Business Development Lead in City of Westminster

Business Development Lead in City of Westminster

City of Westminster Full-Time 31500 - 38500 £ / year (est.) Hybrid
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a dynamic sales team while smashing your own targets and driving growth.
  • Company: Join one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK, redefining the restaurant industry.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, share options, hybrid work, and generous holiday allowance.
  • Other info: Be part of a supportive culture that values diversity and personal development.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a fun, ambitious environment with endless growth opportunities.
  • Qualifications: 2+ years in sales, strong leadership skills, and a passion for food.

The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.

DEPARTMENT: UK & Ireland

£65k-80k OTE (Up to £50k Base + Uncapped Monthly Commission + Share Options)

HYBRID - London Based (Victoria Station) & Remote 1 or 2 days per week with travel based duties.

WHO ARE WE?

  • #14 - Fastest Growing UK Tech Company (Sunday Times)
  • #65 - Fastest Growing UK&I Company (Sifted)
  • #77 - Fastest Growing Europe Company (Sifted)

Sessions is building the operating model for the future of restaurants, giving consumers instant access to the brands they love, wherever they live. The Sessions distribution engine runs through 450+ delivery kitchens and 16 high street restaurants across the UK. Founded in 2020 and led by ex-Deliveroo MD Dan Warne, Sessions has grown 7x in three years. Our platform has processed over 5 million orders and reaches 60% of the UK population. Our team brings experience from Deliveroo, Amazon, BrewDog, and Gousto. We scale brands at a pace that redefines what's possible in food. Examples include Miko's Gyros, which went from launch to 100+ live sites in under two months and SoBe Burger, which is live in over 200 delivery locations and has opened 17 physical high street stores.

We are Agile - Thrive in fast-pace. We sprint, adapt, and learn.

We are Ambitious - Contribute to something big. Watch your career grow bigger.

We are Fun - High performance, high fives. Join a team you'll love.

We are Data-Driven - Turn insights into action. We lead with evidence.

We have Initiative - Anticipate problems. Drive the solution.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

As a Pod Lead, you assume the Player-Coach role. You are, first and foremost, a high-performance individual contributor with your own targets, your own pipeline and your own sites going live every month. On top of that, you run a pod of 2 to 5 BDMs alongside your own sales targets. You coach them, manage their performance, shadow their pitches, run their week, and own pod output. Roughly 60% of your time stays in your own deals; the rest is spent making your pod better. This is the natural path for someone who wants to move into full sales management. You will sit in the UK & I Sales Leadership team, reporting into the Head of Sales.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Carry an individual contributor target. Hit it.
  • Own a pipeline and keep it clean in CRM with full visibility to the management team.
  • Source Host Partners through cold calling, field sales, industry connections, email and anything else that works.
  • Own the full sales cycle, from prospecting and pitching through to closing, in person and virtually.
  • Deliver compelling unit economics on every Host relationship you sign.
  • Be the eyes and ears on the ground. Feed insight back into brand, product and strategy.
  • Lead a pod of 2 to 5 BDMs. Own their weekly output, pipeline health and target attainment.
  • Run pod cadence: 1:1s, pipeline reviews, team meetings, field shadowing.
  • Manage performance directly. Set expectations, give timely praise and corrections, escalate where needed.
  • Submit accurate bonus calculations and pipeline adherence on time, every cycle.
  • Partner with the Sales Academy to onboard new BDMs in your pod and graduate them off probation.
  • Be the upward reporting channel for your pod. Surface blockers, risks and wins proactively.
  • You make the team better, not just yourself. Whatever you own, the test is whether it raises the floor or the ceiling for everyone else, in pipeline, in win rate, in deal quality, or in how we operate.

DESIRED SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & QUALITIES:

  • 2+ years of sales/ commercial experience
  • Street hustler prepared to ‘get stuck in’ and do what it takes to close deals;
  • Strategic thinker able to elevate the business from the day-to-day where appropriate;
  • Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop high-performing sales teams; comfortable coaching others to exceed targets and managing underperformance;
  • Well-rounded individual able and willing to flex to take ownership where necessary outside of their areas of core responsibility;
  • Comfortable with difficult conversations — performance management, accountability, and transparent feedback with direct reports;
  • Ability to set strategic direction for the pod while maintaining individual deal-closing capability; balances big-picture planning with tactical execution;
  • Strong commercial acumen with strong negotiation skills;
  • Charismatic and energetic with a passion for food;
  • A self-starter mentality with a relentless work ethic, drive to succeed and competitive edge;
  • Excited by the end game and motivated by building an enormous enterprise;
  • Prepared to work very hard, take responsibility and make decisions at speed, comfortable finding order in chaos;
  • Resilient and loyal.

BENEFITS & PERKS:

  • Financial Share Options - Receive an amount of share options for Sessions Market Ltd.
  • Pay day on demand - Access to pay in advance whenever needed.
  • Expense card - Company Card.
  • Finance Platform - Access to 'Mintago', Financial Wellbeing Platform.
  • Social, Mental & Physical Wellbeing: Hybrid Working - up to 2 days working remotely per week.
  • Holidays - 25 days + bank holidays + Birthday Off.
  • Healthcare - Vitality PMI + Healthcare Cash Plan scheme.
  • Employee Assistance Programme - Support for mental health and legal services.
  • Socials - Monthly socials.

Sessions are a living wage and equal opportunity employer. All applicants are reviewed 'anonymously' where only work experience and education will be available for the hiring manager to view - all applicants will be considered for employment without attention to ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, family or parental status, national origin, veteran, neurodiversity status or disability status.

Business Development Lead in City of Westminster employer: Sessions

Sessions is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London, where innovation meets culinary excellence. With a strong focus on employee growth, you will have access to a Management & Leadership Programme and opportunities to learn from industry leaders, all while enjoying a fun and agile culture that values your contributions. The benefits package, including flexible working options, generous holidays, and a dog-friendly office, ensures a balanced and rewarding work-life experience.

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Contact Details:

Sessions Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Business Development Lead in City of Westminster

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✨Join Local Business Intelligence Meetups

Look for local business intelligence meetups or analytics conferences in your area. These events are not just great for learning but also for networking with industry professionals who could lead you to opportunities at companies like Sessions!

✨Engage with Online BI Communities

Join online forums or communities focused on business intelligence—think LinkedIn groups, Reddit threads, or even dedicated Slack channels. Engage actively by sharing your insights and asking questions; this can help you build visibility and connect with potential employers.

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If you're a recent graduate, definitely tap into your university's career services. Many have connections with companies in need of full-time BI specialists, and they can guide you on how to pitch yourself effectively—don't miss out on that!

We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Lead in City of Westminster

Sales Experience
Pipeline Management
Cold Calling
Negotiation Skills
Coaching and Mentoring
Performance Management
Strategic Thinking

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.

Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.

Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Sessions, 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!

Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sessions

✨Show off your analytical skills

In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!

✨Practice your technical know-how

Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.

✨Portfolio of Projects

Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.

✨Know their business model

Get familiar with Sessions’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.