Senior Business Development Manager - Corporate

Co-op; Kettering; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A cooperative organization is seeking a Senior Business Development Manager to drive corporate partnerships. The role emphasizes strategic account management and complex negotiations, targeting high-value clients. Ideal candidates will bring experience in influencing decision-makers and leading corporate acquisitions. The position includes competitive compensation and a range of employee benefits, fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Benefits

Private healthcare

Annual bonus

28 days holiday plus bank holidays

Pension contributions

Employee discounts

Access to early pay

Virtual healthcare services

24/7 colleague support

Training and career support

Cycle-to-work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience leading complex partner onboarding and integration processes.
• Ability to influence and challenge inclusively.

Responsibilities

• Create and deliver corporate acquisition strategy for multi-site groups.
• Build relationships with senior decision-makers.
• Lead negotiations and account planning.
• Ensure smooth onboarding of new customers.
• Raise profile in corporate retail space.

Skills

Experience managing large corporate acquisitions

Strong negotiating skills

Strategic thinking skills

Good communication skills

Job description

Senior Business Development Manager - Corporate

Up to £80,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 5)
Location: This is a field-based role, with occasional travel to our Scunthorpe office for team meetings

Co-op Wholesale is growing, and we’re looking for people who want to shape what comes next. As our Senior Business Development Manager for corporate and key accounts, you’ll be at the heart of winning and developing high-value corporate partnerships. You’ll focus on complex, multi-site opportunities that really make a difference across wholesale.

This isn’t just about meeting targets. It’s about building strong, trusted relationships with new corporate clients and making sure Co-op Wholesale is their first choice for large-scale partnerships. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

We’re building something big at Co-op Wholesale. With a refreshed structure and exciting plans ahead, we’re creating new opportunities to strengthen our proposition for our independent retailers, key accounts, and a growing corporate client base.

You’ll join our Business Development and Growth team, which is expanding to take on some of our biggest and boldest corporate acquisition targets. This team is all about collaboration, growth, and driving our business forward. From identifying new markets to shaping trusted partnerships, they’re helping take us to the next level. This is where you come in.

This is your chance to bring new ideas to life and make a real impact across Co-op Wholesale. Be part of it.

What you’ll do

• Create and deliver our corporate acquisition strategy, targeting high-value, multi-site groups
• Build strong relationships with senior decision-makers and position Co-op Wholesale as their go-to partner
• Lead on complex negotiations and account planning, making sure deals are commercially sound and operationally ready
• Work closely with colleagues to make sure new customers are onboarded smoothly
• Represent Co-op Wholesale in the market, raising our profile and credibility in the corporate retail space

What you’ll bring

• Experience managing and delivering large corporate acquisitions
• Experience leading complex partner onboarding and integration processes
• Commercial know-how and strong negotiating skills
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to turn insights into action
• Good communication and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge inclusively

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• Private healthcare
• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• 30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
• Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
• 24/7 colleague support service
• Training and support for your development and career progression
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.