Business Development Manager - Southwold
AwazeBusiness Development Manager – Southwold
Drive growth, build relationships, and expand our portfolio of exceptional holiday homes across the Suffolk coast.
Your mission
As our new Business Development Manager, your mission is to grow our portfolio of holiday let properties across Southwold and the surrounding Suffolk coastal region. Based from our Southwold office, you'll play a pivotal role in identifying and securing new property acquisition opportunities, building lasting relationships with homeowners, and strengthening our presence across one of the UK's most desirable holiday destinations.
Working independently and proactively, you'll use your local market knowledge, commercial mindset, and networking expertise to drive sustainable growth and increase market share while delivering value for both property owners and our business.
What you'll be doing
- Proactively identify and secure new holiday let properties across Southwold and the wider Suffolk Heritage Coast
- Generate and nurture leads through networking, referrals, local partnerships, events, canvassing, and market intelligence
- Meet with property owners to present our holiday letting services and demonstrate the value of partnering with us
- Negotiate and secure management agreements with new property owners
- Develop strong referral relationships with estate agents, developers, solicitors, second-home owners, and local businesses
- Maintain a healthy pipeline of prospective properties and acquisition opportunities
- Increase brand awareness and market presence across the region through targeted business development activity
- Monitor local market trends, competitor activity, occupancy levels, and pricing strategies to identify growth opportunities
- Represent the business at networking events, trade shows, and community activities
- Work closely with Operations, Marketing, and Guest & Owner Services teams to ensure a seamless onboarding experience for new owners
Who we're looking for
You'll thrive in this role if you enjoy building relationships, spotting opportunities, and turning conversations into long-term partnerships. You're commercially minded, highly self-motivated, and confident working independently while remaining connected to a wider team.
Essential experience and skills:
- A proven track record in sales, business development, property acquisition, or a related commercial role
- Strong ability to self-generate leads and win new business opportunities
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
- Strong knowledge of the Southwold and Suffolk coastal property market
- A proactive, target-driven, and entrepreneurial approach
- The ability to build trust and credibility with property owners and local stakeholders
- A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel locally
Bonus points if you have:
- Experience within holiday lettings, estate agency, hospitality, tourism, or property management
- An existing network of local property owners or business contacts
- Knowledge of holiday rental platforms and revenue optimisation strategies
- Experience using CRM systems and sales reporting tools
How you'll make an impact
- Deliver against monthly and annual property acquisition targets
- Expand our portfolio of holiday homes across Southwold and the surrounding Suffolk coastal region
- Build and maintain a robust pipeline of future business opportunities
- Strengthen our market presence and reputation within the local community
- Provide expert guidance to property owners on holiday letting performance, occupancy, and revenue potential
- Ensure smooth onboarding and successful integration of newly acquired properties
- Maintain accurate records of business development activity, leads, and conversions through CRM systems
- Contribute to strategic growth plans and future expansion opportunities across the region
Why you'll want to work at Awaze
We offer a versatile position in a strong professional and social environment – one you'll have the opportunity to influence and help shape. You'll be part of an international company that invests in the future, and join a dynamic, fast-paced department with skilled and committed colleagues who support each other.
We're a people-first business – and we know that our success starts with our teams.
What you'll enjoy:
- Generous discounts on holidays across our brands
- Flexible hybrid working – with the autonomy to work how you work best
- Real opportunities to grow, learn and shape your role as well as careers progression vertically or horizontally, cross countries and responsibilities
About Awaze
Our mission is clear – to create amazing holidays with Europe's widest choice of holiday homes.
With more than 110,000 properties across Europe, we are the largest managed vacation rentals business in the region. Our ambition is not only to be the biggest, but the best provider of holiday homes in Europe.
As travel continues to evolve, we are focused on what comes next. We will keep strengthening our relationships with guests and homeowners, continuously improving the way we work, and delivering strong performance. By making things simpler and smarter, we are building a business that is ready for what's next – powered by proud, passionate and inclusive people.
Worth knowing
- Based from our Southwold office
- Regular travel across Southwold and the Suffolk coastal region is required
- Full UK driving licence required
What's next?
If this sounds like the right next step for you, hit "Apply" and follow the instructions to submit your application. We tailor our recruitment process to each role to give both you and our hiring teams the best possible chance to assess whether this could be the start of a successful collaboration. You'll hear from us shortly after we've reviewed your application.
We're committed to running an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, and if you have any specific requirements or adjustments needed for the interview, just let us know when you accept your invitation – we're happy to accommodate.
About Awaze
Awaze is a managed vacation rentals and holiday resorts business operating across Europe, and is the parent of holiday brands including cottages.com, Hoseasons, NOVASOL, James Villa Holidays and Landal. It markets and manages holiday properties on behalf of homeowners and handles bookings for guests, with more than 110,000 properties across its brands. The "Awaze" corporate identity was created in 2018 for the European vacation rental brands previously owned by Wyndham Worldwide and sold to Platinum Equity.
Interested in this role?
Apply now to join Awaze.