Business Development Manager

Location: Cleckheaton
Salary: £40,000–£48,000 per annum, plus sales incentive
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday. The usual working framework is 8:00am–4:30pm; however, this is a senior client-facing role requiring flexibility for meetings, pitches, site visits, travel and events.
Type: Permanent

Novara People is recruiting for an ambitious and commercially focused Senior Business Development Manager to join a specialist, project-led business.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong relationship-building skills, commercial awareness and experience within a technical, manufacturing, engineering, production or project-delivery environment. You will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, managing key client relationships and supporting the successful conversion and delivery of projects.

The Role:
You will play a key role in driving business growth through client meetings, networking, pitches, proposals and ongoing account development. Working closely with project, design, technical, manufacturing and operational teams, you will ensure clients receive commercially sound, creative and deliverable solutions from the initial enquiry through to project handover.

The position will involve office-based work, regular client meetings and site visits, with national and occasional international travel.

Key Responsibilities:

Identify, develop and convert new business opportunities.
Build, manage and strengthen relationships with new and existing clients.
Attend client meetings, networking events, pitches, site visits and industry events.
Understand client requirements and ensure their vision is considered throughout the bidding and project-delivery process.
Lead or support the preparation of project proposals, quotations, cost estimates and presentations.
Work with internal technical, design and operational teams to develop creative, practical and commercially viable solutions.
Support project contract reviews, assessing scope, resource requirements, programme and delivery feasibility.
Establish pricing, payment schedules and commercial terms in line with business requirements.
Maintain clear communication between clients, project teams, suppliers and external partners.
Monitor the progress of live opportunities and provide regular updates on pipeline activity, sales performance and client feedback.
Support the management of commercial, contractual and legal requirements during the sales and handover process.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, client experience, service offering and business performance.
Contribute to the development of business procedures and policies, including those linked to project delivery, health and safety and quality standards.
Work closely with external consultants and internal stakeholders to support the continued development of the business.
Provide feedback on future resource requirements, including staffing, equipment and operational capability.

What’s On Offer:

Salary of £40,000–£48,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Sales incentive scheme.
A senior, client-facing role with scope to influence business growth.
Flexibility around working hours where diary commitments and responsibilities allow.
The opportunity to work closely with a collaborative technical and project-delivery team.

Skills:

What We’re Looking For:
Proven experience in business development, sales, account management or client relationship management.
Experience within a technical, engineering, manufacturing, construction, production or project-led environment would be highly advantageous.
A confident and professional approach to client meetings, pitching, networking and relationship building.
Strong commercial awareness, including experience with quotations, pricing, proposals and negotiation.
The ability to understand project scope, timelines, resourcing and delivery requirements.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple opportunities and priorities.
A proactive, self-motivated approach with a genuine drive to achieve results.
A full clean UK driving licence and valid passport are essential.
Willingness to travel nationally and internationally when required