Business Development Manager

Ultimately, you'll be responsible for helping create the next generation of major KitKing partnerships and delivering sustainable new revenue into the business.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities are likely to include:

• Identifying and developing significant new business opportunities across UK sport and teamwear.
• Building and maintaining a strong, qualified pipeline of prospective customers and partners.
• Proactively researching new markets, organisations, sporting bodies, clubs, schools, universities and other potential commercial opportunities.
• Identifying key decision makers and developing relationships with senior stakeholders within prospective organisations.
• Taking ownership of the complete new business journey, from initial identification and approach through to pitch, negotiation and contract.
• Creating strategic business development plans focused on priority sports, sectors and commercial opportunities.
• Working with senior stakeholders to understand their organisation, challenges, objectives and long term teamwear requirements.
• Negotiating commercial agreements that deliver value for both the customer and KitKing.
• Converting prospects into long term commercial partnerships and ensuring a strong transition into the Account Management team.
• Developing relationships with relevant industry contacts, governing bodies, sporting organisations and other potential strategic partners.
• Representing KitKing at sporting events, exhibitions, conferences, networking opportunities and industry meetings.
• Working closely with our major sportswear brand partners to identify and develop joint commercial opportunities.
• Collaborating with marketing to develop campaigns, propositions and materials that support business development activity.
• Working with Account Management, operations, purchasing, customer service, design and other internal teams to ensure opportunities can be delivered successfully.
• Forecasting prospective revenue and providing regular updates on pipeline value, progress and expected conversions.
• Monitoring competitor activity, market developments and emerging opportunities within sport and teamwear.
• Contributing to wider commercial strategy and identifying new areas in which KitKing can grow.

Person Specification

We're looking for someone who gets genuine energy from creating opportunities and winning business.

Qualifications and Skills

Mandatory skills and experience:

• Demonstrable experience in business development, B2B sales, commercial partnerships or a similar revenue-generating role, with sufficient experience to operate confidently at the level required for this position.
• Previous experience within sport, teamwear, sporting goods or a related industry.
• A demonstrable track record of winning new business and delivering commercial growth.
• Experience developing and managing a new business pipeline from initial prospecting through to conversion.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify, assess and prioritise opportunities.
• Confidence approaching and building relationships with new prospects.
• Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience presenting and pitching to senior decision makers.
• Strong negotiation skills and experience progressing significant commercial opportunities through to agreement.
• Experience working towards and achieving stretching revenue or new business targets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• The ability to create compelling proposals, presentations and commercial propositions.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities at different stages of the sales process.
• Confidence working independently, taking ownership and making informed commercial decisions.
• Strong IT and digital skills, including experience using CRM systems and online business tools.
• A proactive, resilient and target driven approach.
• Drive and ambition to grow both the company and themselves.
• A full UK driving licence is required because the role involves regular travel to customers, prospects, partners and industry events across the UK.

Desirable:

• An established network within UK sport, education or the sporting goods industry.
• Experience developing partnerships with sporting organisations, clubs, governing bodies, schools or universities.
• Experience working alongside major consumer or sportswear brands.
• Experience using Brightpearl, Shopify, Trello or Freshdesk. or equivalent CRM, ERP, e-commerce, project management or customer-service systems.
• A degree in Business, Marketing, Sports Management or a related discipline.

Benefits

• 28 days / 5.6 weeks annual leave, including bank holidays.
• Workplace pension scheme, including employer contributions.
• Company funded training and development, with opportunities to build your skills and develop within the business.
• Staff clothing discount, giving you access to great prices across our extensive range of sportswear and teamwear.
• Annual staff clothing sale, with the opportunity to pick up kit and clothing at heavily discounted prices.
• A growing, ambitious working environment, with the opportunity to work closely with the senior team and develop as the business continues to grow.

Application Process

To apply, please email Ally McDonald Alonso at ally.mcdonaldalonso@kitking.co.uk with your CV along with a short cover letter telling us a little bit about yourself, why you think you would be a great candidate for the role and, importantly, why you would love to join the KitKing family.

We are looking for people who share our energy, ambition and passion for what we do, so this is your chance to show us who you are beyond your CV and what you could bring to the team.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when applying and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory right-to-work checks and any other appropriate pre-employment checks.