Job Title: Business Development Manager - Textile Solutions Location: Remote, ideally live around Manchester, Leeds, Derby, Leicester, Yorkshire, Burnley Reporting to: BD Textiles - Sales Director
My client is a specialist provider of textile solutions, looking to appoint an experienced Business Development Manager to grow and support sales across the UK and Irish textile industries. This is a key, customer-facing role combining technical understanding of textile applications with strong commercial acumen and relationship-building skills.
You will manage the full sales cycle - from lead generation and qualification, through solution development, pricing and negotiation, to contract completion and ongoing account management.
Key responsibilities:
Maintain and expand product sales across the UK and Irish textile sectors in line with agreed targets.
Generate and qualify leads through trade fairs, conferences, direct referrals and customer visits, working alongside inside sales.
Take ownership of customer interactions and manage the sales process end-to-end to ensure a seamless customer experience.
Prepare and submit tailored proposals based on validated customer needs, working closely with internal technical/application specialists.
Define customer pricing within agreed strategic pricing frameworks, in liaison with the Customer Service Manager and BD Textiles - Sales Director.
Lead commercial negotiations and finalise contracts with local customers.
Ensure high levels of customer retention and satisfaction through proactive follow-up and development of long-term relationships.
Maintain accurate customer data and activity records in the CRM system and provide local sales forecasts as required.
Build and maintain strong application knowledge of my client's products, services and textile applications.
Take responsibility for achieving agreed margin and sales goals.
Travel with UK & Ireland, a long along M 62 and Midlands
About you: Essential:
Current and relevant experience in the textile industry (e.g. dyes, finishes, textile processing, or related fields).
Proven track record in sales, business development or technical sales within textiles.
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel throughout the UK, Ireland and occasionally overseas for business, training and development.
Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to build credibility at all levels.
Highly organised, able to plan and structure your working week and work independently.
Professional, self-motivated and able to give balanced, well-reasoned advice to customers and colleagues.
Basic DBS check (or willingness to undergo one).
Desirable:
BSc (Hons) in Textile Studies or equivalent.
MSc in Textile Technology or equivalent.
Professional qualifications such as ASDC or C-Col (Society of Dyers and Colourists) or similar.
Training, compliance and standards:
Ongoing training in product and sales knowledge and company Health & Safety regulations will be provided.
Familiarity with quality and environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 9001, ISO 50001, ISO 14001, Health & Safety at Work) is beneficial.
You must follow company policies on confidentiality and security of company and customer information, products, equipment and premises.
Salary based on experience - £50 - £65k
Bonus - up to 15% of salary
Private Health Care - currently AXA
Holidays - 29 including Bank Holidays (increases on an annual basis)
