Client Development Manager

apetito; Newcastle upon Tyne; Remote; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a driven Client Development Manager to foster long-term partnerships in the health and social care sectors. This role is pivotal in ensuring customer satisfaction and retention, with responsibilities including account management, training delivery, and business development. The ideal candidate will thrive in a proactive environment, showcasing strong communication and commercial skills while working closely with care homes. Join a family-owned business dedicated to quality and well-being, where your contributions will directly impact the lives of elderly and vulnerable customers.

Benefits

Company Car

25 Days Holiday

Generous Annual Bonus

Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

Christmas Turkey or Voucher

Retail Discounts

Qualifications

• Proven success in achieving account management targets.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to justify business cases.

Responsibilities

• Achieve 95% account retention for existing accounts.
• Build and maintain relationships with external partners.

Skills

Account Management

Training Delivery

Consultative Sales

Commercial Acumen

Communication Skills

Education

GCSEs or equivalent

A Levels or Degree

Job description

Competitive Salary + Car + Bonus + Benefits

• Location: UK-Home Based |
• Contract type: Permanent (Full-Time) |

Overview

Our Client Development Managers (CDMs) are a key link between our customers and apetito. Customers see their CDM as the face of apetito – they are an instrumental part of the success of apetito partnerships.

A successful CDM will be a proactive, enthusiastic self-starter capable of developing long-term partnerships with customers and achieving commercial targets, including high levels of customer retention and loyalty.

Our CDMs manage their own customers with support from a team of apetito colleagues. This role offers a distinctive advantage in the market.

The Care Homes Team:

• Are dedicated experts in providing food for older people
• Partner genuinely with Care Homes and their teams
• Create food that is enjoyed and shared, fostering a forward-thinking culture to accelerate growth over the next 5 years, with a team comprising experienced managers, food professionals, and graduates who are passionate about our mission.

For more information on the CDM role, please view the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcvAr9BrwDw&feature=youtu.be

This role covers the North-East of England; ideal candidates will be based around York, Teeside, or Newcastle.

Who we are

apetito is the UK’s leading food supplier to the health and social care sectors, serving over 1,300 care homes, healthcare, and education settings.

Our meals are crafted by dieticians and chefs, then frozen to preserve quality.

Wiltshire Farm Foods, our sister company, is the UK’s largest ready meal supplier, delivering over 330 different frozen meals nationwide.

Responsibilities

Retention

• Achieve a target of 95% account and value retention for existing accounts.

Mobilisations

• Ensure excellent service mobilization, including system introduction, staff training, and skill development.

Business Development

• Support Key Account Managers in developing group opportunities and ongoing business, often stemming from successful mobilizations.

Relationships

• Build and maintain external relationships, collaborating with divisions such as Marketing, CS&D, Product Development, Healthcare, Local Authorities, and WFF.

The CDM typically manages around 40 customers, focusing on budget control, training, product presentations, and dispute resolution. They also promote apetito within the Care Homes marketplace through extensive networking.

About you

Essential:

• Proven success in achieving and exceeding account management targets
• Experience in delivering training
• Consultative, solutions-led sales approach
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to justify business cases
• Handling objections related to financial issues
• High standard of communication and numerical skills supported by GCSEs or equivalent

Desirable:

• Catering background
• Knowledge of food, nutritional, or technical standards
• Experience in the Care sector
• Customer service experience
• A Levels or a degree
• Intermediate/Advanced Food Hygiene certification
• Clean driving license

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated with strong organizational and training skills
• Team player capable of working independently
• Passionate about the role
• Credibility with owners and management boards
• Empathetic and customer-focused
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Resilient and determined
• Excellent influencing and interpersonal skills
• Attentive to customer needs
• Methodical, analytical, results-oriented
• Flexible working hours and overnight stays as needed (up to 1 night/week)
• Willing to travel regionally and reside within a reasonable distance of the region

This role involves working with elderly and vulnerable customers; therefore, a Basic DBS Disclosure is required, and the role is exempt from The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Guidance on disclosing convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Company Benefits

• Competitive salary, accredited Living Wage employer
• Company car
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with options to purchase additional days
• Generous annual bonus scheme
• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 5%
• Life assurance (2x salary)
• Christmas turkey or voucher
• Perks scheme including salary sacrifice and retail discounts

Our Values

As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on making a difference and creating outstanding meals. We focus on health and well-being, support British food and farming, and aim for Net Zero by 2040. We are committed to inclusion and empowering diverse backgrounds, fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.