Business Development Manager

Job description

Business Development Manager VENTURE FORGE Are you a proven enterprise seller who thrives on closing high-value deals with Tier 1 brands? Do you have a track record of owning complex sales cycles and converting strategic opportunities into long-term partnerships? Venture Forge is growing at an exciting rate, with an increasing number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 brands onboarding our services. As we enter our next phase of growth, we are looking for a commercially driven individual to take a leading role in shaping and scaling our new business function. This is not a typical Business Development role. This is an opportunity to own and close high-value opportunities (£150k+ annually), working directly with senior stakeholders and positioning Amazon as a core growth channel for leading brands. You’ll have the autonomy to build, own, and deliver a pipeline in the way you know best - making a real, measurable impact on the trajectory of the business. THE ROLE With this being a critical role in our next phase of growth, we are looking for someone who can take full ownership of enterprise-level new business. As our Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for identifying, developing, and closing high-value opportunities with brands that meet our ICP - owning the entire journey from initial engagement through to signed partnership. You will operate at a senior level, engaging C-suite and Director-level stakeholders, navigating complex procurement processes, and leading strategic sales conversations. You will focus specifically on engaging brands with £4m+ Amazon revenue and significant advertising investment, where Amazon is treated as a core commercial channel with clear internal ownership and growth ambition. While you’ll be supported by an SDR to generate meetings and build top-of-funnel activity, you will also be expected to proactively create and develop your own opportunities through networking, outreach, and industry engagement. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES End-to-End Ownership Own the full sales cycle from initial engagement through to signed contract - taking full responsibility for progressing and closing all opportunities, regardless of whether they are self-generated or SDR-supported. This includes leading discovery, shaping the opportunity, managing stakeholders, and driving the deal to close. Enterprise Pipeline Development Build and convert a pipeline of Tier 1 and Tier 2 brands through a combination of SDR-supported activity, personal outbound efforts, networking, and leveraging your existing relationships. Proactive Market Engagement Actively generate opportunities through industry events, networking, and direct outreach - ensuring a consistent flow of high-quality conversations beyond SDR-generated meetings. ICP Qualification & Deal Focus Quickly qualify opportunities against Venture Forge’s ICP, focusing on brands with the scale, structure, and commercial mindset to become long-term strategic partners. Prioritise high-value opportunities and actively disqualify low-fit prospects. Multi-Stakeholder Relationship Management Engage and influence multiple stakeholders across marketing, eCommerce, commercial, finance, and procurement functions. Commercial & Strategic Selling Lead commercially driven conversations that position Amazon as a core revenue and profit channel, helping brands unlock growth through increased advertising investment, DSP adoption, and full-funnel optimisation. Commercial Structuring Develop and negotiate tailored proposals, including retainer and performance-based models aligned to client goals. Market Presence Represent Venture Forge at industry events, trade shows, and within your network to drive awareness and opportunity. Internal Collaboration Work closely with internal teams to shape compelling proposals and ensure a seamless transition from sale to delivery. Sales Function Development Contribute to the evolution of our sales strategy, helping define how we scale new business effectively. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE Proven track record of personally closing £150k+ annual deals within a marketing agency, eCommerce, or digital environment Experience selling retained services (£10k+ per month) Strong experience working with Tier 1 consumer brands Demonstrated ability to manage long, complex sales cycles Experience navigating multi-stakeholder buying processes, including procurement Strong commercial acumen, with experience structuring and negotiating deals Ability to build pipeline independently through a mix of outbound activity and existing relationships Experience engaging senior stakeholders (Director / C-suite level) Experience selling solutions tied directly to revenue growth, commercial performance, or P&L impact, rather than purely marketing outputs An established network of relevant brand-side contacts is highly advantageous OUR VALUES – DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU? Empowered Ownership We take responsibility for ourselves and our outcomes. We have a hunger for excellence and take pride in what we achieve. We hold ourselves to account, drive progress and commit to making things happen. Dynamic Innovation We challenge assumptions, question the norm and create better solutions. We’re agile, curious and analytical, making decisions on solid insight and continuously evolving how we work. Bold Integrity We do what we say we will with authenticity, candour and transparency. We are direct, honest, and act in the best interests of our clients and each other. One Team We collaborate closely, communicate openly and support each other to achieve great outcomes for our clients and our business. WHAT YOU GET… We reward and incentivise our people to create a culture where results, ownership, and impact are recognised. The Basics Competitive salary aligned to seniority of the role Remote working - with the requirement for travel 25 Days Holiday + UK Bank Holidays + Celebration Day Company pension scheme £500 personal training budget per year £25 monthly Deliveroo allowance Quarterly off-site days with the entire team 24/7 medical and wellbeing support Flexible personal benefits programme All necessary tools to excel in your role The Differentiators Full ownership of high-value deals, not just pipeline generation A balanced model of SDR support + self-generated opportunity A clear focus on high-value, ICP-aligned clients only A genuine opportunity to support and input to our continued sales approach Focus on strategic, long-term partnerships, not transactional sales A fast-growing business where your impact is visible and valued An entrepreneurial environment with low hierarchy and high autonomy WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE Closing high-value retained partnerships (£10k–£20k/month + media spend) Building a pipeline through a mix of SDR-generated and self-sourced opportunities Consistently winning and converting high profile clients aligned to Venture Forge’s ICP Establishing Venture Forge as a trusted strategic partner among Tier 1 brands Contributing to a scalable, repeatable new business engine