Business Development Manager

Based in the Architecture and Building Services (FABS) Division in our Blackfriars office and reporting to the portfolio Commercial Director, this role will involve selling B2B sponsorship and marketing solutions across the highly respected and market leading architecture brands The Architects’ Journal, The Architectural Review and The World Architecture Festival. This senior role blends strategic thinking with hands‑on sales leadership to deliver significant revenue growth and build long‑term client relationships. The Business Development Manager will own the strategy and execution for winning new, high‑value commercial partnerships across our full portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• New Business Leadership – Build and execute a cross‑sector sales strategy to secure new, high‑value clients across all target markets.
• Senior Client Engagement – Open doors, lead high‑level conversations, and challenge clients to develop solutions that deliver measurable ROI.
• Revenue Growth – Deliver and exceed annual targets through sponsorship, content partnerships, and bespoke marketing solutions.
• Proposition Development – Work with marketing, content, and events teams to create compelling, insight‑led propositions.
• Market Insight – Monitor competitor activity and market shifts to identify emerging opportunities.
• Relationship Management – Build strong, senior‑level relationships with industry stakeholders, agencies, and partners.

Skills and experience

• Relevant experience in a B2B or consumer publishing and events sales environment.
• A high level of business acumen and commercial awareness, able to provide creative solutions to help give clients maximum standout.
• A good understanding of the current media landscape and the opportunities available for clients to deliver meaningful connections and engagement, especially digital and social media.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop and maintain strong personal relationships with team members and external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational and time management skills, having the flexibility to be able to multitask and prioritise own workload with ease.
• A driven character and self‑starter who has a genuine passion for businesses and how they operate, and who thrives in a growing environment.
• Comfortable operating at senior decision‑maker level across multiple sectors.
• Skilled in consultative, value‑led selling.
• Strategic, commercially astute, and results‑driven.
• Strong presenter and negotiator, with excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Core competencies

• Collaborative team player.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Strategic quick thinker.
• Highly organised, with the ability to multitask numerous projects effectively.
• Technologically competent, social media savvy.

Personal Attributes

• Flexible and adaptable.
• Enthusiastic and target driven.
• Punctual and diligent.
• Integrity with a strong work ethic.

What we offer

• Learning & Development: At emap, we believe that employee learning and development are the key drivers of our success. To ensure continuous growth and meet the ever‑changing demands of the workplace, we provide an environment that fosters continuous development for our employees.
• Benefits: emap is part of Metropolis Group. Together, we are committed to providing a happy and healthy place to work, so we offer fantastic benefits and perks to our employees.

25 days of annual leave, with the option to buy or sell additional days. One additional day of leave per year - Celebration Day. Health plan. Life assurance. Private virtual GP access. Seasonal flu jabs available at the office. Continuous learning & development opportunities. In‑house Excellence Awards and other innovation projects. Cycle-to-work scheme. Discounted gym memberships. Retail discount vouchers. Rail season ticket loans. Pension scheme. One paid volunteer day per year. Annual Summer & Winter Celebrations. Work from home during August. Income protection and more.

Privacy: Metropolis Group respects the privacy of every person for whom we have personal data. We comply with data protection legislation such as the Data Protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection Regulation which regulates the processing of data and ensures that your data is processed fairly and lawfully, is kept secure and only that data necessary for any processing is kept.

Diversity and Inclusion: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, age, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.

How to apply: Please submit your CV and covering letter. Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we are unable to give individual feedback at the application stage, however if you are successfully shortlisted you will be contacted within 10 working days of your application.