Business Development Manager in Newtownabbey

Working within the Affinity Partnerships Business Development team, the BDM will report to the Head of Affinity Partnerships. You will be responsible for identifying, developing and negotiating new strategic partnerships for Seopa's comparison solutions portfolio. While insurance comparison is a core focus, experience in other comparison or switching verticals, such as energy, broadband, mobile, current accounts, or credit cards, is advantageous. This role will play a critical part in driving Seopa's next phase of growth by securing commercially robust, scalable partnerships that deliver meaningful revenue and profit.

Recent partnership wins have included leading national media companies and major UK retail brands.

• Relentlessly pursuing new partnership opportunities across broadband, mobile, current accounts, and credit cards.
• Identifying and engaging high-quality partners through proactive market research and targeted outreach.
• Creating and delivering compelling commercial propositions and presentations to senior stakeholders.
• Leading complex, high-value negotiations to secure profitable, compliant, and strategically aligned partnerships.
• Managing inbound enquiries while actively building and progressing outbound sales pipelines.
• Acting as a subject matter expert on Seopa's comparison capabilities and partner value proposition.
• Working closely with Product, Marketing, Compliance, and Technology teams to support partner acquisition and onboarding.
• Maintaining accurate pipeline reporting, forecasts, and performance updates.
• Monitoring market, regulatory, and competitor trends relevant to assigned verticals.
• Continuously improving new business sales processes and ways of working.
• Supporting and mentoring junior team members as required.

You may be required to attend meetings and/or conferences which could involve some overseas travel (primarily within the UK). Seopa offers a hybrid working pattern.

• Essential Criteria
  • Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in B2B sales or new business acquisition.
  • Proven track record of winning and scaling high-value commercial partnerships.
  • Strong experience operating in target-driven environments.
  • Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
  • Commercially astute with strong analytical and data interpretation capabilities.
  • Ability to manage multiple opportunities and maintain momentum in competitive markets.
  • High standards, resilience, and a growth mindset.
• Desirable Criteria
  • Experience in comparison or switching products, including insurance, broadband, mobile, current accounts, or credit cards, with experience in energy switching also beneficial.
  • Background in fintech, financial services, utilities, or e-commerce.
  • Understanding of digital marketing channels such as PPC, SEO, and paid media.
  • Experience using CRM systems such as HubSpot.
  • Comfort working closely with Product and Technology teams.

A degree in a business, technology, or related field is desirable but not essential where relevant experience can be demonstrated.

• SMART: We are innovative and strategic, we find better ways to do things.
• EFFICIENT: We maximise productivity and value for money, we minimise waste and duplication.
• OPEN: We are one team diverse, loyal and respectful, we welcome new ideas, challenge and change.
• PASSIONATE: We are ambitious, positive and driven, we celebrate the success of our company and colleagues.
• ACCOUNTABLE: We are responsible, trustworthy and dependable, we do what we say we will.

Seopa offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including: private medical insurance, life assurance, pension and annual pension clinic for employees, health cashback plan, hybrid working arrangements, annual travel card loan, additional service-related holidays, option to buy additional holidays, cycle to work scheme, wide-ranging discount reward schemes, access to online training courses.

This is an excellent time to join our multi-award-winning company as we continue to evolve and innovate across the business and grow in new markets in our mission to help the world find better deals. The right candidate will have an opportunity to work in a friendly, dynamic and inclusive working environment with like-minded, talented and passionate individuals with options for hybrid working giving the flexibility to work a mix of in the office and at home.

An indigenous company founded in 2003 with branches in Belfast (Head Office) and Timisoara, we are an industry leader in creating and hosting insurance, finance and utility price comparison engines. In addition to providing our software and systems to other companies, we operate our own insurance comparison brands Quotezone and CompareNI. Used by more than 3 million people annually, our systems enable insurance providers to secure business within their target markets and empower consumers to easily identify those providers who meet their financial product requirements at market leading prices. Our Affinity Partnership arrangements also facilitate other companies to increase the range of services offered (and revenue generated) via their websites. Our products are used by over 400 financial partners in the insurance, finance and utilities industry. Our success has been recognised by a series of awards including six consecutive Deloitte Technology Fast 50 awards, a Deloitte EMEA Technology Fast500 award, several prestigious Deloitte Best Managed Companies awards (Gold Standard Best Managed Companies awards) and Platinum Standard Best Managed Companies award 2023, 2024 and 2025.