Senior Relationship Manager / Relationship Director

VARGO Group; Oxford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A funding solutions firm is seeking a Business Development Manager for the South Coast. The role involves origination and management of lending opportunities, significant relationship building within the SME sector, and promoting the business regionally. Candidates should have proven experience in funding environments, excellent presentation skills, and a strong professional network. The position is primarily home-based but requires travel to meet clients and partners. Competitive salary and benefits are offered, including an employer pension contribution and annual leave.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

8% employer pension contribution

Death in Service benefit

50% funded private medical scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in funding and business support environments.
• Strong professional network in the south coast area.
• Ability to communicate and present to all management levels.

Responsibilities

• Originate lending and investment opportunities.
• Market and promote the business in the region.
• Manage deal pipeline marketing.
• Conduct preliminary eligibility reviews.
• Research potential businesses for funding support.
• Meet with funders and partners in the region.
• Attend networking and partner events.

Skills

Origination of lending opportunities

Relationship building

Marketing & promotion

Excellent presentation skills

IT proficiency (Microsoft Office 365)

Job description

Role title: Business Development Manager - South coast

Reporting to: Head of South & East Coast

Staff responsibilities: 0

This would be ideal for an experienced Business Development Manager from a Business or Commercial Banking or SME lending background (including SME lending brokers) who is looking for a new and exciting opportunity to work with high-growth SMEs. The finance FSE offers is “market gap” lending/investment which would not be provided by a Bank - looking at business plans and spend required to help the business grow. Our aim is to also increase the probability of success of those businesses, with our “more than money” support with the focus on strong relationship management.

Job responsibilities:

• Responsibility for origination of lending and investment opportunities for East Coast Investment Fund, including creation, management and development of prospective debt deal pipeline.
• Marketing & promotion of the business throughout the south region and more widely in terms of potential partner organisations. Management of deal pipeline marketing & promotion.
• Initial response to inbound enquiries, including preliminary eligibility review and referral through to debt or equity Investment Managers as appropriate.
• Recording of deal enquiries/flow using CRM system
• Proactive research of potential businesses suitable for SWIF support.
• Support origination & appraisal of primarily debt funding proposals.
• Presentation & meetings with funders, accountant & other potential introducers across the region
• Attendance/speaking at relevant SWIF roadshows and partner events.
• Attendance at relevant local or sector cluster networking events.
• Relationship management of Growth Hub and other partners across the region.

• Signposting of SMEs to relevant support networks, where proposal is not investment ready or requires additional support prior to investment team engagement.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in originating, marketing, promotion & relationship building activity within funding or business support environment and associated SME & partner engagement activity.
• Evidence of strong professional network of introducers within the south coast area.
• Excellent presentation skills, especially with ability to market the funds to online prospects/introducers & ability to communicate and interact at all levels of management.
• A high level of IT proficiency, particularly Microsoft Office 365 products.

What we offer:

• A competitive base salary commensurate with your experience.
• Pro rata annual leave based on FTE of 25 days plus Bank holidays in England & Wales. You will also get your birthday off.
• Ability for you to use 1 day for Corporate Social Responsibility purposes annually.
• 8% employer contribution to pension scheme.
• Death in Service benefit equivalent to 4x salary
• 50% funded private medical scheme, income protection and health cash plan scheme.

The role is primarily home based however you should have own transport to travel to customers/introducers. Access to a good quality/speed home internet is a must.

About The FSE Group:

For 20 years our primary goal has been to provide tailored funding solutions and support for ambitious and innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to help them achieve their maximum potential. With over £300m of debt and equity funds under management, the Group is continuing to grow and prides itself on taking an integrated approach to the funding needs of our clients.

Our Purpose

With a passion for, and successful history in, managing and deploying market gap funds with an economic impact purpose, we focus on more than pure commercial return to support the growth of SMEs. We promote diversity. We support underrepresented geographies. We are insightful in determining how we can improve an evolving funding landscape and we stimulate sustainability by successfully recycling smaller funds. We are more than money.

The core values we live by as FSE employees are Collaboration, Innovation, Inclusivity, Sustainability and Delivery.

With one of our core values being inclusivity, we are committed to a diverse and inclusive team. We are an equal opportunity employer and treat all applications fairly and welcome job applicants from all communities and affinity groups.