Business Development Executive

AUSTIN MATLEY; Farnborough; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK company is seeking a Business Development Executive to support its commercial activities by assisting with lead qualification and early-stage client interactions. The role involves collaboration with the Marketing team and Business Development Manager and aims at preparing the individual for future progression into a managerial role. Strong communication, client management skills, and knowledge of CRM systems like Salesforce are essential. This position offers opportunities for professional growth within the organization.

Qualifications

• Professional development courses in client management or project management are a plus.
• Commercial awareness of pricing, margins, and client value is beneficial.
• Interest in healthcare, technology, or manufacturing sectors is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support the qualification of leads from campaigns and inquiries.
• Conduct research on prospects to assess strategic fit.
• Maintain CRM data for visibility and follow-through.

Skills

Client management

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Market intelligence

Lead qualification

Tools

Salesforce

HubSpot

Microsoft 365

Trello

Job description

Job Title: Business Development Executive

Reports to: Manager / Head of Business Development

Type: Full-time

Position Summary

The Business Development Executive supports the organisation’s commercial activities by assisting with lead qualification, market intelligence, and early-stage client interactions. Working closely with the Marketing team and a Business Development Manager (BDM), this role ensures that outbound campaigns, inbound enquiries, and strategic opportunities are effectively qualified and progressed through the early stages of the client journey.

This is a developmental position aimed at preparing the individual for future progression into a Business Development Manager role once they demonstrate the capability to independently manage strategic relationships.

• Review and qualify leads from outbound campaigns and inbound enquiries.
• Conduct initial research on prospects to support qualification and strategic fit assessment.
• Log, update, and maintain lead and opportunity data within the CRM to support visibility and follow-through.
• Document client needs, objectives, and technical considerations for internal review.
• Monitor market developments, competitor activity, and industry trends to support outbound strategy.
• Ensure prospects receive a professional and seamless early-stage experience.
• Provide increasing support in more complex qualification activities and account mapping as experience grows.
• Develop outbound prospecting skills to identify and initiate conversations with potential clients.

Key Performance Objectives

• Support Marketing and BDMs by processing, qualifying, and organising leads generated from outbound campaigns and inbound channels.
• Develop an understanding of the full client journey to ensure prospects and partners receive a consistent, high-quality experience.
• Learn how to identify strategic opportunities by understanding client needs, potential product requirements, and the organisation’s capabilities.
• Maintain accurate CRM data and assist BDMs with preparing materials for discovery sessions, proposals, and follow-up activities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Accuracy and completeness of prospect records and reporting.
• Positive feedback from prospects and internal stakeholders regarding responsiveness and service quality.
• Demonstrated growth in prospect-management knowledge and capability.
• Successful development towards managing independent prospect or account responsibilities.
• Strong understanding of the organisation’s value proposition and service offering (to be developed in role).
• Strategic and logical approach to problem solving.
• Professional, client-focused, and personable.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels internally and externally.

Qualifications / Certificates / Licences

• Professional development courses in client management or project management (optional).
• Commercial awareness or interest in pricing, margins, and long-term client value.
• Interest in sectors such as healthcare, technology, or manufacturing (advantageous but not essential).
• Ability to balance multiple early-stage opportunities and deadlines.

Software Knowledge

• CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot): Basic to Intermediate
• Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook): Intermediate
• Project / Collaboration Tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Trello, Monday.com): Basic to Intermediate
• Data Entry & Reporting Tools: Basic