Business Development Manager

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of talented, friendly, and diverse people driven by common values, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the world of business.

.Reporting into the Head of Business Development, the role involves implementing a programme of activities to raise our profile and generate high quality new business opportunities from targeted prospects. This includes managing the delivery of new business campaigns to generate leads, and in nurturing hot prospects through the business development process. to secure new, high value revenue

This is a key role created to enable us to achieve our growth ambitions so you will ideally already have proven business development background and a passion for selling agency communications solutions.

The role is well suited for a highly motivated, proactive and organised individual who is passionate about selling in solutions and achieving the best results. The successful candidate must have interpersonal and communications skills and share our values.

We see this role as the development of a successful career, not just a job. Attracting and retaining the right people for our team is an absolute priority for us and we take their career development seriously from day one. You will have access to a full programme of training and plenty of autonomy to develop new skills and contribute ideas. We take every aspect of the work we deliver for clients seriously and we work to maintain the highest possible standards in everything we do for them and for the firm. But as well as being passionate about our work, we are supportive, collaborative and positive, always looking to make what we do enjoyable and rewarding.

By joining us you will be working on a hybrid model and have a wonderful opportunity to explore our picturesque offices in Bishops Park, Putney Bridge

Come join us!

Black Sun Global

Across the globe, there is a powerful movement demanding that business focus on purpose, sustainability, and wider value creation. It has never been more important for organisations to build and maintain trust with their key audiences. And that’s where Black Sun come in – we are a partner to some of the biggest brands and businesses worldwide – helping them to build enduring relationships with their stakeholders and spark positive change through better engagement and inspiring communications.

As our world rapidly changes, our focus remains constant. At heart we are storytellers, we define articulate and shape the value creation story, bringing it to life across different channels and communications formats. Our team is made up of over 150 talented specialists working across the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia – analytical thinkers, renaissance creatives, digital mavericks and inspiring change makers!

For more than twenty years, we have won many awards and recognition for our work – but great work doesn’t happen by magic – join Black Sun and you will become part of an amazing, diverse, and inclusive community – a team of passionate and skilful people who will expand your horizon, energise your talents and ignite that spark of magic within you.

Beyond what you would expect; a competitive salary, great benefits and hybrid working – we will support you in developing the skills and expertise to fast track your career. You will have the opportunity to make a difference every day, shaping the future of communications and creating positive change – and most importantly, to have fun along the way.

The Positive Change Group

Black Sun is the founding agency at the centre of The Positive Change Group. The Positive Change Group is a truly international stakeholder advisory and engagement collective of like-minded specialist agencies with a shared ambition to help bold and visionary businesses Spark Positive Change – to make a deeper impact on society, shape more ethical practices, build inclusive communities and deliver more sustainable performance.

The Group currently consists of four pre-eminent agencies: Black Sun Global, People-Made, Stratton Craig and GoCo. Each agency brings together deep expertise on different aspects of stakeholder advisory and engagement – including brand culture, strategic communications, reporting, ESG advisory, analytics and creative storytelling. Current clients within the Group include major international firms, such as AstraZeneca, Burberry, Diageo, Meta, Olam, Virgin Atlantic and Vodafone.

With headquarters in London, Singapore, and offices worldwide, the group is transforming the way companies engage with their customers, employees, investors, and communities worldwide. As business increasingly recognises that long-term success is dependent on the support and advocacy of their stakeholders – the Positive Change Group is helping their clients to inspire trust, build more positive relations and create sustainable value for the people that matter most to them.

Key Responsibilities

Work with the Head of Business Development to help create new business opportunities across the broader offer – stakeholder communications, sustainability, digital.

Source new leads and engage with prospects over the telephone and via e mail, qualifying potential opportunities.

Manage day to day activities for lead generation campaigns – track new business contacts via the CRM database (Salesforce) and follow up in a timely manner.

Support the Head of Business Development and client teams with the coordination of new business meetings and pitches, managing the process of RFPs etc.

Produce weekly, monthly and quarterly reports for performance against targets for the Head of Business Development

Support specific events – writing event briefs, setting up webinars, registrations, post webinar follow up

Coordinate with marketing and PR on outbound activities to help generate new business at various events

Keep abreast of industry trends and developments and competitor activity, which may be relevant to our business

To be successful in this role, you will need:
A proven track record in new business development in the agency world and delivering new business opportunities.

Proven experience in implementing highly targeted new business campaigns

Highly entrepreneurial self-starter, who can use their own initiative to identify opportunities

Excellent written skills are essential.

Fully conversant with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Your reporting relationships

Reporting to:

Head of Business Development

Working closely with:

The leaders of the company and client teams

Personal Qualities
Strong ‘can do’ attitude motivated by a desire to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem

Passionate about creating inspiring work.

Ambition to self-improve and excel..

Ability to multitask and work effectively under pressure.

Ability to blend commercial awareness with passion and creative flair.

Energetic and keen to meet the challenges of contributing to a dynamic, highly entrepreneurial environment.

Ability to work closely with other departments and senior managers to achieve commercial and creative objectives.

A great sense of humour and fun!!

Interview process

Initial chat with talent acquisition manager
1st Interview (teams) with hiring manager
2nd interview (f2f) with hiring director and hiring manager (and CEO tbc)

Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary based on skills and experience, as an employee at Black Sun, you will have access to a range of great benefits and perks, including:

25 days holiday per year with ‘bonus’ days for long service
Bonus scheme
Personal development opportunities
Group life assurance
Group personal pension plan
Employee assistance programme
Hybrid working
Employees will have the option to work remotely somewhere other than home for a maximum of 4 weeks per calendar year

Here at Black Sun and The Positive Change Group, we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We foster a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best work and be relevant in a rapidly changing world