We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Business Development to join our Business Development team on a full-time permanent basis.

The successful candidate will work with the Commercial Director to position First Travel Solutions as the preferred managed transport partner for businesses with contract ground transport service needs, including workplace, education, aviation, event and corporate services. Building strong, trusting relationships with key client stakeholders and decision makers, and uses those relationships to create intelligence-led win strategies.

This is a remote role which requires frequent UK travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities in provision of managed transport services, predominantly in the UK and Ireland, but over time across geographies offering market-entry opportunity
• Build a comprehensive pipeline of managed transport service opportunities, continuously improving details including timelines, geographies, phases, values, client view of FTS, competitor interest, commercial structure, legal terms, early view of win likelihood
• Identify key stakeholders and decision makers in client and supporting organisations
• Utilise relationships to successfully position FTS; selling our capabilities, performance, innovation, people and culture to align to client preferences for contract service partners
• Steer client thinking pre tender to shape the documents; highlight potential risks and issues with their positions and concepts, offering insight and alternatives that improve their procurement whilst reducing risk to FTS
• Gather intelligence relating to client needs, wants and dislikes to steer the proposal team and to augment tender document/proposal content when seen or provide pre packaged detail on suitable experience of operations delivered by FTS in a similar sector
• Monitor competitor actions and gather intelligence on likely bidders and bid strategies
• Create an Opportunity Intelligence Summary document to capture all opportunity specific intelligence, and to offer a pre tender/proposal (where required) document bid strategy, potential differentiators, key client terms and phrases, pen portraits of key client stakeholders and decision makers etc. to inform the colleagues assisting in developing the proposal
• Lead colleagues from solutions, bidding and finance to create winning tender submissions, which are compliant, compelling and competitive.
• Lead the FTS Business Development team and associated sales activity to deliver on company's growth plan through contract bidding, service proposal or consultative sales approach as necessary
• Work with colleagues in sales, bidding and mobilisations to identify opportunities for sales performance improvement & growth

Skills/Experience 

• Has led successful formal ITT/RfP submissions
• Business Development/Sales Manager for a transport, FM, outsourcing contract services provider
• Proven ability to analyse data at a high level to assess risk and take informed commercial decision making.
• Evidence of building strong and trusting relationships with key client stakeholders and decision makers, positioning firms as ideal partners and gathering intelligence to support competitive tender pursuits
• Evidence of owning the entire deal from identification to signed contract; able to successfully lead on quality and pricing elements and to navigate internal governance to achieve sign-off
• Evidence of proactive, self-starter, resilient sales and relationship management
• Strong track record of identifying opportunities and building fully qualified pipelines
• Experience of leading a high performing business development team
• Experience of strategic development of a business development plan
• A team player, wholly committed to working with and supporting their peer group and other colleagues to achieve FTS' business strategy
• Ability to engage with professional leaders in a network and use examples of external best practice and thought leadership to improve internal strategies.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to engage with senior leaders both internally and externally.
• Commercially astute, emotionally intelligent; and an effective networker and communicator with the ability to quickly forge strong working relationships at all levels and build trust

Salary - £75,000, plus a bonus of up to 15% cash based on business and personal performance

Rewards & Benefits

• Your health is important to us which is why we offer Simply Health & Smart Health for you and your dependents at no cost to you! This offering includes cash back benefits across optical & dental as well as virtual GP appointments, mental health support and nutrition and fitness advise. Our EAP provision offers 24hr, 365 days a year mental health support
• We are also committed to your financial wellbeing, and we offer a platform with many discounts on high street brands and supermarkets etc
• Working at First you also receive discounted train travel for you and your family after 6 months service as well as a free bus pass
• Cycle to work scheme
• 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
• Pension scheme and chance to buy discounted First Group shares
• Flexible working

We put a big focus on physical and mental wellbeing at First Bus. We recognise that anyone can be affected by the stresses and strain of work, or life outside it. You'll find a range of health-promotion initiatives, and you will have 24/7 access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme.

Public transport serves everyone, whatever their differences. At First Bus, we want to be an employer open to you, no matter what your differences are. We aspire to be an inclusive organisation because diverse backgrounds, thinking and experiences bring so many benefits to our customers, communities and people. We welcome applications from all.

Applicants are advised that background checks will be conducted as a standard part of our recruitment process.