Business Development Manager

Location: Midlands (Office & Field-Based with Nationwide Travel)

About Structural Metal Decks

At SMD, our mission is to be the UK’s leading provider of structural flooring and roofing solutions to the construction industry, while continuing to grow our brand and product offering internationally with a focus on safety, innovation and environmental responsibility. For over 35 years, SMD has delivered high-quality structural flooring solutions and contributed to some of the UK's most iconic buildings across the UK and overseas.

We're looking to appoint a Business Development Manager who will play a key role in identifying new business, building long-term customer relationships and supporting the future success of SMD.

About the Role

We're looking for an ambitious and relationship-focused Business Development Manager to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys being out in the field, meeting people and creating new business opportunities. You'll be the face of SMD, developing relationships with main contractors, subcontractors and key decision-makers across the UK, generating enquiries and opening doors to new business.

As this is a newly created role, you'll have the opportunity to shape and develop the position, bringing your own ideas, experience and approach to business development. Reporting to the Commercial Director, you'll spend the majority of your time visiting prospective customers, attending project meetings and identifying new opportunities across the UK. When you're not on the road, you'll be based at our Midlands office in Huthwaite, working alongside the Commercial Director and our Sales & Estimating team to progress enquiries, plan customer visits, manage your sales pipeline and help convert opportunities into secured contracts.

If you're a natural networker with experience in construction sales or business development and enjoy building long-term relationships, we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities across the UK, developing a strong pipeline of prospective clients and projects.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with contractors, developers, consultants and key decision-makers, becoming a trusted point of contact for future opportunities.
• Plan and manage your own diary, arranging customer visits, contract meetings, networking events and industry exhibitions to maximise business development opportunities.
• Promote SMD's products, services and technical expertise, confidently presenting the benefits of working with us to prospective customers.
• Research construction projects, market activity and emerging opportunities, identifying where SMD can add value and secure future work.
• Generate high-quality enquiries and tender opportunities through proactive networking, business development and relationship management.
• Work closely with the Commercial Director and Sales & Estimating team to ensure enquiries are progressed efficiently from initial contact through to tender submission and contract award.
• Maintain regular communication with prospective customers throughout the sales process, building confidence and ensuring an excellent customer experience.
• Re-engage dormant customers and identify opportunities to strengthen existing relationships and win back business.
• Gather customer feedback, monitor competitor activity and share market intelligence to help shape future business development strategies.
• Maintain accurate customer records, meeting notes, sales activity and pipeline information within the CRM system, ensuring all opportunities are effectively managed and followed up.
• Produce regular reports on business development activity, customer engagement and pipeline performance, providing updates to the Commercial Director and relevant colleagues.
• Represent SMD professionally at all times, maintaining strong relationships with customers and promoting the company's reputation within the industry.

About You

You'll be a confident communicator who enjoys building relationships and opening doors. You'll be proactive, commercially aware and motivated by identifying opportunities and delivering results.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous business development, sales or commercial experience within the construction industry.
• A proven track record of generating new business and developing long-term customer relationships.
• Knowledge of structural steel, composite metal decking, concrete operations or the wider construction sector would be advantageous.
• Strong networking, communication and negotiation skills.
• The ability to work independently and manage your own diary.
• Experience using CRM systems.
• A full UK Driving Licence.
• Willingness to travel nationwide, including overnight stays on a regular basis.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Company vehicle or car allowance (negotiable).
• 28 days' holiday (including bank holidays), plus bonus holiday days.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme.
• Private Healthcare Scheme.
• Bike2Work Scheme.
• Reward & Recognition Scheme.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Annual social and charity events.

Why Join SMD?

This is a unique opportunity to take ownership of a brand-new role and make it your own. Working closely with the Commercial Director and Sales & Estimating Team, you'll have the autonomy to develop new customer relationships, identify opportunities and play a key role in strengthening SMD's presence across the UK.

If you enjoy being out on the road, meeting new people, building long-term relationships and generating new business, this role gives you the autonomy to do exactly that, backed by an experienced Sales & Estimating team. If you're ready for your next challenge and want to be part of a well-established business with over 35 years' experience in the construction industry, we'd love to hear from you.