Business Development Manager

We’re looking for an experienced and commercially driven Business Development Manager to help accelerate growth across our Independent Schools business in the UK & Ireland.

Working closely with the Head of Sales – Independent Schools
, you’ll identify, develop and convert new business opportunities, creating compelling solutions across Catering and Facilities Management services.

This is a high-impact role where you’ll take ownership of opportunities throughout the sales cycle, bringing together operational, commercial and specialist teams to create solutions that respond to client needs, differentiate Sodexo from the competition and deliver sustainable, profitable growth.

What you’ll do

You’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering our business development strategy, with responsibilities including:

• Identify and develop new business opportunities and areas of untapped market potential across the Independent Schools sector.
• Lead complex bids from initial qualification and solution development through to submission, presentation and contract award.
• Develop innovative, commercially viable solutions across Catering and FM services that address client and consumer needs.
• Take overall responsibility for high-quality written tender submissions, ensuring they clearly articulate our proposition and competitive advantage.
• Bring together stakeholders across operations, finance, commercial, legal and other specialist functions to develop winning bids.
• Lead and support major re-tenders and organic growth opportunities across existing client contracts.
• Work alongside project management teams to ensure bids are delivered to the required quality, timescales and commercial parameters.
• Build strong, credible relationships with prospective and existing clients, developing a deeper understanding of their priorities and challenges.
• Ensure opportunities and solutions align with client requirements as well as Sodexo’s revenue and profitability expectations.
• Capture feedback following bids and use insights to continually strengthen our proposition and approach.
• Ensure effective handover of successful bids into mobilisation and operational teams.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities that supports long-term business growth.

What you’ll bring

You’ll be an accomplished business development professional who is comfortable navigating complex, multi-stakeholder sales environments and influencing at senior level.

We’re looking for someone with:

• A proven track record in new business development, sales and successful bid conversion
  .
• Experience working with senior leaders to develop and deliver sales strategies and solutions.
• Strong commercial acumen, with an understanding of revenue, profitability and financial management.
• Experience developing and managing complex tender and proposal processes.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to develop persuasive tender submissions.
• Strong presentation, influencing and negotiation skills, with experience pitching for new business.
• A track record of generating leads and delivering revenue growth.
• Experience working across multi-service, multi-site and multi-stakeholder opportunities
  .
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• A confident, ambitious and proactive approach, with the ability to bring people together around a shared commercial objective.
• A minimum of three years’ relevant experience in new business development
  .

The opportunity

The Independent Schools market continues to evolve, creating both challenges and significant opportunities for growth. You’ll have the opportunity to identify new areas of potential, influence how our propositions develop and create solutions that deliver…