Customer Development Manager (Midlands and Wales)

Mediterranean Shipping Company; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global shipping firm is seeking a Customer Development Manager for a full-time position in the UK. This role involves extensive travel throughout England and focuses on managing client relationships to secure new business and meet revenue targets. The successful candidate should have a proven background in container shipping, key account management experience, and excellent communication skills. Competitive salary, company car, and generous benefits are offered, alongside a culture built on family values and continuous evolution.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Company car

Private health and dental care

Generous pension scheme

Life assurance 4× salary

25 days leave including Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve

On-site artisan restaurant

Cycle to work scheme

Flu vaccines and eye care vouchers

Buy or sell holiday scheme

Christmas club saving

MSC Cruises friends and family discount

Comprehensive induction and training

Learning and development opportunities

Dress for the day policy

Qualifications

• Proven experience in container shipping or logistics is essential.
• Demonstrated key account management capabilities.
• Drive to increase the client portfolio and establish new customer relationships.

Responsibilities

• Manage high-level customer accounts and develop opportunities.
• Focus on TEU growth and profitability while upselling products.
• Regular reporting on customer performance and budget expectations.
• Engage in proactive customer contact to enhance relationships.

Skills

Container shipping knowledge

Key account management experience

Relationship building

Sales proficiency

Analytical skills

Excellent communication

Negotiation skills

Microsoft Excel skills

Job description

Customer Development Manager – Midland & Wales

Full time permanent

Extensive UK travel in and around Birmingham, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Powys, South & West Wales for face‑to‑face meetings along with customer entertainment.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Customer Development Manager to join our market‑leading sales team. The successful applicant will work as part of the Regional Sales team managing clients within a designated region of the UK, proactively securing new business whilst focusing on maximising and delivering both Import and Export target volume, delivering revenue and TEU‑driven KPIs.

Due to the nature and demands of the Regional Sales role an agile approach to working forms part of the package – return for a competitive salary, company car and other generous benefits. We are looking for a self‑motivated, organised individual with great people skills who is looking for a career with a company that prides itself on being Employer of Choice within the shipping industry.

At MSC UK our aim is to provide a market‑leading service to our customers whilst embodying our company values throughout their journey with us.

Responsibilities

• High‑level account management, developing opportunities by customer
• Focus on TEU growth and profitability, upselling all MSC products and customer profiles
• Regular reporting on customer performance and delivery of budget expectations
• Extensive UK travel, face‑to‑face meetings and customer entertainment
• Proactive customer contact to build relationships and update on MSC services and products in line with overall strategy
• Meet agreed KPIs including pipeline management and CRM updates
• Contribute to a positive work climate through a flexible attitude to work, supporting colleagues and living MSCs brand values
• Manage individual performance, implementing improvement plans to create a high‑performance culture
• Set budgets for specified accounts for both imports and exports
• Home based but primarily on the road visiting customers across the sales territory
• Meetings in the Ipswich head office as required

Skills and Experience

• Proven background in container shipping / logistics essential
• Experience in key account management
• Drive to build relationships with current client base whilst increasing the portfolio of accounts and new customers
• Previous experience in setting and working to budgets
• Proven record in sales and key account management
• Proactive, analytical, results‑driven with ability to manage deadlines
• Excellent communicator and sound negotiating skills at all levels, able to track and hunt potential new business
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills with data analysis
• A positive attitude to solving business issues, working closely and collaborating with departments across the whole business
• Microsoft programme skills (including Excel and PowerPoint) would be beneficial

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Company car
• Private health and dental care
• Generous pension scheme
• Life assurance 4× salary
• 25 days a day to take on Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve
• On‑site artisan restaurant in Ipswich
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flu vaccines and eye care vouchers
• Buy or sell holiday scheme (opportunity to buy or sell up to 5 days)
• Christmas club saving
• MSC Cruises friends and family discount
• Full induction and training provided
• Learning and development opportunities
• Dress for the day policy / modern office environment

Company Values

• We are a Family Company
• Passion
• We Care for People
• We are in Continuous Evolution
• We Believe in Equal Opportunities

What Working for Us Means

We pride ourselves on being the employer of choice within our industry. We are a family company and our family values feed into everything we do. We are passionate about what we do, we challenge ourselves to achieve excellence and we are tenacious in overcoming obstacles. Through working together with passion and enthusiasm we provide a unique experience for our customers.

We are in continuous evolution, striving for the most innovative solutions to embrace change while always respecting safety and the environment.

Our mission is to provide our people with personal fulfilment and enrichment. We are committed to sharing our knowledge, delivering training and support, enabling our peoples professional growth, ensuring fair opportunities and embracing diversity and valuing all cultures.