Business Development Assistant Manager

The Royal Kennel Club; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (up to 30)

Employer pension contributions up to 8

Life assurance

Enhanced parental pay

Healthcare cashback

Staff tickets to Crufts

Discounts on products

Free eye tests

Job summary

The Royal Kennel Club in London is seeking a Business Development Assistant Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Hybrid role with 2 days per week in our London office.

You will drive commercial growth, identify and convert new opportunities, and manage the end-to-end process from prospecting to onboarding. You'll support and enhance existing partnerships, deliver outstanding outcomes for partners and the business, and work across Partnerships & Events, Revenue, Finance, Legal and Product

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development, commercial partnerships, supplier management, account management or buying.
• Demonstrable success negotiating commercial agreements and delivering commercial targets.
• Experience identifying and securing new business opportunities.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify mutually beneficial opportunities.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Procurement, purchasing or supply chain experience.
• Experience negotiating supplier or affiliate agreements.
• Experience within membership organisations, retail, loyalty, licensing or e-commerce.
• Familiarity with sponsorship, licensing or commercial partnership programmes.
• Knowledge of contract administration and supplier onboarding processes.

Responsibilities

• Identify and research new commercial partnership opportunities aligned to strategic priorities.
• Proactively approach prospective partners and build a strong commercial pipeline.
• Support the negotiation and delivery of commercial agreements, sponsorships, licensing arrangements and supplier partnerships.
• Prepare commercial proposals, presentations and business cases.
• Develop financial models and commercial evaluations for new opportunities.
• Support commercial campaigns to maximise revenue generation.
• Maintain an accurate commercial pipeline and records.
• Produce regular reports on commercial activity and revenue performance.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activity and commercial opportunities.
• Support forecasting and budget planning.
• Work with Revenue/Brand, Events, Finance, Legal and Product teams to deliver initiatives.
• Ensure opportunities align with organisational strategy and brand values.

Skills

Business development

Partnership management

Negotiation

Account management

Procurement

Sponsorships

Licensing

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Contract administration

Job description

Job Title: Business Development Assistant Manager - Temporary

Contract type: 12 Months Fixed-Term

Location: London & Hybrid (2 days a week in our London office)

Team: Partnerships & Events

Reports to: Business Development Manager

Closing date: 31 August 2026

*Please not we are unable to provide work visa sponsorships

Working alongside the Business Development Manager, you'll be at the heart of driving commercial growth, identifying and converting new opportunities while managing the end-to-end process from prospecting to onboarding. You'll also play an integral role in supporting and enhancing existing commercial partnerships, helping to deliver outstanding outcomes for our partners and the business.

What you'll bring:

• Proven experience in business development, commercial partnerships, supplier management, account management or buying.
• Demonstrable success negotiating commercial agreements and delivering commercial targets.
• Experience identifying and securing new business opportunities.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify mutually beneficial opportunities.
• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Confident communicator with excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Analytical mindset with experience evaluating commercial opportunities using data.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while collaborating across teams.
• High attention to detail.
• Procurement, purchasing or supply chain experience.
• Experience negotiating supplier or affiliate agreements.
• Experience within membership organisations, retail, loyalty, licensing or e-commerce.
• Familiarity with sponsorship, licensing or commercial partnership programmes.
• Knowledge of contract administration and supplier onboarding processes.

What you'll be doing:

Commercial Development

• Identify and research new commercial partnership opportunities aligned to strategic priorities.
• Proactively approach prospective partners and build a strong commercial pipeline.
• Support the negotiation and delivery of commercial agreements, sponsorships, licensing arrangements and supplier partnerships.
• Prepare commercial proposals, presentations and business cases.
• Develop financial models and commercial evaluations for new opportunities.
• Support commercial campaigns to maximise revenue generation.

Partnership Management

• Support the onboarding of new commercial partners.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing partners to maximise engagement and retention.
• Ensure contractual commitments are delivered by both parties.
• Monitor partner performance against agreed KPIs.
• Identify opportunities to grow existing commercial relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms and discounts with suppliers and partners.
• Support procurement and supplier evaluation activities where appropriate.
• Work with internal stakeholders to ensure commercial agreements deliver operational value.
• Support contract administration and renewal processes.

Business Planning & Reporting

• Maintain an accurate commercial pipeline and records.
• Produce regular reports on commercial activity and revenue performance.
• Analyse market trends, competitor activity and commercial opportunities.
• Support forecasting and budget planning.

Cross-functional Working

• Work closely with Revenue and Brand, Events, Finance, Legal and Product teams to deliver commercial initiatives.
• Ensure commercial opportunities align with organisational strategy and brand values.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days, in addition to statutory holidays. Staff may also receive additional days for any approved business closure days over the festive period in December, Option to buy up to five days of annual leave per year.
• Employer pension contributions double the percentage of your plan earnings, up to 8%
• Life assurance equivalent to three times your basic salary (two times your basic salary for non-pension scheme members)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Lifestyle discounts via our EAP and healthcare cashback programme
• Discounts on Royal Kennel Club products and services
• 4X Complimentary staff tickets to Crufts and Discover Dogs
• Healthcare cashback programme with a fixed contribution paid for by the Royal Kennel Club
• Free eye tests with a voucher towards the cost of your spectacles
• Financial support for professional and vocational qualifications, with five days' study leave provided
• Free access to The Royal Kennel Club Library and Art Gallery