexible working across three days or four/five days
• A mixture of office, home and external client/networking activity
• Genuine autonomy and ownership of business development
• The opportunity to make a visible commercial impact within an established business
• The chance to build and develop the role around your strengths

If you’re a proactive relationship builder who enjoys creating opportunities rather than waiting for them to come to you, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note by applying for this role you give consent for ER Recruitment to retain your CV for up to 24 months for the purposes of assisting you to find your next role unless you notify us otherwise. While we aim to get back to all applicants, if you do not receive a response within seven working days then unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. We are here to help with your career so please send a copy of your CV to us. If you know of anyone else who is looking for their next opportunity, please feel free to refer them to us or pass on our details. We look forward to hearing from you.