Business Development Manager

JLA Group; Southampton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Programme

Company pension scheme

25 days annual leave

Cycle-to-work scheme

Job summary

Proton Southern is seeking a proactive sales professional to grow revenue in the hospitality, care and education sectors. You will attend independently generated appointments, close opportunities, and expand our client base across the south of the UK.

Reporting to the Head of Sales, you will manage a portfolio of key accounts, deliver tailored solutions, and collaborate with internal teams to ensure excellent service while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills with a focus on client satisfaction.
• Strong organisational abilities and planning skills for multi-client portfolios.
• Clear and effective communication in English, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently, present plans, and report to management.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to grow sales revenue.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of key accounts and maintain long-term relationships.
• Understand client needs and provide tailored hospitality solutions.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing and terms to maximise profitability.
• Collaborate with internal teams to deliver outstanding service.

Skills

Customer service

Organisational skills

English language

Self-management

Strategic planning

Negotiation

Relationship building

Networking

Team player

Education

Full UK driving licence

Job description

Proton Southern is an established business supplying critical catering and hospitality equipment, consumables, and support services to independent and group companies across the south of the UK.

Role overview

Reporting to the Head of Sales, you will be responsible for increasing business by closing developed and repeat sales opportunities while discovering new streams of interest within the hospitality, care and education sectors. New business will be done through attending independently generated appointments.

Key tasks

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities to grow sales revenue
• Develop and manage a portfolio of key accounts, ensuring long-term client relationship
• Understand client needs and provide tailored solutions to meet their business objectives
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, and terms to maximize profitability
• Collaborate with internal teams to deliver excellent service
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities
• Prepare and present sales reports, forecasts, and performance metrics
• Attend industry events and networking opportunities to build relationships
• Carry out site surveys where required
• To determine the pricing structure for the client, in line with Proton pricing strategy and obtaining senior level approval as required

Knowledge and Skills (what you know and what you can do)

• Ability to provide outstanding levels of customer service
• Good organisational skills
• Good knowledge of the English language, both written and verbal
• You will have the ability to manage yourself without supervision and provide clear strategy plans to the management team.

Experience (what you have done)

• Demonstrated ability to provide outstanding customer service.
• Experience of working in a busy team; driven to achieve personal, team, and business goals
• Demonstrated experience of taking ownership of customer queries
• Possess a strong understanding of our products, our competition in the industry and positioning.

Personal qualities (the way you think and act)

• Aptitude for quickly building rapport with our customers by showing patience, empathy and understanding
• Strong team player
• Confidence and eagerness to own and resolve issues by showing initiative and willingness to learn

Qualifications

We will need you to have a full UK diving licence as the role involves UK travel.

When you join the JLA family, you'll also gain access to an extensive benefits package.

• We care about our people and take your well‑being seriously, which is why we offer a range of supportive tools for health and wellbeing, financial guidance, and legal advice. Our Employee Assistance Programme, 24/7 Wellness and Lifestyle App plus a dedicated team of Mental Health First Aiders are there to support you through life's challenges. We also offer up to 8 counseling sessions, which can be in‑person or remote, providing you with the support and flexibility to suit your own personal needs.
• To offer financial support, we not only provide life assurance coverage, company sick pay, and a company pension scheme, we offer a range of added benefits such as free office parking, eye care vouchers, a cycle-to-work scheme, and exclusive discounts through our staff benefits hub.
• We really pride ourselves in offering a healthy work‑life balance and believe it is important to have time away to recharge which is why we provide 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working options, and enhanced family leave policies.
• We are a company that appreciates you and invests in your success and even have a Colleague Recognition Scheme to celebrate your achievements. We're dedicated to your growth, offering support in career development and training. We value your referrals, and through our Refer a Friend scheme, you can earn up to £1,000 in bonus rewards!