Business Development Executive - Affiliates, Ecommerce & Retail Media

About us

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.

The Independent has always thrived through innovation and change. It was the first British newspaper to add a Saturday magazine; the first to give photography the same prestige as a news copy; the first to challenge the Westminster lobby system of closed briefings; the first broadsheet to move to the more compact ‘tabloid’ format; the first to launch a concise quality compact paper; and the first – and only – major newspaper to pull off a successful transformation to fully digital publishing.

Through The Independent, Independent TV, eCommerce, indy100, subscriptions and other ‘reader revenues’, The Independent plans to continue the work of many decades, bringing much-needed independent journalism to over 100 million unique global visitors a month, make its voice ever louder and more insistent the world over.

We have an international editorial team with our main offices in London and New York.

In 2024 The Independent’s portfolio of brands increased through a new licensing partnership with BuzzFeed Inc. to operate the BuzzFeed brands in the UK – BuzzFeed UK, Tasty, Seasoned and HuffPost UK. The additional brands echo the existing business ethos and allow for increased audiences and a further strategic diversification of revenue streams.

About the Role

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. This is an excellent opportunity for a driven and ambitious individual to develop their sales skills in the fast-growing world of ecommerce and contribute to the success of our premium media brands.

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.

You have strong communication skills, a proactive attitude and a genuine interest in building relationships and understanding what drives business success. You’re confident using data to inform your thinking and comfortable juggling multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Above all, you’re eager to learn, ambitious to grow your career in digital media, and ready to make an immediate impact as part of a high-performing, collaborative team.

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.

We are committed to hiring and developing a diverse workforce regardless of background, and we support our people to thrive in their careers here.

The Independent is an equal opportunities employer, if you require any reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please do not hesitate to advise us accordingly.

Our values – you will deliver across all our values

Inclusive: We champion diversity in our teams and in our reporting. Working as a team, we put transparency and effective communication at the heart of everything we do.

Innovative: From the very beginning, The Independent has been breaking the mould. We take risks and are always looking to try new ideas in pursuit of excellence.

Independent: Nobody tells us what to think; we make up our own minds and aren’t afraid to do things differently. Like our readers, we value honesty and integrity above outside influences.