Business Development Manager

Black Bull Biochar; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance including dental, opt

25 days annual leave

Remote work permanently for two weeks

Job summary

Black Bull Biochar in Manchester is seeking a versatile Business Development Manager to help secure grants and drive commercial sales to agricultural, utilities and industrial organisations.

You will write applications, manage submissions, coordinate inputs across teams, and support CRM, lead follow-up and events. Curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than a perfect CV.

Qualifications

• Experience in grant writing, funding applications, or bid coordination.
• Interest or background in agriculture, agri-tech, climate, or environmental fields.
• Commercial acumen with sales process exposure.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate stakeholders.
• Curiosity and willingness to learn about biochar and carbon removal.
• Resilience to high-paced start-up environment.

Responsibilities

• Support development of BBB’s commercial partnerships across agriculture, carbon markets, and strategic industry stakeholders.
• Help manage the commercial pipeline by tracking opportunities, coordinating follow-ups, and maintaining accurate CRM records.
• Support preparation of commercial proposals, presentations, and partnership materials for prospective customers and partners.
• Maintain CRM records, prepare sales materials, and report on commercial pipeline activity.
• Conduct industry research to identify new routes to market, potential commercial collaborations, and funding opportunities.
• Research and identify grant opportunities across UKRI, Innovate UK, DEFRA, DESNZ, local authorities, climate-tech funds, and private innovation funding streams.
• Support the preparation and writing of grant applications, combining technical clarity with compelling commercial rationale.
• Help coordinate internal stakeholders and gather input from agriculture, operations, and product teams for submissions.
• Assist in developing project plans, budgets, work packages, and timelines for grant applications.
• Support post-award reporting and compliance activities.
• Feed insights into strategy, helping BBB identify emerging opportunities in carbon removal and regenerative agriculture.

Skills

Strong communicator

Grant writing

Bid coordination

Commercially minded

Organised

Curious & proactive

Calm under pressure

Ambiguity tolerance

Job description

Black Bull Biochar (BBB) is a growing UK company scaling the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material that improves soil health and removes carbon from the atmosphere. The company is entering an exciting expansion phase, growing its presence, particularly across Manchester, and building a team that will define the future of agriculture, renewable energy and carbon removal.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a versatile, high-impact role for someone who wants to make a real difference at an early-stage climate-tech company. As Business Development Manager, you will work across two of BBB's most important growth areas: securing funding through grants and supporting commercial sales activity to agricultural, utilities, and industrial organisations.

You will identify and write applications, help shape proposals, coordinate inputs, and manage submissions, while also supporting the commercial team with sales outreach, customer enquiries, lead follow-up, CRM management, and event representation. You will play a pivotal role in connecting our funding strategy with our commercial ambitions.

This role is ideal for a people person who thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment; enjoys a mix of writing, relationship-building, and commercial activity; and is energised by helping a mission-oriented company grow. You don't need to know everything about biochar yet, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than a perfect CV.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the development of BBB’s commercial partnerships across agriculture, carbon markets, and strategic industry stakeholders
• Help manage the commercial pipeline by tracking opportunities, coordinating follow-ups, and maintaining accurate CRM records
• Support preparation of commercial proposals, presentations, and partnership materials for prospective customers and partners
• Maintain CRM records, prepare sales materials, and report on commercial pipeline activity
• Conduct industry research to identify new routes to market, potential commercial collaborations, and funding opportunities
• Research and identify grant opportunities across UKRI, Innovate UK, DEFRA, DESNZ, local authorities, climate-tech funds, and private innovation funding streams
• Support the preparation and writing of grant applications, combining technical clarity with compelling commercial rationale
• Help coordinate internal stakeholders and gather input from agriculture, operations, and product teams for submissions
• Assist in developing project plans, budgets, work packages, and timelines for grant applications
• Support post-award reporting and compliance activities

Wider Business Development

• Support partnership development with universities, research institutions, public bodies, and industry groups
• Feed insights into strategy, helping BBB identify emerging opportunities in carbon removal and regenerative agriculture

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Strong communicator: both written and verbal; clear, persuasive, and able to engage partners and funders alike
• Experience in grant writing, funding applications, or bid coordination (e.g. Innovate UK, UKRI, DEFRA)
• Background or genuine interest in agriculture, agri-tech, climate, or environmental fields
• Commercially minded: comfortable supporting a sales process, managing customer enquiries, and helping close deals
• Organised and reliable: able to manage multiple deadlines, coordinate stakeholders, and keep projects moving
• Curious and proactive: eager to learn about biochar, carbon removal, and agricultural systems
• Calm under pressure: able to handle a varied workload and changing priorities in a start-up environment
• Comfortable with ambiguity: thrives when direction is evolving and takes initiative to fill gaps

Experience in climate-tech, agri-tech, carbon markets, or environmental science is helpful but not essential. We value capability and mindset over a perfect background.

WHAT YOU WILL GET FROM US

• A cross-cutting hands-on experience working in a purposeful, impact-driven, fast-paced start-up at the frontier of climate tech innovation.
• The chance to grow and shape an organisation in its early stages.
• Health insurance including dental, optical and mental health cover.
• A positive work environment with a like-minded group of motivated, engaging entrepreneurs.
• 25 days annual leave, not including bank holidays and the ability to remote work permanently for two weeks a year.
• Building a greener future where your work removes carbon, restores soil health, decarbonises energy and creates a lasting positive impact for generations to come.

At this time, BBB can only accept applicants who are based in Manchester and have the right to work in the UK.