Senior Business Development Manager Corporate HQ, Manchester

About Legends Global

Legends Global is redefining excellence in sport, entertainment and live events. With unrivalled expertise and international reach, we provide end-to-end solutions – from venue development and event programming to revenue strategy and hospitality. We take a 360-degree, data-driven approach across Partnerships, Hospitality, Merchandise and Attractions, working with leading clients to deliver outstanding experiences that resonate worldwide. Our organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and forward-thinking environment where diversity drives innovation and collaboration. Guided by our values of Align, Scale, Connect, Team and Win… we create a culture where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

About the Role

The Senior Business Development Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the new business strategy for Legends’ rapidly expanding Food & Beverage division across Europe. Reporting to the Business Development leadership team, the successful candidate will collaborate closely with all business divisions including close engagement across Food & Beverage, Hospitality, and Marketing to identify, target, and secure new partnership and operating opportunities. This role will be instrumental in driving growth by positioning Legends’ white-label, data-driven F&B model to clubs, venues, federations, and property owners. This is a senior commercial role requiring a strong understanding of the stadium, arena, and major event hospitality landscape, coupled with the ability to build relationships at C-suite level and translate insights into winning proposals.

What we can offer

• Access to discounted tickets.
• 25 days annual leave.
• Life Assurance policy.
• Pension contributions.
• Support for unexpected health costs through Healthshield.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) for mental health support.
• Eye care vouchers and contribution towards glasses.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Employee Referral Scheme.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead identification, qualification, and prioritisation of opportunities — including RFPs, direct approaches, and partnership models — ensuring a balanced and achievable pipeline.
• Develop and execute the new business plan for Food & Beverage across the UK and Europe, aligned with Legends’ broader strategic objectives.
• Cultivate relationships with key decision-makers across clubs, venues, federations, and investors to position Legends as the preferred F&B partner.
• Lead and coordinate the preparation of proposals, presentations, and tender submissions, working collaboratively with the F&B operations, design, finance, and marketing teams.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of market trends, competitor movements, and emerging technologies within the sports and hospitality sectors to inform strategy.
• Work with the business to ensure consistent brand positioning, case-study development, and communications to support the sales pipeline.
• Partner with internal finance and analytics teams to develop commercial models and projections that support business cases and client proposals.
• Represent Legends at industry events, conferences, and networking forums, acting as a brand ambassador for the organisation’s F&B capabilities and culture.

We are looking for someone with:

• Formal qualifications in Hospitality, Business and/or Marketing are strongly preferred.
• Experience in business development, client engagement, hospitality, or food & beverage — ideally within sports, entertainment, venue management, or event catering sectors.
• Proven success in developing and winning new business opportunities, particularly in complex, competitive environments.
• Understanding of the operational and commercial dynamics of large-scale food & beverage delivery in stadia, arenas, or major event environments.
• Proven ability to manage early-stage business development activity, from initial enquiry to structured opportunity analysis.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills, with confidence in engaging senior stakeholders and clients.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, international, and client-facing environment.
• High proficiency in English is required with a second language looked upon favourably.
• Familiarity with business environments and a willingness to travel across the UK and continental Europe preferred.

Recruitment Process Outlined

• 1st Stage - Call with the Head of Talent Acquisition
• 2nd Stage - Interview with the SVP with Business Development

Inclusive Workplace

At Legends Global, we are committed to leading the entertainment industry towards a greener, faster, and more innovative digital future. There’s never been a better time to join our team. We aim to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Join us and make a significant impact from day one. We are committed to active inclusion, diversity, and equal opportunities. This commitment begins with our recruitment and selection process. We welcome discussions about flexible working arrangements. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please let us know in your application. We are dedicated to providing a fair and transparent assessment process and will do our utmost to accommodate your needs. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to ensure it is considered. We will continue to review applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert before the closing date.