Business Development Manager - Security

Opus Perm; Essex; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Opus Perm is seeking a proactive Business Development Manager to join a security-focused team. The role centers on building long-term client relationships, pursuing tenders, and leading bid reviews to win new work across the UK.

You will spearhead lead generation, coordinate cross-functional teams, and manage the full bid lifecycle from opportunity through submission. A UK-wide travel requirement and a full driving licence are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in business development and tender processes.
• Ability to travel across the UK with a valid driving licence.
• Strong negotiation and networking abilities.
• Knowledge of manned guarding, mobile services, CCTV and security tech solutions.

Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive business development strategy with senior leadership.
• Maintain relationships with customers and lead bid reviews.
• Lead complete bid lifecycle from opportunity identification to submission.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams for tender information gathering.
• Identify market opportunities and target customers.
• Attend conferences and discovery meetings; nurture leads from start to finish.

Skills

Communication skills

Security knowledge

Negotiation skills

Networking

Prospecting

Market research

Time management

Scheduling meetings

Team collaboration

Driving licence

Travel eligible

BS7858 vetting

BPSS

SIA licence

Job description

We are working exclusively on behalf of a Security focused business who are seeking a BDM to join their team - This role has exceptional opportunity to build a career, and help to grow the sales function.

This role focuses on building long term relationships, applying for tenders when they become open, leading bid reviews and promoting the wide range of security services to potential clients.

This role is a fantastic opportunity for someone seeking to make a real difference in a dynamic organisation.

Note: For this role, you need to live within one of these patches: Midlands, Kent, East Anglia. This role will be home based apart from monthly meetings in Essex.

Duties:

Strategic

• Work collaboratively with the Head of and wider Senior Leadership team to develop a comprehensive business development strategy.
• Maintain positive professional relationships with customers.
• Lead industry research surrounding business devolvement strategies, growth regions and target customers.
• Monitor sales progress to ensure that service growth goals are being met.
• Lead regular bid reviews and lessons learned sessions, ensuring feedback from successful and unsuccessful pursuits is captured, shared, and embedded into future submissions.
• Support strategic growth initiatives by identifying emerging market opportunities, framework appointments, and target customers.
• Act as a representative in Group business devolvement environments

Operational

• Lead and manage the complete bid lifecycle from opportunity identification through to submission and post-tender feedback.
• Review tender documentation, assess requirements, and develop bid strategies and submission plans.
• Facilitate go-no-go processes alongside the management
• Responsibility for lead generation through marketing activities and sales lead management.
• Management of sales leads through regular and appropriate contact with prospective customers
• Regular reporting of activity
• Develop bid delivery programmes against key project milestones
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and Subject Matter Experts to gather technical, commercial, and tender information.
• Maintain an excellent working knowledge of the services provided across all its professional services and software.
• Lead innovation and continuous improvement within the team to improve the bid process and develop our company brand to increase bid success.
• Conduct detailed review of tender results and assess areas in our bids where we can carry out lessons learnt and make the necessary improvements, updating records to ensure we have well educated responses to use on future bids.
• Attend appropriate conferences and trade shows
• Book Discovery Meetings with qualifying leads and follow up with any actions
• Follow up with leads and nurture prospects from the start to the finish.

Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Understanding of Manned Guarding, Mobile Services, CCTV and Security Tech Solutions
• Sharp negotiation and networking skills
• Confidence in outreach, handling and qualification with leads
• Ability to research and identify target customers
• Organised and punctual
• Experience in scheduling meetings and discovery calls
• Self-motivated, target-driven and resilient attitude
• Ability to meet strict deadlines
• Confidence in collaboration with other teams to ensure delivery
• Full UK driving licence
• Ability to travel around UK
• Ability to obtain BS7858 vetting
• Ability to obtain BPSS vetting
• Ability to obtain SIA licence