Position title: Business Development Manager - UK

Employment type: Full-time

Location: Swindon

ABOUT IMPROVE

Improve International was established in 1998 by a group of veterinary surgeons from across the UK. We run Continuous Professional Development training from veterinary professionals to help develop the skills and knowledge required in practice. 

Our programmes utilise a combination of review lectures, case-based discussion and, where applicable, hands-on practical sessions. Within Improve we also have the function of ‘The International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS)’. This function is dedicated to providing veterinary surgeons, nurses and technicians with high quality, achievable qualifications that are recognised internationally. We are an international organisation with offices in the UK and Portugal. 

JOB PURPOSE

As the worldwide market leader in veterinary postgraduate education, we are recruiting a Business Development Manager to help us on the next stage of our journey. The main aim of the role is to profitably build the business across the territories and support the existing business operations by: Identifying and delivering new business opportunities, identifying new potential customers and further develop existing relationships and supporting curriculum developments and reviews.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research and identify new business opportunities including but not limited to: new markets, areas of growth, new costumers, new partnerships, new and existing sales opportunities, new affiliations, new products and/or services and new methods of market penetration.
• Seek and identify key stakeholders and decision makers, forge relationships and create opportunities to build, develop and grow both new and existing accounts.
• Foster relationships with customers, colleagues, and key stakeholders within the business.
• Complete monthly market research, staying abreast of new and emerging trends, complete regular market comparisons and ongoing competitor analysis.
• Collate regular customer feedback and complete needs assessment, to create better value offerings and ensure our services match the needs of the client.
• Complete full prospecting cycles to generate leads through RICE – Research, Identify, Cold Call, Entice.
• Create strategic plans to grow new, existing and parallel markets within your assigned territory.
• Target and engage with key individuals within the industry.
• Think and act strategically – implement actions and complete any necessary planning to fulfil wider business objectives.
• Design and create packages and contracts that provide value and profit for the company.
• Become and “expert” on the company’s products and offering in order to relay to potential customers.
• Liaise with the marketing, operations, and wider sales teams to convey BD strategies and maintain consistent fluid communication.
• Represent the company at all industry events, attend conferences & seminars where required and become “the face” of Improve International and its associated brands.
• Support the licensing and wider sales departments when necessary and attend all key client meetings as required.
• Schedules and attend regular client size visits to build ongoing rapport and create opportunities.
• Represent Improve International throughout all online platforms, grow business and community networks and drive marketing initiatives.
• Drive revenue, controls costs and positively impact EBITDA.
• Complete monthly performance reports based on PM, KPIs and OG.

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications and experience

• Proven experience of successfully working in customer care or a sales environment.
• Proven experience of selling, hitting sales, or similar, targets.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Any other languages are desirable.
• Strong focus on the customer and delivering a great experience.
• Business and project management experience.
• Good financial acumen.
• Knowledge of core principles and methods for promoting and selling products or services.
• Experience of, or an interest in, education and the veterinary industry.

Personal attributes

• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build and develop relationships at all levels.
• A self-starter comfortable with working in the office/field-based and remotely when required and also with colleagues in a variety of international locations.
• Self-motivated and autonomous with effective time management abilities.
• Flexible and able to travel nationally and internationally as required.