Business Development Manager

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Job Introduction

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

The Business Development Manager will ensure excellent delivery of proactive sales for IWM North. Responsible for the development and growth of the conference and event business within the venue and cross-selling other IWM venues. You will have a clear understanding of the market and its trends and be a true event sales specialist. The role will focus on generating and converting pipeline opportunities for meetings, conferences, dinners, receptions, summer parties & Christmas parties. Sales and marketing activities will include networking, customer and agency presentations, hosting customer showcases & FAM Trips and making daily proactive calls. An excellent communicator and financially savvy with a passion for food.

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To identify key target customers - existing and new
• To achieve agreed sales targets through proactive selling to these target customers
• To support & drive the conversion of hot bookings for each of the venues
• To conduct showrounds with key customers
• Account management of regional accounts
• Lead innovative campaigns for the Sales and Marketing plan for the region
• To support the creation and execution of key selling strategies, ensuring their continued appropriateness against current market conditions, market intelligence and benchmarking statistics
• To always be aware of sales activity/initiatives of our competitors and use this market intelligence, acting upon it to ensure IWM North obtains its market share in this sector
• To maintain accurate, up-to-date reports and information
• To maintain contact with key accounts through face to face, telephone, written, direct mail activity and customer events
• To manage seasonal peaks, troughs and shortfalls in business through effective marketing and promotional strategies
• To raise interest in IWM North through campaigns aimed at the key target customers. These include customer appointments, proactive calls, showcases, Fam Trips, participation at exhibitions, roadshows and involvement with other key influencers such as Chamber of Commerce and local PA Networks.
• To carry out proactive appointments and research calls per calendar month split between relevant market segments
• To perform ad hoc tasks as directed
• To liaise on a weekly basis with the central team to ensure a harmonised approach to sales with an understanding of activity and pricing strategies
• To ensure all commercial deal information and key accounts information is communicated effectively and to all relevant teams.

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE

• Knowledge and sales experience within the Manchester and surrounding areas corporate event market
• Evidence in achieving KPI's, account plans and developing business strategy to achieve growth expectations
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a proactive sales role
• Thorough working knowledge of all key market segments and key clients within each segment
• High degree of commercial awareness

About Us

Part of Compass Group UK&I, Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.