Business Development Manager

This will be a remote role, with the ideal candidate based in Germany, France, Italy, or surrounding countries.

Salary: €80-95,000.

Company Description

Blachford UK is a leading manufacturer of polyurethane elastomer and other materials for industrial vehicle noise reduction. Part of the global Blachford Acoustics group, Blachford UK is the only UK based Blachford site. It completes the entire manufacturing process in its purpose-built facility in the centre of the country, where every product is bespoke.

Job Summary:

The main purpose of the role is to be responsible for developing profitable sales, opening new customer accounts and maintaining customer relationships within a range of industry targets, according to the strategy set by the BAG Executive Team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the entire sales cycle from lead generation and lead management to prospecting, arranging appointments, preparing proposals and presentations, negotiating, closing and liaising with the project management team.
• Fully assess client needs and communicate information clearly to all stakeholders.
• Effectively meet (and exceed) sales targets.
• Target customers based on best-fit using Zebrafi.
• Ensure that all pipeline activity is accurately documented and kept up-to-date in company systems.
• Provide a timely response and exceptional levels of service to all enquiries.
• Thoroughly research and understand prospects’ products, competition, industry, marketing goals and objectives, and advise clients accordingly on the best mix of products and services required to meet these objectives.
• Create high standard proposals, presentations, and other documentation, in line with relevant department procedures.
• Liaise with and keep informed, all other departments as required.
• Represent the company at industry events when required.
• Regularly liaise with existing clients to identify new business opportunities.
• Provide Blachford UK with accurate and timely information from customers with respect to:
• Customer contact information, ensuring CRM updates.
• Future sales volumes, with 6-month to 5-year horizon.
• Platform / vehicle design changes – phase-out/phase-in.
• Detailed analysis of opportunities, including but not limited to, technical detail, revenue, projected start date and product life.
• Write Visit Reports for all customer meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

The ideal candidate will lead initiatives to generate and engage with business partners to build new business for the company. This candidate will be Engineering focused and have strong communication skills. They should be able to think critically when making plans and have a demonstrated ability to execute a particular strategy.

Responsibilities & Skills required

• Identify partnership opportunities
• Develop new relationships in an effort to grow business and help company expand
• Maintain existing business
• Think critically when planning to assure project success
• Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
• Strong technical acumen to understand complex product and technology applications
• Fluent in English (spoken, written, read), multi-lingual is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience - Engineering or Science based. Candidates with Business / Marketing degrees can be considered backed with a level of technical experience and/or additional qualification.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in a customer facing role, ideally in B-to-B sales of technical solutions to OEM’s.
• Background in acoustics, NVH foam manufacturing, polymer technologies, or related industries is desirable.
• Experience selling into non-automotive OEMs.