At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive business growth by developing strategic partnerships and managing client relationships.
- Company: Join SSV SmartPay, a fintech innovator transforming payment solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a vibrant office in Canary Wharf.
- Other info: Enjoy regular team socials and direct exposure to senior leadership.
- Why this job: Be part of a fast-paced startup and shape the future of payments.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in business development or partnerships; strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
SSV SmartPay is a unique, open banking-powered solution that enables customers to make payments and businesses and charities to receive them through a customisable QR & link-based system, both in-store and online. We provide a modern, secure, and cost-effective alternative to traditional payment methods, helping merchants reduce transaction costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the customer experience. Our mission is to empower businesses with innovative payment technology that drives growth, reduces friction, and promotes financial inclusion across the UK.
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially driven Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Manager to join our growing team. This role will focus on identifying, developing, and managing strategic partnerships that drive customer acquisition, revenue growth, and market expansion. You will be responsible for building relationships with key stakeholders across the payments, fintech, charity, retail, and business sectors, creating mutually beneficial partnerships, and delivering growth opportunities for SSV SmartPay. Working closely with senior management, sales, marketing, and product teams, you will play a key role in shaping our commercial strategy and expanding our market presence. This position is well-suited to a commercially minded candidate with some prior experience who is looking for rapid progression and significant exposure within a high-growth environment. However, we are open to a range of experience levels for the right individual who demonstrates strong capability, ambition, and potential.
Key Responsibilities
- Identify and proactively reach out to potential business clients across target sectors to onboard them onto SSV SmartPay
- Manage and convert inbound sales enquiries into active customers, ensuring a high-quality onboarding experience
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, industry stakeholders, and selected commercial partners
- Develop, manage, and grow selected strategic and commercial partnerships that drive mutual value and long-term revenue growth
- Generate new business opportunities through a balanced mix of outbound outreach, networking, industry events, and partner-led introductions
- Manage the full commercial lifecycle across both clients and partners, including prospecting, negotiation, onboarding, and ongoing relationship management
- Support the development of commercial agreements, partnership structures, and go-to-market initiatives where relevant
- Develop tailored proposals, presentations, and onboarding solutions for both prospective clients and partners
- Collaborate with marketing, sales, and product teams to optimise lead generation, partner activation, and conversion strategies
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to identify both sales and partnership opportunities
- Represent SSV SmartPay at industry conferences, networking events, and client and partner meetings
- Track and report on pipeline activity, partnership performance, conversion rates, and revenue metrics using CRM systems
The Person
- Highly professional, credible, and relationship-focused
- Commercially minded with strong business acumen
- Self-motivated and results-driven with a proactive approach
- Comfortable balancing outbound sales, inbound conversions, and partnership development
- Strong negotiation and influencing skills
- Confident working in a fast-paced startup environment
- Passionate about fintech innovation and business growth
Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or a related field
- 3+ years’ experience in business development, partnerships, account management, or a related commercial role
- Proven track record of winning new business and/or developing strategic partnerships
- Strong understanding of sales pipelines, CRM systems, and commercial negotiations
- Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
- Ability to identify opportunities and convert them into measurable business outcomes
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
- Results-oriented mindset with a focus on achieving commercial targets
Good to Have
- Fintech, payments, open banking, financial services, or SaaS experience
- Existing network within UK SME, retail, charity, or payments sectors
- Experience in both outbound sales and strategic partnership development
- Exposure to channel partnerships, referral networks, or commercial alliances
- Understanding of the UK payments landscape and open banking ecosystem
What We Offer
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonus structure
- Prime office location in Canary Wharf
- Regular team socials and a collaborative, growth-focused environment
- Direct exposure to senior leadership and commercial decision-making
- Opportunity to shape both client acquisition and strategic partnerships
Business Development Manager employer: SSV Capital PLC
SSV SmartPay is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and growth-focused environment, ideal for ambitious professionals seeking to make a significant impact in the fintech sector. With a prime office location in Canary Wharf, employees benefit from direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to shape client acquisition and strategic partnerships. The company offers competitive salaries, performance-based bonuses, and regular team socials, ensuring a rewarding and engaging workplace for all team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
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 SSV Capital PLC, 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 SSV Capital PLC
✨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 SSV Capital PLC’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.
