Business Development Executive - Affiliates, Ecommerce & Retail Media

The Independent is an online news publisher that was established in 1986 as a national newspaper independent of party political affiliations or proprietorial influence. In 2016, The Independent became a fully digital publisher, moving away from print in pursuit of sustainability, and to safeguard its values and journalism for the future.

We are seeking a highly motivated and results-oriented Business Development Executive to join our growing Ecommerce team. The BDE will play a crucial role in supporting our Sales Managers by identifying and qualifying potential affiliate partners, agencies, and brands for new business opportunities spanning the affiliate, e-commerce and retail media business lines.

About You: You’re either a recent graduate with a degree in Business, Marketing or a related field, or you’ve already gained 1–2 years of experience in a commercial or media sales role. You’re naturally curious, commercially minded and excited by the fast-evolving world of ecommerce, affiliates and retail media.

Responsibilities:

• Lead Research & Qualification: Conduct in-depth research on potential affiliate partners, agencies, and brands. Identify key decision-makers, analyse their businesses, and assess their potential fit with our commercial offerings.
• Prospecting & Outreach: Execute outbound sales activities, including cold calling, emailing, and social outreach to connect with potential clients.
• Lead Nurturing: Qualify leads by engaging in initial conversations, gathering information, and assessing their interest in our affiliate and ecommerce solutions.
• Schedule Meetings: Schedule meetings and demos between potential clients and the Sales Manager.
• Data Entry & CRM Management: Maintain accurate records of all sales activities, including contact information, communication logs, and deal progress in our sales system.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Work closely with our data, product, and project management teams to review performance data (e.g., CPAs, CPCs, conversion rates) to identify key insights and trends, and contribute to the development of strategies to optimise campaign performance and increase revenue.
• Market Research: Stay up-to-date on industry trends, competitor activity, and emerging opportunities in the affiliate, ecommerce and retail media space.
• Support Sales Campaigns: Assist in the execution of targeted lead generation campaigns and other sales initiatives to grow our client base.

Requirements:

• Strong Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to build rapport and maintain professional relationships.
• Proactive & Results-Oriented: A self-starter with a strong work ethic and a proven ability to achieve goals.
• Tech-Savvy: Proficiency in using Google Suite, and other relevant sales tools.
• Excellent Research & Analytical Skills: Ability to gather and analyse data effectively, identify key information, and draw insightful conclusions.
• Strong Organisational & Time Management Skills: Ability to prioritise tasks, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet deadlines effectively.
• Previous Sales Experience (Preferred): Prior experience in a sales or business development role is a plus, but not essential.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. As a growing and global brand, we must have a workforce that’s more representative of our readers, viewers, clients and partners, and a workplace that creates a sense of belonging for everyone.