Sales Director

First Group; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Join First Bus as a Sales Director and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of public transport. This 12-month position involves developing contract opportunities, managing stakeholder relationships, and leading teams to ensure successful tender submissions. Be part of a dynamic team committed to delivering high-quality transport services across the UK.

Benefits

Competitive Salary + Bonus

Flexible working

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme

Free bus pass after 6 months

Discounted train travel

Cycle to work scheme

Health benefits including mental health support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in business development or sales leadership within contract services.
• Strong commercial acumen and experience in winning complex tender-based contracts.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop contract bus service opportunities across the UK and Ireland.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to position First Bus as a preferred partner.
• Lead cross-functional teams to develop competitive tender submissions.

Skills

Business Development

Sales Leadership

Commercial Acumen

Relationship Building

Communication

Team Leadership

Tender Management

Pipeline Management

Job description

Shape the Future of Public Transport with First Bus

The UK's bus industry is evolving, and First Bus is proud to be at the forefront of this transformation. As franchising and contract-based services become more prominent, we're embracing the opportunity to shape the future of sustainable transport in partnership with local authorities and key stakeholders.

To help drive this transformation, we're looking for a Sales Director to join our growing team on a 12 month basis. This role is key tosupporting and coordinating the successful delivery of large-scale franchising and contract-based bids, ensuring First Bus continues to deliver high-quality, efficient services to communities nationwide.

Why Join Us?

Our Growth team plays a pivotal role in securing stability and future success. This is an opportunity to be part of a team that is shaping the next generation of public transport.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Identify and develop contract bus service opportunities across the UK and Ireland (and in time, other geographies), building a robust pipeline that includes timelines, geographies, phases, values, client perceptions, competitor interest, commercial structures, legal terms, and early win likelihood assessments.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with key stakeholders and decision-makers, gaining access and influencing early thinking to position First Bus as the preferred contract partner by promoting our capabilities, performance, innovation, people, and culture.
• Shape client procurement strategies pre-tender, offering insights and alternative approaches that mitigate risks for First Bus, while using stakeholder intelligence to proactively inform tender responses and close gaps in tender content.
• Gather and apply market intelligence on client needs, competitor activity, and likely bid strategies; produce detailed pre-tender insights including bid strategies, differentiators, client language, and pen portraits to guide the proposal team.
• Lead cross-functional teams across proposals, solutions, bidding, and finance to develop compliant, compelling, and competitive tender submissions, acting as the customer voice and ensuring internal approval processes are followed.
• Coach and support commercial teams across local and strategic business units, contribute to continuous improvement in contract sales performance, and represent First Bus at relevant industry events to enhance our commercial positioning.

What We're Looking For:

Essentials

• Proven experience in business development or sales leadership within contract services, public transport, or a related B2G/B2B environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, with experience in shaping, influencing, and winning complex tender-based contracts.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with senior external stakeholders and decision-makers, influencing client thinking pre-tender.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of representing the business externally and internally with impact.
• Track record of leading cross-functional teams (e.g. proposals, bidding, finance) to deliver compliant, compelling, and competitive tender submissions.
• Deep understanding of the public procurement process and experience managing opportunities from pre-tender through to submission and mobilisation.
• Strong pipeline management skills, with experience building and maintaining a structured approach to opportunity tracking and qualification

Desirables

• Knowledge of the UK and Irish bus or transport sector, including key public and private sector players.
• Experience influencing or shaping client procurement documentation to improve both client outcomes and supplier win probability.
• Understanding of contract structures, legal frameworks, and commercial terms relevant to contract service agreements.
• Strong industry network and experience representing an organisation at relevant industry events or conferences.
• Experience mentoring or coaching commercial or sales professionals within a complex matrix environment.

Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive Salary + Bonus
• Flexible working
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
• Working at First you will receive a Free bus pass for you and your family after 6 months services as well as discounted train travel
• Cycle to work scheme
• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.