Business Development Lead

Sterling Engineering Ltd - Ireland & Europe; Galway; Hybrid; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Sterling Engineering is expanding its team in Ireland to drive new client acquisition and grow our presence across Ireland. We are seeking a high-performing Business Development Manager to identify, engage, and secure new clients while forming lasting partnerships with our Engineering team.

You will develop strategic account plans, manage a robust sales pipeline, and lead meetings to present recruitment and engineering services solutions. Travel and autonomy are essential to success.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in B2B sales / business development.
• Strong track record of winning new business and developing client relationships.
• Experience selling into manufacturing clients, leveraging existing contacts and Western Ireland networks.
• Experience in recruitment, engineering services or technical solutions is an advantage.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify, target, and secure new clients across manufacturing, engineering, MedTech and pharma sectors.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans for high-value target clients.
• Build, manage, and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities.
• Lead client meetings, presentations, and solution discussions.
• Drive new business across both recruitment and engineering services offerings.
• Identify and maximise cross-sell opportunities between divisions.
• Negotiate commercial terms, staffing agreements and service partnerships.
• Close business in line with company sales methodologies and targets.
• Act as the primary point of contact for new and assigned accounts.
• Build long-term, trusted client relationships and deliver high service standards.
• Grow accounts organically through referrals, repeat business and account development.
• Develop depth within key accounts, including potential for preferred supplier or MSP status.
• Manage account performance and profitability.
• Proactively generate leads through LinkedIn, networking, referrals, events and direct outreach.
• Leverage existing industry contacts to drive business growth.
• Conduct ongoing market and competitor analysis to identify new opportunities.
• Represent the business at industry events and client meetings.
• Work closely with internal recruitment and engineering teams to deliver client solutions.
• Support screening and qualification of candidates where required.
• Present qualified candidates and solutions to clients.
• Utilise internal resources, marketing and leadership support effectively.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline tracking.
• Deliver against weekly KPIs and sales activity targets.
• Provide regular updates on pipeline, forecasts, and client activity.

Skills

B2B sales

Business development

Client relationships

Negotiation

Job description

Sterling Engineering are a specialist engineering and technical recruitment partner supporting clients across MedTech, Pharma, Engineering and Manufacturing in Ireland. We also deliver engineering services and project-based solutions, giving our clients a full end-to-end workforce and technical support offering.

We are now looking for a high-performing Business Development Manager to drive new client acquisition and grow our presence across Ireland.

The Role:

• BD / Sales role focused on winning new business for our Recruitment Division and making introductions to our Engineering team.
• You will be responsible for identifying, engaging and securing new clients, building long term partnerships and positioning Sterling Engineering as a trusted solutions provider.
• Leveraging both existing relationships and new business development activity, you will focus on building a strong pipeline, winning new accounts, and establishing long-term partnerships that generate both recruitment and engineering services revenue.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, target, and secure new clients across manufacturing, engineering, MedTech and pharma sectors
• Develop and execute strategic account plans for high-value target clients
• Build, manage, and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities
• Lead client meetings, presentations, and solution discussions
• Drive new business across both recruitment and engineering services offerings
• Identify and maximise cross-sell opportunities between divisions
• Negotiate commercial terms, staffing agreements and service partnershipsite>
• Close business in line with company sales methodologies and targets
• Act as the primary point of contact for new and assigned accounts
• Build long-term, trusted client relationships and deliver high service standards
• Grow accounts organically through referrals, repeat business and account development
• Develop depth within key accounts, including potential for preferred supplier or MSP status
• Manage account performance and profitability
• Proactively generate leads through LinkedIn, networking, referrals, events and direct outreach
• Leverage existing industry contacts, particularly within manufacturing, to drive business growth
• Conduct ongoing market and competitor analysis to identify new opportunities
• Represent the business at industry events and client meetings
• Work closely with internal recruitment and engineering teams to deliver client solutions
• Support the screening and qualification of candidates where required
• Present qualified candidates and solutions to clients
• Utilise internal resources, marketing and leadership support effectively
• Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline tracking
• Deliver against weekly KPIs and sales activity targets
• Provide regular updates on pipeline, forecasts, and client activity

Requirements:

• Proven experience in B2B sales / business development, ideally within manufacturing, engineering or technical environments
• Strong track record of winning new business and developing client relationships
• Experience selling into manufacturing clients, with the ability to leverage existing contacts and networks in Western Ireland highly desirable
• Experience in recruitment, engineering services or technical solutions is an advantage
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to understand technical/service offerings
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills
• Highly driven, proactive and resilient
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities
• Full driving licence and willingness to travel

By applying to this job post you agree that Sterling Engineering may process your personal data for recruitment purposes.

For more information and a confidential chat please contact Gerard Cunniffe on [phone]