Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager
We are seeking an ambitious and commercially astute Business Development Manager to drive sustainable revenue growth within the UK hygienic industry, working closely with plastic, soap and paper manufacturers.
This role sits at the sharp end of the business. You will act as the commercial bridge between customers and the organisation, owning key client relationships, identifying new opportunities, and converting market insight into profitable growth. You will be trusted to represent the business externally, influence internally, and deliver results.
This is a highly autonomous, field-based role for someone who thrives on visibility, momentum and accountability. A strong presence on the road is essential, with regular travel throughout the UK.
Business Development Manager Key Responsibilities
- Proactively identify, target and secure new business opportunities within the hygienic industry, focusing on plastic, soap and paper manufacturing sectors
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans to achieve and exceed agreed annual revenue targets
- Drive the introduction and commercialisation of new products and solutions tailored to customer needs
- Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities through market research, networking and proactive outreach
- Own and grow a portfolio of existing customers by developing a deep understanding of their operational, technical and commercial objectives
- Act as a trusted commercial partner, delivering long-term value and strengthening customer loyalty
- Lead pricing discussions, negotiations and commercial agreements while protecting and enhancing gross margin
- Provide account management support for shared sales office customers
- Secure meetings with senior decision-makers, technical stakeholders and operational teams
- Conduct regular customer visits to strengthen relationships, identify new opportunities and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction
- Represent the business professionally at relevant industry events, exhibitions and customer meetings
- Work closely with Marketing and Design teams to translate customer insight into compelling propositions, product development and go-to-market activity
- Provide structured market and competitor feedback to inform sales strategy and innovation
- Support product and commercial training initiatives, sharing customer insight and best practice
- Take full ownership of agreed sales budgets, forecasts and KPIs
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date CRM records
- Provide clear, timely sales reporting and pipeline forecasts
- Monitor market trends, customer feedback and competitor activity to inform decision-making
Business Development Manager Skills & Experience
- Proven track record in business development or field-based sales within the hygienic industry
- Experience working with plastic, soap and/or paper manufacturers
- Strong ability to win new business while growing and retaining existing accounts
- Solid commercial acumen with experience negotiating pricing and managing margin
- Confident communicator, able to engage credibly with stakeholders at all levels
- Highly organised, self-motivated and comfortable working independently
- Willingness to travel across the UK - high percentage of time spent visiting customers (consider 3 - 4 days/week)
Business Development Manager Benefits
- Salary: 43-47k + sales bonus, company car, 23 days holidays plus BH, EAP, Life Assurance, Pension, Remote (with travel to the office in East Sussex upto 2 ro 3 times and month
This is an exciting opportunity for a BDM who is passionate about innovation and looking to contribute to a dynamic and growing team. If you are a creative thinker with a keen eye for detail, we would love to hear from you!
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A SPONSORED JOB, CANDIDATES REQUIRING SPONSORSHIP OR ON A PSW VISA WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED
We are an equal opportunities agency and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
We are acting on behalf of the client as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.