Company
Nigel Wright is delighted to be supporting a growth orientated manufacturing business in North Yorkshire who are seeking a seasoned European Business Development Manager to lead their European market expansion. This pivotal role involves extensive European travel and offers hybrid working flexibility after three months.
Role
Market Analysis:
* Achieve and exceed sales targets consistently.
* Conduct in-depth research on selected European markets, assessing economic conditions, industry trends, competitive landscapes, and regulatory environments.
* Identify and evaluate key market indicators, including market size, growth potential, and barriers to entry.
* Develop and maintain a systematic framework for ranking markets based on their potential and alignment with the company’s strategic objectives.
Strategic Market Selection:
* Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align market analysis findings with business goals and capabilities.
* Create detailed Market Feasibility reports and presentations to recommend priority markets for further exploration and development.
* Implement market-specific actions and achieve rapid sales following implementation.
* Assess risks and opportunities for each market, considering financial, operational, and strategic factors.
Business Development Planning:
* Develop tailored market entry strategies for selected priority markets, including partnerships, distribution channels, or direct investments.
* Monitor and adjust strategies based on evolving market conditions or new insights.
Stakeholder Collaboration:
* Work closely with marketing and operations teams to align on market strategy and execution plans.
* Liaise with external partners, government agencies, and industry associations to gather insights and explore potential collaborations.
Performance Tracking and Reporting:
* Establish KPIs to track the progress and success of market analysis and entry efforts.
* Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Experience and Skills
* Strong sales skills with a proven record of selling into different market reach scenarios.
* Experience in operating cross-functionally in a technical, safety-critical product and service environment.
* Analytical skills, with a proven ability to synthesise complex market data into actionable insights.
* Proficiency in using market research tools, databases, and CRM systems.
* Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
* Fluency in English; proficiency in at least one additional European language (ideally French) is highly desirable.
* Experience in sales of safety-critical high-performance products using a value proposition-based consultative sales approach.
* Expertise in strategic planning, market entry strategies, and risk assessment.
* Ideally 5 + years of experience in business development, sales, market analysis, or a related role with a strong focus on European markets.
Personal Attributes:
* Action-focused “Doer” mindset with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
* Strong organisational skills and the natural ability to take the initiative and get things done
* Ambitious and driven, yet a considerate team player.
* Willingness to travel within Europe as required, up to 30% of the time on average, 50% at peak times.