Business Development Manager - Food Packaging

Harrison Scott Associates; London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing packaging company in the UK is seeking a Business Development Manager to identify new business opportunities and drive growth. The ideal candidate will have a strong sales background in packaging and the ability to build relationships with key decision-makers. This role offers autonomy and the chance to make a significant impact within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of opening new commercial channels.
• Comfortable managing a sales pipeline.
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated personality.

Responsibilities

• Identifying and converting new business opportunities.
• Building relationships with key decision-makers.
• Driving new business and setting strategy.

Skills

Sales background in packaging

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Market insight

Ability to travel

Job description

Are you a natural deal-closer with a deep understanding of the food packaging world?

Our client – a fast-growing packaging company with big ambitions – is on the hunt for a Business Development Manager to lead the charge across their expanding packaging portfolio. This isn’t a role for someone who wants to manage accounts. This is for someone who wants to create them.

What You’ll Be Doing:

As a Business Development Manager, you’ll be opening doors and turning connections into commercial opportunities. You’ll be driving new business, setting strategy, and using your market insight to make big things happen.

Your day-to-day will include:

• Identifying and converting new business opportunities across packaging categories.
• Building relationships with key decision-makers in distribution, grocery, retail, foodservice, and more.
• Crafting a winning business development plan that puts your division on the map.
• Staying ahead of market trends and using insights to drive new deals.
• Managing a healthy sales pipeline with clear growth targets.
• Helping shape high-impact sales pitches, content, and proposals.
• Juggling desk outreach, on-the-road meetings, and final-stage deal-closing like a pro.
• Collaborating internally to push innovation, tech adoption, and efficiency.

Where You’ll Be Working:

This role is national with occasional international travel. You'll work independently, but not alone – you'll be supported by a dynamic, collaborative team that values innovation and results.

Who We’re Looking For:

You’re a go-getter who knows the packaging space and has the contacts to prove it. You understand both the commercial and technical side of the products you sell and know how to talk to everyone from buyers to engineers.

You’ll thrive if you:

• Have a strong sales background in packaging – especially within distribution, foodservice, grocery, or wholesale.
• Know your way around products like flexibles, paper packaging, aluminium, absorbency products.
• Have a proven track record of opening up new commercial channels and delivering results.
• Are entrepreneurial, self-motivated, and thrive with autonomy.
• Bring excellent communication and negotiation skills to the table.
• Understand how to manage a sales pipeline and hit commercial targets.
• Are comfortable travelling up to 30% of the time to meet clients and attend key events.

Why Join?

This is your chance to be part of something big – and grow with it. You’ll be given the freedom to build your own path, backed by a company that invests in people, trusts its team, and is set on becoming a leader in its sector.

If you’re commercially savvy, love the thrill of the chase, and want a role where your impact is genuinely felt – this is the one for you.