Business Development Manager

Our client is a growing and well-established international freight forwarding and logistics business, providing tailored transportation and supply chain solutions to customers across the UK and international markets.

With expertise across air freight, sea freight and road freight, the business works with a diverse range of customers, providing flexible and commercially focused logistics solutions based around their individual requirements.

As the company continues to expand its customer base and develop its international freight operations, they are looking to appoint an ambitious and commercially driven Sales Executive / Business Development Manager to join their growing team.

The Opportunity

This is a genuine new-business-focused sales opportunity for an experienced sales professional who enjoys identifying opportunities, opening doors and converting prospects into long-term customers.

You will have responsibility for developing new accounts and expanding the company's presence across key international freight markets, with a particular focus on USA/UK Trade Lines.

The role would suit someone who is confident generating their own leads, comfortable picking up the phone and approaching new prospects, and motivated by winning new business rather than simply managing an existing account portfolio.

You will have the autonomy to develop your own pipeline while working closely with the wider commercial and operations teams to ensure opportunities are converted into profitable, long-term customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, prospect and secure new business opportunities across international freight and logistics markets.
• Develop and manage a strong pipeline of prospective customers from initial contact through to conversion.
• Generate your own leads through cold calling, email campaigns, networking, referrals, market research and other business development activities.
• Develop new customer relationships and understand their freight, shipping and supply chain requirements.
• Focus on developing and expanding UK-USA trade lanes, identifying businesses that could benefit from the company's freight forwarding solutions.
• Manage the complete sales cycle, including prospecting, qualification, meetings, quotations, negotiation, closing and account onboarding.
• Prepare and present commercially competitive freight solutions tailored to individual customer requirements.
• Build long-term relationships with new customers and identify opportunities to increase revenue and share of wallet.
• Work closely with internal operations and customer service teams to ensure a smooth transition from sales to delivery.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date customer and pipeline information using the company's CRM/in-house systems.
• Monitor sales activity, pipeline value, conversion rates and revenue against agreed targets.
• Keep up to date with freight rates, international trade developments, market conditions and competitor activity.
• Identify opportunities to develop new sectors, customers and trade lanes as the business continues to grow.

What We're Looking For

• Proven experience in business development, sales or account management, ideally within freight forwarding, logistics, shipping or supply chain.
• A strong track record of winning new business and generating revenue rather than solely managing existing accounts.
• Experience managing the full sales process from initial prospecting and lead generation through to negotiation, closing and onboarding.
• Knowledge of international freight, ideally covering air, sea and/or road freight.
• Understanding of international trade lanes and the commercial considerations involved in freight forwarding would be highly advantageous.
• Experience developing customers across the UK-USA freight market would be particularly valuable.
• Confident communicator with strong telephone, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• Commercially aware with the ability to understand customer requirements and develop appropriate logistics solutions.
• Highly motivated, resilient and comfortable working towards challenging sales and revenue targets.
• Self-sufficient and proactive, with the drive to create opportunities rather than wait for leads to be provided.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple prospects and opportunities simultaneously.
• Comfortable using CRM systems and maintaining accurate sales pipeline information.
• A full driving licence would be advantageous.

What Success Looks Like

The successful candidate will take ownership of developing a strong new-business pipeline and converting opportunities into profitable, long-term accounts.

You will be expected to create your own opportunities, build relationships with decision-makers, win new customers and contribute directly to the company's continued growth.

Over time, there will also be opportunities to expand existing accounts, develop additional trade lanes and increase the value of the customer portfolio.

What's On Offer

• Opportunity to join a growing international freight forwarding and logistics business.
• A commercially focused role with genuine responsibility for new business growth.
• The opportunity to develop and manage your own customer portfolio.
• Support from an experienced internal operations and logistics team.
• A fast-paced and collaborative working environment.
• Genuine opportunities for career progression as the business continues to expand.

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