Business Development Manager

McBride Partners Human Capital Ltd.; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Company car or car allowance

Private medical cover

Generous annual leave

Pension scheme

Life assurance

Flexible / remote working

Job summary

McBride Sport is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive growth from Glasgow, with travel to clients and colleagues as required. You will own the pipeline, identify tenders, and build strong partnerships with senior decision-makers across sectors.

You will lead bids end-to-end, coordinating input from operations, finance, marketing and legal to produce compelling proposals. A driving licence and willingness to travel are essential; a bonus and car option are included.

Qualifications

• Experience securing contracts in tender-led environments.
• Experience in contract catering or food service desirable.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel.

Responsibilities

• Developing a strong, well-researched pipeline of prospects and tender opportunities.
• Building trusted relationships with decision‑makers, from initial introduction to board-level discussions.
• Leading bids and tenders, coordinating internal specialists to create compelling proposals.
• Presenting and pitching to prospective clients and adapting the story to priorities.
• Analyzing opportunities from market and contract economics to ensure bids are worthwhile.
• Managing multiple bids and meeting deadlines while maintaining quality.
• Supporting transition of new contracts into live operation.
• Contributing to retention and rebid activities on existing accounts.
• Maintaining accurate CRM and reporting progress against targets.

Skills

Pipeline development

Tender management

Strategic selling

CRM software

Bid presentations

Negotiation

Travel readiness

Contract catering knowledge

Job description

McBride Sport is proud to be partnering with one of the UK's established names in contract catering and food service on the appointment of a Business Development Manager, based in Glasgow.

Our client delivers food and hospitality services across a broad range of sectors, and growth is central to its plans.

This newly focused role will be key to expanding its presence, bringing in new contracts and strengthening its reputation as a partner of choice for organisations seeking quality, innovation and value from their catering provision.

This is a chance to make a visible, measurable impact. You'll be the driving force behind new client acquisition, identifying where the next opportunities lie and building the relationships that turn interest into long‑term partnerships.

Working from Glasgow, with travel to clients and colleagues as the role requires, you'll take full ownership of your pipeline. You'll research the market, spot emerging tenders and make the right connections early, so that when an opportunity goes live, your client already knows the business and what it stands for. From there, you'll lead the bid process end to end. That means understanding exactly what each prospective client is trying to achieve, shaping a tailored solution, and coordinating input from colleagues across operations, finance, marketing and legal to produce proposals that are both compelling and commercially robust. You'll present with confidence, negotiate with clarity and see each deal through to completion.

Your involvement doesn't stop once the contract is signed. You'll help hand new accounts over smoothly to the operational team and contribute to rebid and renewal activity, protecting existing business as well as winning new.

Key responsibilities

• Developing a strong, well‑researched pipeline of prospects and tender opportunities
• Building trusted relationships with decision-makers, from initial introduction to board‑level discussions
• Leading bids and tenders, bringing together internal specialists to create standout, financially sound proposals
• Presenting and pitching to prospective clients, adapting the story to their priorities
• Analysing each opportunity, from competitor landscape to contract economics, to ensure every bid is worth winning
• Running several bids at once while maintaining high standards and meeting every deadline
• Supporting the transition of new contracts into live operation
• Contributing to retention and rebid activity on existing accounts
• Keeping CRM and pipeline data accurate and reporting regularly on progress against targets

You will be a natural new business developer with a track record of securing contracts in a competitive, tender‑led environment. Experience in contract catering or food service is highly desirable, and exposure to the healthcare sector would be a real asset. You'll combine commercial judgement with genuine curiosity about what clients need. You're comfortable questioning assumptions, working through the numbers and holding your ground in negotiation, while building relationships people value. You'll also bring:

• A solid understanding of how the UK contract catering market works and how contracts are won
• Excellent written communication and the creativity to craft persuasive bids and presentations
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to prioritise under pressure
• A collaborative approach, working well with colleagues across different disciplines
• Confidence using CRM systems and digital bid tools
• Resilience and self‑motivation, with the drive to keep going when things don't go your way
• A full UK driving licence and flexibility to travel

Alongside a competitive base salary, the role comes with an attractive performance‑related bonus and a company car or car allowance. The wider benefits package includes private medical cover, a generous annual leave allowance with the option to purchase extra days, pension and life assurance and flexible / remote working. There is a clear commitment to training, development and long‑term career progression.

This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious business development professional to join a respected organisation at an exciting point in its growth