Business Development Manager in Braintree

Business Development Manager – Ocean freight

Location: Essex / Hybrid
Salary: Up to £50,000 plus car and commission
Type: Permanent

The Role

Our client is looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Business Development Manager to develop new business across Ocean freight forwarding.

You will be responsible for generating your own leads, winning new customers and developing profitable, long-term accounts. The role is highly customer-facing, with regular UK travel and a strong focus on new business development.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, target and win new business within import freight forwarding.
• Generate predominantly self-sourced leads, alongside referrals and dormant accounts.
• Build profitable, long-term customer relationships.
• Promote import freight, container transport and wider logistics services.
• Identify cross-selling opportunities across sea freight, transport, container sales and hire.
• Conduct customer meetings, calls and networking activities.
• Travel regularly throughout the UK to meet prospects and customers.
• Support the handover of newly won business to operations.
• Work with internal teams on rates, pricing and profit margins.
• Ensure new business delivers strong commercial returns.
• Attend sales meetings and provide regular sales activity and performance reports.

About You

• Proven sales/business development experience within freight forwarding, logistics, haulage or container transport.
• Strong knowledge of import sea freight.
• Demonstrable track record of winning new business.
• Commercially aware with an understanding of pricing and margins.
• Strong customer relationship and negotiation skills.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
• Excellent communication, organisation and time-management skills.
• Self-motivated, tenacious and target-driven.
• Confident working independently and meeting customers face-to-face.
• Willing to travel regularly throughout the UK.