At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development to maximise revenue across events, sponsorship, and advertising.
- Company: Join Reading Students’ Union, dedicated to enhancing student experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time hours, and a vibrant work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on student life while driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 41000 - 41000 £ per year.
About Reading Students’ Union
Reading Students’ Union (RSU) exists to represent, support, and enhance the experience of students at the University of Reading. Through a combination of representation, activities, and commercial services, RSU reinvests income back into services that directly benefit students. Our commercial operations play a vital role in generating sustainable income while delivering high-quality, student-focused experiences across our venues, events, and services.
Location: University of Reading, Whiteknights Campus, Reading, Berkshire
Salary: Circa £41,000 (dependent on experience)
Contract: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week (annualised hours) (Evening and weekend working required in line with business needs)
Reports to: Director of Commercial Services
Responsible for: Events and Partnerships Manager
Closing Date: Monday, 9th February, 2026
Role Purpose
We are looking for a Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover) to lead the commercial growth and income generation strategy for Reading Students’ Union, maximising revenue across media sales, sponsorship, advertising, entertainments, events, conferences, and room bookings. Working in close partnership with the Trading Operations Manager, the role ensures that commercial opportunities are strategically sound, operationally deliverable, and aligned with Reading Students’ Union values and the student experience.
Summary of Key Responsibilities
- Lead business development activity to grow income across all commercial streams
- Maximise revenue from media sales, sponsorship, and advertising
- Drive income through events, entertainments, conferences, and room hire
- Develop strategic partnerships with external organisations and University stakeholders
- Collaborate with the Trading Operations Manager to ensure operational feasibility, delivery and commercial success
- Manage sales performance, targets, pipelines, and reporting
Detailed Responsibilities
Commercial Strategy & Income Growth- Develop and implement a commercial income growth strategy aligned with the Students’ Union Commercial Development Plan
- Identify new commercial opportunities and diversify income streams
- Maximise utilisation and profitability of RSU venues, spaces, and platforms
- Review and refine pricing, packages, and offers to ensure competitiveness
- Lead all media sales activity, including digital screens, print advertising, online platforms, and event sponsorship
- Create attractive sponsorship and advertising packages for brands and partners
- Build and maintain strong relationships with advertisers, agencies, and sponsors
- Ensure all commercial partnerships align with RSU values and ethical standards
- Drive commercial income from entertainment programming, club nights, conferences, and external hires
- Identify opportunities for external promoters, corporate clients, and University departments
- Work with the Trading Operations Manager to ensure events and bookings are operationally viable
- Support the development of a strong, commercially successful events calendar
- Act as a key commercial contact for external organisations and University departments
- Work collaboratively with Marketing, Venues, Events, and Student Activities teams
- Build strong internal relationships to ensure joined-up commercial planning and delivery
- Set, manage, and deliver against income targets and budgets
- Maintain accurate sales pipelines and forecasts
- Produce regular performance and income reports
- Ensure compliance with RSU policies, governance, and commercial procedures
Person Specification – Business Development Manager
Essential Experience- Proven experience in business development, event delivery, sales, or commercial income generation
- Experience developing and delivering sales strategies
- Track record of achieving or exceeding income targets
- Experience working with operational teams in hospitality, events, or venue environments
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
- Strong organisational, reporting, and forecasting skills
- Commercially focused and results-driven
- Collaborative and partnership-oriented
- Confident, adaptable, and professional
- Values-driven and committed to supporting students
- Experience in media sales, sponsorship, or advertising
- Experience in students’ unions, higher education, hospitality, or events
- Knowledge of conference sales, venue hire, or entertainment programming
- Experience using CRM or sales management systems
Ready to make an impact? Apply today and help us deliver outstanding services and experiences for our student community!
Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover) in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Reading Students' Union
Reading Students’ Union is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its staff while fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture. Located at the University of Reading, employees benefit from a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and innovation, alongside competitive salaries and opportunities for professional advancement. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the student experience and enjoy the unique advantage of working within a dynamic community dedicated to enhancing student life.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover) in Newcastle upon Tyne
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager (Maternity Cover) in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
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Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Reading Students' Union, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
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✨Portfolio of Projects
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✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Reading Students' Union’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.
