At a Glance
- Tasks: Build relationships with local restaurants and drive user acquisition in London.
- Company: Join First Table, a dynamic dining discovery platform with a strong presence in the UK.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive salary, travel allowance, and free dining perks.
- Other info: Remote-first role with a collaborative team and opportunities for recognition and celebration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on London's vibrant dining scene while growing your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development or sales, with excellent relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 30044 - 40000 £ per year.
We’re looking for a driven, food-loving Business Development Manager to help grow First Table’s presence in London, one of the UK’s most dynamic dining scenes. This is a relationship-focused role where your ability to connect, pitch, and follow through will make a real impact. You’ll join a collaborative team of London-based BDMs, each owning their own patch. In this role, you’ll take ownership of your area, working closely with an existing portfolio of restaurant partners while identifying new opportunities to grow our footprint. This is a remote-first role with regular in-person meetings with restaurant partners.
At First Table, our vision is simple: to be the first place diners go to book a table. Proudly established in Queenstown, New Zealand, we've been leading the charge in the hospitality tech industry for over a decade, with operations spanning New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. First Table now offers our great dining experiences at amazing restaurants across the UK. Following the recent city launches in Bournemouth, Leicester, Norwich, and Southampton, we are doubling down on building a strong presence and connected team across the UK. First Table is a dining discovery platform that connects diners to restaurants through their love of food. Through our clever tech, we help restaurants get their night off to a great start and give diners a compelling reason to try somewhere new. It’s a win-win situation. At the heart of everything we do are our values: Grow Together, Win-Win-Win, and Own It. These guide how we show up for each other, our restaurant partners, and our diners and they’re a big part of what makes First Table a great place to work.
Join us at a truly exciting time of growth as we expand First Table’s presence across the UK. As a Business Development Manager, you’ll build relationships with local restaurants, uncover new opportunities, and bring our platform to more diners to help restaurants thrive. This role is tailor-made for individuals who thrive on networking, can take ownership, embrace challenges with open arms, and value the essence of teamwork.
What you’ll be doing:
- Own and grow your local market within London.
- Build long-lasting, win-win relationships with restaurants in your assigned patch.
- Maintain an in-depth understanding of market trends and competitors, using this knowledge to identify new opportunities.
- Drive user acquisition and retention strategies.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams.
What you’ll bring:
- Proven experience in a similar role such as business development, field sales and partnerships experience.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Familiarity with the hospitality industry is a massive plus, and your ability to hit the ground running with existing contacts will push you to the top of the queue for this position.
- Be a self-starter with a commercial mindset - someone who thrives in an autonomous environment and knows how to spot opportunities (then go after them).
- A “can do attitude” and the drive to grow with us.
Why you’ll love working with us:
- A full-time role with flexible working hours and the autonomy to manage your own schedule.
- Remote-first, but never remote-feeling, especially if you’re located in London, where we have a strong presence and teammates who love connecting in person.
- Competitive OTE (base salary + commissions), plus travel allowance, laptop and phone.
- Hit the ground running with an existing client base and the freedom to shape and grow your market, guided by achievable KPIs, supportive coaching and shared wins.
- Free First Table bookings as a team perk - perfect for fellow food lovers.
- We recognise great work, with team-wide recognition shoutouts, referral incentives, and regular opportunities to celebrate wins.
- Being part of a purpose-led, award-winning brand that champions exceptional dining experiences and values creativity, collaboration and growth.
What’s next?
Ready to make your mark on London’s dining scene? We’d love to hear from you. Please submit your application, including your CV and a brief cover letter, via the Apply Now link. In your cover letter, let us know what excites you about this opportunity and how your experience sets you up for success. We’ll be reviewing and progressing applications as they come in, so don’t wait to submit your application.
Things to keep in mind:
- Applicants must already be based in Greater London to be considered for this role.
- Applicants for this position must have pre-existing rights to work in United Kingdom.
Business Development Manager - London employer: the Opportunity
First Table is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and flexible work environment for Business Development Managers in London. With a strong focus on collaboration and personal growth, employees enjoy the autonomy to manage their schedules while being part of a supportive team that celebrates successes together. The company’s commitment to fostering relationships within the vibrant dining scene of London, combined with competitive compensation and unique perks like free dining experiences, makes it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about food and hospitality.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend local food events, restaurant openings, or industry meet-ups in London. This is your chance to connect with potential partners and show off your passion for the dining scene.
✨Tip Number 2
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for opportunities to come to you. Reach out to restaurants in your area, introduce yourself, and share how First Table can help them thrive. A friendly email or call can go a long way!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your knowledge! Stay updated on market trends and competitors. When you meet with restaurant owners, use this info to highlight how you can help them stand out and attract more diners.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to get noticed. Make sure to tailor your application to reflect your enthusiasm for the role and how your experience aligns with our values at First Table.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Food:Since we're all about great dining experiences, make sure to highlight your love for food in your application. Share any relevant experiences or stories that showcase your enthusiasm for the culinary world – it’ll help you stand out!
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect how your skills and experiences align with the role of Business Development Manager. Use keywords from the job description to show us you’re the perfect fit.
Highlight Relationship-Building Skills:This role is all about building connections, so be sure to emphasise your relationship-building skills. Share examples of how you've successfully developed partnerships in the past – we want to see your networking prowess!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smooth application process. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into our hands quickly, so don’t hesitate – hit that 'Apply Now' button!
How to prepare for a job interview at the Opportunity
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into London's dining scene. Familiarise yourself with current trends, popular restaurants, and any recent news in the hospitality industry. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Since this role is all about building relationships, prepare examples of how you've successfully connected with clients or partners in the past. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to maintain those relationships and how they benefited your previous employers.
✨Emphasise Your Self-Starter Attitude
First Table values autonomy, so highlight instances where you've taken initiative in your previous roles. Share stories that demonstrate your ability to spot opportunities and act on them without needing constant guidance.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with First Table's core values: Grow Together, Win-Win-Win, and Own It. Think of ways you've embodied these values in your work and be prepared to discuss them during the interview. This alignment will show that you're a great cultural fit for the team.