The posting
We’re looking for a Business Development Manager to join our team and play a key role in growing Elior’s business across the UK. This is a role for a genuine sales professional who knows how to spot an opportunity, build a compelling proposition and turn a first conversation into a signed contract. You’ll own your business development pipeline, seek out new tender opportunities and lead the sales journey from those all-important first conversations through to closing the deal. You’ll work closely with our Operations, Marketing, Finance and Legal teams to create commercially strong, creative and compelling solutions that show clients exactly why Elior is the right partner for them. And you won’t simply hand a contract over once it’s won. You’ll remain involved through mobilisation and key retention activity, helping ensure the client experience lives up to the promise made during the sales process. This is a home-based role, with equipment provided, so you can be based anywhere in the UK. You’ll need a full UK driving licence and be comfortable travelling to meet clients and attend key business meetings. If you’re commercially sharp, naturally curious, confident in front of clients and motivated by the thrill of winning new business, we want to hear from you. What you’ll be serving up…
Building your own pipeline, actively researching the market, networking and identifying new business and tender opportunities across the UK. Creating opportunities, developing relationships with prospective clients and positioning Elior as a credible, innovative and compelling catering partner. Owning the sales process, from initial contact and discovery meetings through to solution development, presentations, negotiation and contract close. Leading winning tenders, bringing together the right people across Operations, Finance, Marketing and Legal to develop solutions that are commercially viable and genuinely meet the client’s needs. Selling the Elior proposition, confidently communicating our USPs and tailoring our story to what matters most to each client. Using your commercial instinct, understanding the opportunity, the competition, the numbers and what it will take to turn a prospect into a profitable contract. Building strong client relationships, taking the time to understand their challenges and becoming someone they want to do business with. Bringing creativity to your solutions, working with internal teams to develop compelling written proposals, presentations and service solutions. Keeping the momentum, managing multiple opportunities and deadlines simultaneously while ensuring every prospect receives a high-quality and professional experience. Supporting successful mobilisation, staying connected after the win to help ensure the transition from signed contract to operational delivery is seamless. Supporting key retention activity, coordinating bids, presentations and commercial activity where existing contracts are up for renewal. Taking ownership of your numbers, managing your weekly activity, maintaining accurate pipeline information and reporting progress against your sales targets.
The ingredients you’ll bring…
Proven experience in business development, sales or contract acquisition, ideally within contract catering or food service. A strong understanding of the UK contract catering market and what it takes to win new business. A proven track record of securing new contracts, ideally including experience across food service and/or healthcare. Strong commercial acumen, with the confidence to understand the numbers, challenge assumptions and negotiate effectively. Excellent relationship-building skills. You’ll be comfortable developing relationships from first contact through to senior-level client conversations. Confidence leading tenders, presentations and sales meetings, with the ability to influence and engage a range of stakeholders. Strong writing skills and the creativity to turn a brief into a compelling commercial solution. Experience managing multiple tenders and opportunities simultaneously, with exceptional organisation and the ability to meet tight deadlines. The ability to collaborate effectively with Operations, Finance, Marketing, Legal and other specialist teams to develop winning bids. Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills, with the ability to understand what a client really needs rather than simply selling a standard solution. Strong IT skills and confidence working with CRM, tendering and sales tools. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel as required.
What really matters We’re looking for someone who is hungry to win. Someone who doesn’t wait for opportunities to land in their inbox, but gets out there, builds relationships, asks the right questions and creates opportunities. You’ll need the commercial confidence to challenge, the creativity to develop a proposition that stands out and the resilience to keep going when a deal doesn’t go your way. Most importantly, you’ll understand that great business development isn’t just about winning the contract. It’s about winning the right contract, building the right relationships and creating sustainable growth for Elior.
