At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead growth in the water sector, develop sales strategies, and build client relationships.
- Company: Exciting consultancy business in expansion phase with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Generous holiday allowance, competitive salary, bonuses, and career progression opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with excellent leadership opportunities and a focus on digital transformation.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team making a real impact in the water industry.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in business development within the water sector and strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 90000 - 120000 € per year.
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Head of Business Development / Sales to lead growth across our water sector consultancy business. This role will be responsible for developing and executing the water business unit's sales strategy, building long-term client relationships, identifying new market opportunities, and securing high-value consultancy and digital transformation engagements across the UK water industry.
The successful candidate will combine strong commercial acumen with a deep understanding of the water sector, including regulatory drivers, capital delivery programmes, operational transformation, digital innovation, and stakeholder landscapes across water utilities and water technology. This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for revenue growth, strategic partnerships, client engagement, bid leadership, and market positioning. Deep water sector experience is required for this role.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the company’s business development and sales strategy aligned to growth objectives.
- Identify, qualify and secure new consultancy opportunities across water utilities, infrastructure partners, and framework agreements.
- Build and maintain senior stakeholder relationships across water companies, regulators, and strategic partners.
- Lead the full sales lifecycle from market engagement and opportunity shaping through to proposal development, negotiation and contract award.
- Develop a strong pipeline of opportunities across digital transformation, programme delivery, operational improvement, asset management, and infrastructure delivery services.
- Work collaboratively with delivery teams to ensure proposals are commercially robust, deliverable, and aligned to client needs.
- Represent the business at industry events, conferences, networking forums, and client meetings.
- Monitor market trends, AMP investment priorities, procurement activity, and competitor positioning to identify strategic growth opportunities.
- Support development of marketing collateral, client case studies, and thought leadership content.
- Contribute to overall business strategy, growth planning, and service development initiatives.
- Maintain accurate sales forecasting, pipeline reporting, and CRM management.
Key Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in a senior business development, sales, or account leadership role within the water sector.
- Strong understanding of UK water industry structures, AMP cycles, regulatory environment, and procurement frameworks.
- Demonstrable track record of winning consultancy, digital, engineering, or transformation services work.
- Strong commercial negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience leading bids, proposals, and framework submissions.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building capabilities.
- Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on in opportunity development and client engagement.
- Strong network across water utilities, infrastructure organisations, or supply chain partners desirable.
- Experience within consultancy, professional services, engineering, or digital delivery environments preferred.
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge of digital transformation, data, asset management, or operational technology within the water sector.
- Experience working within regulated infrastructure environments.
- Familiarity with NEC contracts, public procurement processes, or framework-based delivery models.
- Existing relationships within UK water companies and Tier 1 delivery partners.
Personal Attributes
- Commercially focused and growth-oriented.
- Credible and confident engaging at executive level.
- Self-motivated with strong leadership capability.
- Collaborative and relationship-driven approach.
- Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving ability.
- Resilient, adaptable, and delivery-focused.
Why Join?
You will be joining an exciting business in its expansion phase, being a part of something different. Generous holiday allowance (up to 39 days leave), competitive salary + bonus, career progression routes, company car scheme, private medical & dental, enhanced pension & more!
Head of Sales employer: Forsyth Barnes
Join a dynamic and expanding consultancy in the West Midlands, where as the Head of Business Development/Sales for the water sector, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our business. We offer a competitive salary, generous holiday allowance, and a supportive work culture that prioritises career progression and employee well-being, including private medical and dental benefits. With a focus on collaboration and innovation, this is an excellent opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the water industry while advancing your professional journey.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sales
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the water sector! Attend industry events, conferences, and networking forums to meet potential clients and partners. Remember, it's all about building those relationships that can lead to new opportunities.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
When you’re chatting with stakeholders or at events, don’t hold back on sharing your knowledge about the water industry. Discuss market trends, regulatory drivers, and digital innovations. This will position you as a thought leader and make you memorable!
✨Leverage Social Media
Use platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry professionals and share relevant content. Post about your insights on digital transformation and operational improvement in the water sector. This not only showcases your expertise but also keeps you on their radar.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to check out our website for job openings! Applying directly through us not only shows your interest but also gives you a better chance of landing that interview. We’re excited to see what you bring to the table!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Sales role. Highlight your experience in the water sector and any relevant achievements that showcase your commercial acumen and leadership skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led sales strategies or built client relationships in the water industry.
Showcase Your Network:Don’t forget to mention your connections within the water utilities and infrastructure sectors. We love to see candidates who can leverage their network to drive business growth.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Forsyth Barnes
✨Know Your Water Sector Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and regulations in the water sector. Understand the key players, the regulatory environment, and current challenges. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also help you articulate how you can drive growth in their business.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully developed and executed sales strategies in previous roles. Highlight your experience with securing high-value consultancy engagements and how you’ve built long-term client relationships. Be ready to demonstrate your understanding of commercial negotiations and stakeholder management.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Head of Sales, leadership is key. Be prepared to share your experiences leading teams and driving results. Discuss how you’ve collaborated with delivery teams to ensure proposals are robust and aligned with client needs. Show them you can operate strategically while being hands-on in opportunity development.
✨Engage with Confidence
Practice your communication and presentation skills before the interview. You’ll need to engage confidently with senior stakeholders, so consider role-playing potential scenarios. Being able to articulate your vision for the water business unit and how you plan to position the company in the market will set you apart.
