Business Development Manager - Star Pubs - Thames Valley

Business Development Manager – Thames Valley

Location: Field-based role – across Maidenhead, High Wycombe and Reading – due to the nature of the work and to ensure you can achieve the right work-life balance, we’re looking for someone who lives in or close to this area

Salary: circa £55,000 base, depending on experience, plus full benefits listed below.

Closing Date
: Tuesday 5th May 2026

Contract: Permanent

HEINEKEN has a long-held belief that pubs are an integral part of British culture and that well-invested pubs, run by skilled pub operators, can prosper and thrive. As the nation’s leading pub, cider and beer company and the name behind a host of brilliant brands, we’re looking for equally brilliant people to help us bring out the best in the great British pub.

Part of that future is supporting our pub operators to grow sustainable businesses and play a positive role in their communities. None of this is possible without colleagues who care about people, account management, and delivering commercial results.

As a Business Development Manager with Star Pubs, you’ll manage around 33 pubs across the Thames Valley region (Maidenhead, High Wycombe and Reading).

You’ll work closely with pub operators and lessees, supported by a virtual team including Pub Operations, Estates and Property. Together, you’ll focus on improving performance, strengthening relationships, and making sure each pub is set up to succeed and trading at its best.

You’ll combine commercial accountability with hands‑on relationship management, helping operators run better, more profitable pubs.

• Build trusted, long‑term relationships with pub operators and lessees
• Develop and own clear, practical business plans for each pub in your patch
• Take ownership of P&L performance across your estate
• Identify opportunities to grow revenue and improve efficiency
• Support new lettings and operator recruitment where required
• Agree on commercial terms and review trading performance
• Work with internal teams to improve operations, marketing and customer experience

You’ll have freedom to structure your diary, with key touchpoints such as team meetings. We trust you to manage your time and deliver outcomes.

You’ll likely come from an area/regional operational management role within a multi‑site environment where you’ve balanced commercial targets with people leadership and customer focus.

This is not a pure sales role. It suits someone who enjoys coaching, influencing, and improving performance through strong relationships.

• Experience in retail, hospitality, leisure or multi‑site management
• Strong Profit & Loss (P&L) ownership and financial performance delivery.
• Ability to work across functions, balancing commercial delivery with long‑term partnerships.
• Commercial thinking with the confidence to make sound decisions that grow profitability.
• Experience managing a varied patch and competing priorities
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• A passion for creating exceptional customer and consumer experiences.

Experience in the pub sector is a bonus, but we’re open to candidates from other industries who bring the right commercial acumen and customer focus gained outside of the pub industry (retail, hospitality etc.) and who’re as passionate about consumers and customers as we are.

A full UK driving licence is essential for this role. Ideally, you'll have at least 3 months of professional driving experience, but if you don't, that's fine. We'll provide full on‑road driver training during your first few months with us.

At Star Pubs, part of the global Heineken family, we believe in investing in our people and fostering a culture of collaboration and growth. This is a role where you can really make a difference, to both the business and the communities we serve. If you’re looking for a challenge and an opportunity to take your career to the next level, then we want to hear from you.

In addition to your base salary, you’ll also receive:

• Annual bonus
• Company Car (a current and full Driving Licence is a must for this role)
• Meal and Broadband Allowance
• Company‑funded Private Medical…