Business Development Manager - Foodservice

About the Role

The role of this position is to retain and generate new business and profitable sales from a defined client list for the HoReCa sector in the B2B team within Aqua Cure group of companies. You will be focusing on increasing sales through the selling channels we service with the aim of maximizing overall performance of this business sector across the UK and Ireland.

The successful candidate will work from home, but have access to a permanent office at Aqua Cure Ltd in Burscough as well as regional Culligan offices across the Midlands and South of England. The role will predominantly be field based but Hybrid in functionality.

Key Responsibilities

Retain Existing Business

• Support the K.A.M to manage existing relationships & grow revenue lines from accounts within your portfolio
• Own all Specification touch points during any project and feed back accurate data into the project tracking system (CRM)
• Escalate critical issues through the appropriate channels to ensure effective resolution to retain business (e.g. Customer Complaints)
• Offer wider Aqua Cure group products and services to existing customers where applicable, to grow revenue lines
• Ensure call/visit cycle activity is maintained and is reflective of account priority and size to ensure retention of business
• Deliver product and technical training to key account contacts
• Arrange and attend networking events with key accounts
• Manage new opportunities from existing clients through the company pipeline
• Create and develop a formal review process with customers that can be conducted both remotely and in person as required and give an internal view for the business to review on a regular basis
• Provide detailed updates on revenue lines and pipeline both remotely and in person when requested

Enhance Trading Customer List / Business Development

• Focus on closing pre-qualified leads within the sector
• Increase brand/business awareness within the sector by visiting/exhibiting at industry focused events
• Host events at head office/group offices (where appropriate) to build brand/business equity
• Identify market trends/new products for the procurement team to source to sell to the sector
• Manage new opportunities for clients through the company pipeline

Requirements

Sales Skills & Experience

• UK Hospitality/HoReCa sector experience in a Business Development role, essential
• Able to build rapport & trust with stakeholders at all levels and maintain strong relationships
• Able to adapt your style to varying challenges & / or conversations
• Flexible with your time management and ability to support when required
• Bright and self-motivated, able to work alone but still be an active participant in the team
• Great phone manner; good written and spoken English and strong attention to detail
• Tenacious and diligent, able to own a problem and follow it through to conclusion
• Experience with working based on targets and ability to understand and work within a budget targeted environment
• Ability to present to the senior team on progress v targets and budgets
• Ability and understanding of marketing approaches that can be used to drive improved sales
• Organized and diligent in logging information to ensure the pipeline of activity in the channels can be tracked and monitored internally
• Ability to work within the wider Aqua Cure team to drive success to all channels
• Target driven and accountable with a proven history of delivery
• IT literate (MS Word and Excel)

Behavioral Competencies

Communication – communicates information in a clear and precise way to suit the audience and achieve the right results in particular the following must be demonstrated daily:

• Produces structured and logical emails, reports, and presentations by using relevant facts and benefits to construct persuasive arguments
• Understanding what is relevant, and demonstrate a willingness to communicate issues and ideas to gain senior management support
• Demonstrates active listening skills including non-linguistic skills
• Has the confidence and the presence to present company solutions to both internal and external audiences

Teamwork – establish effective team working relationships when operating within their own or other cross functional teams

Customer Focus – understands the needs of external and internal customer taking action and ownership to resolve problems and exceed the expectations of the customer

Continuous Improvement – drives the business forward by identifying and seizing opportunities and creating ideas to continually improve performance

Drive – persistent and resilient in their drive to achieve results, deliver high standards for themselves and their team. A self-start with the focus to learn new systems

Sales Mentality – Strong "hunter" sales mentality: assertive, confident, and high sense of urgency. With the ability to plan and organise your day, maximising opportunities to speak too/meet clients

Pipeline Management – progressing all prospects, exemplary follow up, negotiation and objection handling skills. A high desire to exceed targets balanced with great customer service

Compensation & Benefits

Salary: £38-40k dependent on experience

Additional Compensation:

• Competitive Commission Scheme
• Generous Car Allowance

Benefits:

• Monday to Friday working pattern
• 23 days annual leave increasing with long service + Bank Holidays
• Company Pension Scheme
• Perkpal Benefits + 24 access to Employee Assistance Programme + Volunteering Day + Long Service Awards
• Employee support network and Mental Health Assistance