Job Specification: Business Development Manager
Department: Sales/Commercial
Reports to: Head of Operations
Location: Hybrid working, number of days required in office will depend on location of candidate and region the BDM will cover.
Salary: £30,000 + Logo’d Company Car or car allowance + Performance Bonus
The Company:
Don’t be fooled by our name, although we hire out tools and equipment, we are at heart a technology company, excelling it the rental sector, giving our customers and suppliers a route to great equipment, from our amazing supply base, at good prices and unrivalled availability.
Think of us as the taxi booking service that doesn’t own any cars, or the accommodation company that doesn’t own any property, and you are part way there to what we are about.
We are different to the norm in a good way, giving quick and easy access to hire equipment and having great relationships with our supply chain.
Role purpose & business context:
The Business Development Manager (BDM) is a critical commercial role responsible for expanding and optimising our supplier network, growing sales opportunities in new industries, and reducing financial risks associated with overdue or unreturned equipment.
This role combines strategic supplier management, outbound sales development, and operational efficiency, ensuring that our hire business remains scalable, competitive, and profitable. The BDM will own a regional supplier portfolio, working to improve supplier responsiveness, commercial agreements, and order acceptance rates while also developing new sales opportunities.
The long-term vision for this role is to evolve our supplier network into a highly efficient, tech-enabled marketplace - ensuring we always have the right suppliers, at the right price, with the right level of service to meet customer demand.
The Person:
You will be from a BDM background, articulate, confident, well turned out, we are not looking for formal people, we want friendly, likeable people, with a great work ethic, who will get our brand, get our journey and want to be part of an exciting growing brand, that is forging its own path in a great sector.
Key objectives & deliverables:
The Business Development Manager will be measured against the following core objectives:
Supplier network growth & performance
* Increase the number and quality of active suppliers in the assigned region.
* Improve supplier acceptance rates by identifying and resolving common rejection reasons.
* Negotiate competitive supplier pricing & rebate structures to improve margin.
* Maintain supplier compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs), ensuring responsiveness and reliability.
Financial risk mitigation & cost recovery
* Work with the finance team to mitigate losses from overdue or unreturned hire equipment.
* Develop and implement supplier and customer processes for tracking and recovering overdue assets.
* Assist in negotiating resolutions for disputes related to unreturned or damaged equipment.
* Identify at-risk accounts and take proactive steps to reduce future cost exposure.
Collaboration and process optimisation:
* Work closely with purchasing, finance, and operations to ensure supplier performance supports business objectives.
* Develop data-driven reports to track supplier efficiency, sales performance, and cost recovery efforts.
* Contribute to process improvements and automation initiatives to streamline supplier management and customer acquisition.
Reporting & cross-functional collaboration:
Reports to: Head of Operations
Works Closely With:
* Purchasing Team – Supplier onboarding, pricing negotiations, availability tracking.
* Hire Team – Identifying and closing new business opportunities and seamless supplier-customer interactions
* Finance Team – Cost recovery, overdue equipment management, rebate structures.
Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s)
Performance will be measured against the following KPI’s:
Supplier Performance Metrics
* % of orders accepted by suppliers.
* Supplier onboarding rate (new active suppliers per quarter).
* Supplier compliance with SLAs (response times, reliability).
Cost Recovery & Financial Risk Mitigation Metrics
* % of overdue equipment successfully recovered.
* Value of costs mitigated via proactive supplier/customer intervention.
* Supplier rebate contributions & financial savings secured through negotiations.
Career progression and development opportunities
This role is designed to evolve alongside the company’s growth, with clear progression paths into:
* Senior Business Development Manager (multi-region responsibility).
* Head of Supplier Network & Partnerships (strategic supplier network leadership).
* Head of Commercial Development (leading both supplier & new business expansion at scale).
Ongoing development will be supported through:
* Regular sales & negotiation training.
* Exposure to executive-level decision-making.
* Opportunities to contribute to strategic growth initiatives.
Required skills & experience
Essential:
* Proven experience in business development, supplier management, or sales.
* Strong negotiation & commercial acumen, with a focus on supplier agreements and pricing structures.
* Experience working with finance teams to reduce operational losses and recover costs.
* Strategic problem-solving ability, with a focus on process optimisation.
* Ability to build strong supplier and customer relationships while driving performance improvements.
* Self-motivated and target-driven, with a history of achieving or exceeding KPI’s.
* Proficiency in CRM systems and Microsoft Office tools.
Desirable:
* Experience in supplier network development, marketplace expansion, or platform sales.
* Familiarity with logistics, fleet management, or hire-related industries.
* Understanding of revenue-sharing models, rebates, and financial risk management.
Role authority & decision-making scope
This role has the authority to negotiate and onboard new suppliers, set pricing agreements within defined commercial parameters, and develop new business opportunities within approved target industries.
However, any major financial commitments, contractual disputes, or significant pricing deviations will require approval from the Head of Operations & Finance Team.
Key challenges & considerations
Ensuring supplier availability and responsiveness remains high as demand fluctuates.
Balancing pricing competitiveness with profitability when negotiating supplier agreements.
Maintaining strong relationships while holding suppliers accountable for performance.
Expanding our customer base into new industries while ensuring we have the supplier capacity to support it.
Reducing financial risk associated with overdue or lost equipment.
Summary
The Business Development Manager is a high-impact role that sits at the intersection of supplier management, sales growth, and operational efficiency. This role requires someone who is:
* A strong negotiator and relationship builder.
* Commercially astute and data-driven.
* Able to balance supplier expansion with customer demand.
* Proactive in reducing financial risk and ensuring cost efficiency.
By ensuring we have the right suppliers, at the right price, with the right reliability, while also expanding our customer base, this role is fundamental to the future growth of our hire business.
Benefits:
* Secure Free Parking
* Employee Discount schemes
* Beautiful location
* Company Pension
* Free Medicash Health Insurance after probation is passed.
* Some company wear provided eg Fleece, shirt, jacket.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £30,000.00 per year
Additional pay:
* Performance bonus
Benefits:
* Company car
* Company pension
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee discount
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Private medical insurance
* Work from home
Schedule:
* Monday to Friday
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Prescot L34 4AR