Business Development Lead Europe in Leeds

The standard bearer for sealing solutions across multiple sectors, FTL is the leading authority on bespoke sealing solutions that cover multiple industries. From oil and gas to food and pharmaceuticals, our expertise is as versatile as the solutions we help to develop and implement. Our business philosophy revolves around four core tenets that are tied to creative solutions, unrivalled customer service, decades of industry knowledge, and a tireless pursuit of quality. Across all aspects of the business, we go in-depth.

At DSG (Dynamic Sealing Group), a unit of IDEX Corporation, we don’t just sell components; we co-engineer mission-critical sealing solutions for the world’s most demanding industries. Our units, Roplan and FTL Technology, are trusted by leading OEMs where failure is not an option. We are seeking a true Business Development Lead (BDL) to drive our growth strategy. This is a classic "hunter" role with a primary focus on new customer acquisition, technical lead generation, and building high-trust, early-stage relationships. You will be the primary driver for our Roplan brand (targeting sectors like F&B/Pharma and Water) and provide secondary support for FTL (targeting Industrial applications like Compressors, Pumps, Engine cooling systems). Your mission is to find and secure new OEM partners, creating the foundation for our long-term success. This position can be located either in the United Kingdom or in Sweden.

Responsibilities

• Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute a sales strategy leveraging the full DSG product portfolio and custom solution expertise. Define actionable plans and assign target customers in collaboration with the Marketing and Strategic Accounts Lead (MSAL). Ensure alignment with overall business strategy and 80/20 principles.
• Lead Generation & Prospecting: Identify and qualify new leads across defined markets and industries. Identify future technological developments within those markets and industries, and the strategic opportunities for DSG. Build visibility with customer engineering teams through marketing collateral, training sessions, “lunch and learns,” industry events, and networking. Increase “value per application” by cross‑selling FTL and Roplan solutions.
• Sales & Negotiation: Apply a consultative, value‑driven sales approach to deliver tailored solutions, supported by joint visits with the engineering team. Lead contract and pricing negotiations, ensuring commercial soundness and profitability. Act as the primary contact for selected strategic 80’s accounts. Act as the primary contact for selected key accounts during acquisition and onboarding.
• Collaboration & Handover: Work closely with MSAL and external marketing agencies to align messaging and campaigns. Ensure all account deliverables are met during onboarding. Collaborate with internal teams (e.g., Internal KAMs) for seamless handover of established accounts.

Who You Are (Qualifications & Skills)

• Core Experience: Proven Hunter: You have a 5+ year proven track record in a technical B2B business development role, with a clear history of securing new business and acquiring OEM customers. Industry Expert: You have experience in industrial or engineering sectors, ideally working with or for OEMs. Full‑Cycle Sales: You are skilled at identifying opportunities, managing the full sales cycle from lead generation to delivery, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Pioneer/entrepreneur: You are skilled at identifying market gaps, innovating new solutions and solving problems.
• Technical Skills: Education: A Mechanical Engineering degree is highly preferred, OR a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a deeply technical sales role. Product Knowledge: You have a solid understanding of dynamic sealing solutions, pumps, compressors, or related equipment. Consultative Seller: You have strong consultative selling and negotiation skills, with the ability to articulate value (TCO, reliability) over price.
• Personal Attributes: Self‑Driven: You are highly strategic and results‑oriented, with a strong sense of urgency and the ability to work independently with limited supervision. Relationship Builder: You have an exceptional ability to build trust and maintain relationships with both technical (engineering) and commercial (procurement) stakeholders. Accountable: You demonstrate the ability to take initiative, drive accountability within the organisation, and manage projects to completion. Teamwork: You achieve results by forming effective synergies with the whole business team. Communication: You have excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. Flexibility: You must be willing to travel as required for customer visits and industry events.

Why Join Us?

• Impact: This is not a maintenance role. You will be a key driver of our "Evolve" and "Expand" growth pillars, with a direct line to the success of the business.
• Strategy: We have a clear plan. You’ll be empowered by the 80/20 principles of our parent company, IDEX Corporation, to focus on the opportunities that matter most.
• Technology: You will represent a best‑in‑class portfolio of mission‑critical, highly‑engineered products that solve real‑world reliability and compliance challenges for world‑leading OEMs.
• Culture: You’ll be part of a collaborative, expert team that is passionate about solving complex engineering problems.

Salary and benefits: Hybrid working – home office/ travel as required.