Institute of Grocery Distribution
Senior Business Development Manager

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At IGD, we’re proud to be a Great Place to Work, where our people are empowered to grow, inspired to lead and ready to make a difference. At the heart of that experience is how we attract, welcome, and support new colleagues to join us.
That’s where you come in.
We’re looking for a Senior Business Development Manager who will Report into the Head of Business Development.
What you’ll do
- Customer Acquisition - You’ll be building rapport and creating relationships with both cold and warm leads.
- You will take ownership of the sales process, from first contact to conversion.
- Getting under the skin of a client’s challenges will be second nature and you will be passionate about proposing the right first step for each of the clients you engage.
- Whilst on your mission to win new clients, you will also understand the bigger picture and the importance of sustainable growth.
What we’re looking for
- You have a proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets with 5 years + experience in a high value quota role
- You will have at least 3+ years’ experience in a B2B and extensive experience of working with FMCG and/or retail clients
- You have a strategic, consultative approach to sales and demonstrable skills in both building and managing robust pipelines
- You will have the confidence to talk with C-Suite and decision makers, in-person and virtually
- You are self-motivated, comfortable working on your own initiative whilst also being a keen collaborator and team player
- You are proactive, resilient and tenacious with a ‘can do’ attitude, adept at creative problem solving both internally and externally
- You have excellent networking skills and ideally have an existing network of contacts in the FMCG/Retail space
- Experience of a high-performance and customer-focused culture
- Proven ability to adapt to change and embrace new products and services
- Strong commercial acumen with a good understanding of business issues
- You are looking for a company in which to make a real difference and take your career to the next level
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
The rewards
We offer a range of benefits, including a market leading pension, a bonus scheme, the ability to buy and sell annual leave plus a generous medical insurance package. You will have a great work-life balance, where you are empowered & trusted to manage your time.
The location
We are operating a hybrid approach to working with a mix of home and office-based working. We are based in a very accessible location within the M25, just 20 miles from Central London.


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Our behaviours
- We’re hungry for better
- We solve it together
- We make it happen
- We say what needs to be said
More about our people
We’re looking for inspiring professionals; talented people who seek personal and career growth and are ambitious to develop their potential and unlock opportunities for society, for our clients and themselves. We seek and attract the very best people and create an environment that supports and includes them. We aim to encourage a culture where people can be themselves and be valued for their contribution. We welcome applications from diverse candidates. Please discuss any adjustments that you may require throughout the selection and assessment process.
More about IGD
We are a strategic insight foresight and learning organisation. Here to unite the industry and benefit society. We invest all our profit into Social Impact. We foster collaboration through a broad range of forums, bringing together businesses, policymakers, and thought leaders. By providing evidence-based insights, credible research, and strategic foresight, we help organisations make informed decisions that benefit their operations and contribute to the collective good of society.
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