Business Development Manager

Trutex Limited; Clitheroe; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Laptop and mobile phone

Pension scheme

33 days holiday per annum

Hybrid and remote working flexibility

Job summary

Trutex Limited in the United Kingdom is seeking a proactive Business Development professional to drive new schoolwear opportunities across the assigned territory. You will manage end-to-end sales from initial contact to contract, build relationships with headteachers, bursars and procurement teams, and collaborate with internal teams to deliver tailored proposals and successful tender responses.

Hybrid/remote working flexibility is offered, with a focus on achieving targets and expanding

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development and field sales.
• Experience managing a structured sales pipeline.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand customer needs and develop clear, persuasive commercial proposals.
• CRM proficiency and data-driven forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Identify and prioritise education-sector opportunities within the territory.
• Create and execute territory plans translating strategy into prospecting and meetings.
• Generate opportunities via outreach, events, market intelligence and education-sector stakeholders.
• Manage end-to-end sales from contact through contract to implementation handover.
• Build relationships with headteachers, school business managers, bursars and procurement teams.
• Represent the company at school meetings, presentations, trade shows and education-sector events.

Skills

Business development

Field sales

Consultative B2B sales

Relationship building

Negotiation

CRM forecasting

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

• Identify and prioritise prospective state schools, independent schools, Multi-Academy Trusts and other relevant education-sector opportunities within the agreed territory.
• Create and execute territory plans that translate the wider business development strategy into clear prospecting, meeting, proposal and conversion activity.
• Generate new opportunities through targeted outreach, networking, referrals, events, market intelligence and engagement with key education-sector stakeholders.
• Manage the end-to-end sales process, progressing qualified opportunities from initial contact through contract signature and implementation handover.
• Build relationships with headteachers, school business managers, bursars, governors, procurement teams and other key decision-makers.
• Represent the company professionally at school meetings, presentations, trade shows and education-sector events.

PIPELINE, CRM & FORECASTING

• Maintain accurate and timely CRM records covering contacts, activities, opportunity stage, value, probability, next steps and expected close date.
• Build and maintain a healthy, conversion-focused pipeline sufficient to achieve individual new-business targets.
• Provide reliable weekly and monthly forecasts, highlight early risks and agree recovery actions with the Head of Business Development.
• Use data and insight to prioritise activity, improve conversion and identify geographic or sector opportunities.

PROPOSALS, TENDERS & COMMERCIAL NEGOTIATION

• Develop tailored presentations, proposals and tender submissions that clearly communicate the company’s customer proposition and respond to each school’s requirements.
• Coordinate input from finance, operations, merchandise, design, marketing, customer service and other colleagues to deliver accurate and compelling submissions.
• Support product, pricing and service recommendations that balance customer value with revenue, margin and operational requirements.
• Negotiate commercial terms within delegated authority and company policy, escalating exceptions appropriately.
• Ensure procurement requirements, deadlines, approvals and tender documentation are completed accurately and on time.

CONTRACT HANDOVER & RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT

• Complete a structured handover for every new contract, ensuring commitments, specifications, timelines, service requirements and risks are clearly documented.
• Work closely with operational, customer service, merchandise and digital teams to support a smooth implementation and launch.
• Maintain appropriate contact with newly won schools during onboarding, acting as an escalation point until the relationship is successfully embedded.
• Identify opportunities to broaden relationships across school groups, Trusts and local networks, including additional schools, products or services.
• Gather customer and market feedback and share actionable insight with relevant teams.

COLLABORATION & PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

• Work collaboratively with the Head of Business Development and wider sales team, sharing insight, best practice and opportunities.
• Contribute to a culture of accountability, pace, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure all customer communications, proposals and commitments are accurate, professional and consistent with company standards.
• Keep up to date with competitor activity, market developments and changes affecting school uniform procurement.
• Comply with company policies, approval processes, data protection requirements and health and safety obligations.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• New direct school contracts won against individual target.
• New-business revenue and gross margin delivered against budget.
• Qualified pipeline value, coverage and stage progression.
• Conversion rates from lead to meeting, proposal and contract.
• Sales-cycle duration and forecast accuracy.
• CRM data quality and completion of agreed activity levels.
• Quality and timeliness of contract handovers and onboarding support.
• Development of Multi-Academy Trust and school-group opportunities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Proven experience in business development, field sales or consultative B2B sales, with evidence of achieving new-business targets.
• Experience managing a structured sales pipeline and progressing opportunities through a multi-stage sales cycle.
• Strong relationship-building, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to understand customer needs and develop clear, persuasive commercial proposals.
• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of revenue, margin, pricing and contractual commitments.
• Confident using CRM systems and sales data to manage activity and forecasting.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, resilient and comfortable working independently across a geographic territory.
• Strong written communication and attention to detail, particularly when preparing proposals and tender responses.
• Collaborative approach and the ability to coordinate effectively across multiple departments.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly, including occasional overnight stays or events.
• Experience within schoolwear, education, retail, manufacturing or another product-led sector.
• Knowledge of UK school procurement, including state schools, independent schools and Multi-Academy Trusts.
• Experience contributing to formal tenders or procurement submissions.
• An existing network of contacts within the education sector.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Performance-related bonus scheme.
• Laptop and mobile phone.
• Pension scheme and 33 days’ holiday per annum.
• Hybrid and remote working flexibility, aligned with customer and business needs.
• The opportunity to contribute to a high-priority growth strategy within an established and ambitious business.

Proven experience in business development, field sales or consultative B2B sales, with evidence of achieving new-business targets