Business Development Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

Location: Freight Newcastle

Working week: Typically Monday – Friday, 09:00–17:00. Due to the nature of the business, occasional evenings and weekends will be required in line with event needs. Time off in lieu will be provided.

Freight Island is one of the most exciting, forward-thinking and disruptive food markets in the world, it’s a game changer and most importantly, it has a soul. Blurring the lines between a food hall and a festival, Freight’s unique set up reflects the times. An urban oasis where guests can enjoy delicious food, great drinks and live entertainment. We specialise in curating an evolving calendar of residencies and menus that span emerging local talent and nationally recognised names, keeping the experience fresh and engaging.

The Role:

Newcastle is seeking a senior, commercially driven Business Development Manager to own and drive the private hire events strategy and revenue for the Newcastle site. This is a site-specific role, with full accountability for the commercial performance of private hire events at Freight Newcastle only. You will take end-to-end ownership of the private hire revenue stream, from strategy and pipeline development through to conversion, forecasting, and delivery handover. The role requires a confident commercial leader who can set direction, identify growth opportunities, and deliver against ambitious revenue targets, while acting as the senior external representative for Freight Newcastle’s private hire offering.

Key Responsibilities (but are not limited to):

• Own the private hire events revenue strategy for Freight Newcastle, with full accountability for performance against agreed targets.
• Develop, implement and continuously refine a site-specific annual sales and growth strategy, aligned with overall business objectives.
• Set, own and deliver against revenue targets, with responsibility for forecasting, pipeline health, and conversion performance.
• Identify and prioritise high-value B2B and B2C market segments (e.g. corporate events, brand activations, private celebrations).
• Use commercial insight and data to proactively identify new revenue opportunities and optimise yield.

Business Development & Sales Leadership:

• Personally drive new business acquisition through proactive outbound activity, networking, and relationship‑led sales.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of corporate clients, agencies, brands, and private clients for the Newcastle venue.
• Position Freight Newcastle as a leading destination venue for private hire and large‑scale events within the regional market.
• Act with autonomy and authority in commercial decision‑making, including pricing strategy and deal negotiation (within agreed parameters).

Relationship & Stakeholder Management:

• Act as the senior face of private hire at Freight Newcastle, representing the venue externally with confidence and credibility.
• Build long‑term, high‑value relationships with event agencies, DMCs, concierges, PR firms, and venue‑finding platforms.
• Host and lead client site visits, familiarisation tours and key stakeholder meetings to drive conversion and repeat business.

Event Conversion & Delivery Oversight:

• Maintain oversight of the full sales lifecycle, from initial enquiry through to confirmed booking.
• Ensure a robust and seamless handover from sales to operations, setting clear commercial and delivery expectations.
• Work collaboratively with the Newcastle operations, F&B and programming teams to ensure events are delivered in line with the agreed commercial brief.

Reporting, Forecasting & Performance Management:

• Own CRM usage and data integrity for Freight Newcastle private hire activity.
• Produce regular revenue forecasts, pipeline reports and performance updates.
• Track and analyse KPIs including lead generation, conversion rates, average booking value and revenue against target.
• Use insight‑led reporting to inform strategic decisions and future planning.

Marketing & Brand Positioning:

• Work closely with marketing colleagues to shape private hire positioning, campaigns and client‑facing materials for Newcastle.
• Provide commercial input into promotional activity to support revenue growth and brand visibility.
• Ensure all private hire messaging reflects the premium, experience‑led nature of Freight Newcastle.

Skills & Experience:

• 3–5+ years’ experience in senior B2B or private hire event sales within hospitality, venues or events.
• Demonstrable experience owning revenue targets and delivering against commercial KPIs.
• Proven ability to develop and execute sales strategies, not just manage pipelines.
• Strong existing network within the Newcastle / North East events market.
• Commercially astute, confident negotiating high‑value deals and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Highly autonomous, self‑directed and comfortable operating with accountability.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in immersive venues, brand activations or live entertainment environments.
• Familiarity with hybrid food, drink and cultural venues similar to Freight.
• Experience working in fast‑paced, seasonal hospitality businesses.

Interview Process:

• Video interview with People & Talent Manager
• In‑person interview with General Manager, Freight Island Manchester
• Final in‑person interview with Managing Director

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Business Development and Sales

Industries: Entertainment Providers