Business Development Manager in England

A genuine opportunity to build the sales function you will ultimately lead. Our client is an ambitious, owner-led logistics business entering a significant new phase of growth. Already established within refrigerated and specialist transport, the business is in the process of acquiring a container haulage and storage operation – a move expected to approximately double the size of the company. The acquisition creates a much broader, end-to-end logistics proposition, combining refrigerated and specialist transport with container haulage, storage, 3PL, fulfilment and delivery solutions. They are now looking to appoint a Business Development Manager/Head of Sales Designate to help capitalise on that opportunity.

This isn't a role where you'll inherit a large sales team and spend your time managing spreadsheets. Initially, you'll be the senior new business person within the organisation: identifying opportunities, opening doors, meeting customers and personally winning significant new accounts. Do that successfully and the opportunity becomes much bigger. Initially, you'll take a UK-wide approach to business development, selling an increasingly broad portfolio of logistics services including:

• Refrigerated and temperature-controlled transport
• Specialist transport and logistics
• Container haulage and storage
• Wider integrated logistics solutions

The acquisition creates significant scope both to win new customers and to introduce additional services across the existing customer base. You’ll have considerable autonomy to identify the markets, prospects and opportunities capable of generating meaningful revenue. As revenues grow, you’ll have the scope to build a sales team around you and develop into the wider leadership role that comes with it.

What We're Looking For

Ideally, you’ll already have a successful track record within logistics, transport, haulage, 3PL, freight, container logistics or a related market. You’ll understand how to identify opportunities, develop relationships and turn them into profitable, long-term customers. However, we’re deliberately keeping the brief open. For an exceptional B2B salesperson with a demonstrable record of creating their own pipeline and winning substantial new accounts, experience from another sector will absolutely be considered. Whatever your background, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate:

• A strong track record of winning new B2B customers
• The ability to generate your own opportunities rather than rely on inbound leads
• Experience managing the full sales process from initial approach through to close
• Commercial confidence when dealing with senior decision-makers
• The ability to understand a customer's requirements and build an appropriate solution
• Energy, resilience and genuine new-business drive
• The ambition to progress from individual contributor into sales leadership

Just as importantly, you’ll need to be comfortable joining an entrepreneurial business where decisions can be made quickly and where your personal contribution will be highly visible.

Why Join?

You’re joining at the point where an established business is making an acquisition expected to approximately double its size. You’ll have a broader proposition to take to market, an existing customer base offering cross-selling potential and direct access to the people running the company. And rather than joining an established sales hierarchy, you’ll have the opportunity to help create one. For somebody who has already proved they can win business and now wants the opportunity to build something of their own, this could be a significant career move.