Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Salary: £32,546 to £38,249 per annum
Post Type: Full Time
Contract Type: Ongoing
Skilled Worker Visa Sponsorship: Available
Closing Date: Wednesday 30 April 2025
Interview Date: Friday 09 May 2025
Working Location: University campus with flexible working options
Job Overview
Are you an experienced business development professional with a passion for driving sales growth and building meaningful relationships? Do you have a proven track record of generating new business in a competitive commercial environment? The University of Leeds is seeking a Business Development Manager to help shape and deliver our ambitious sales strategy within the dynamic Conference and Events sector.
This exciting opportunity offers a chance to play a key role in expanding the University’s conference and events portfolio, especially in the wake of the pandemic recovery. With a target to grow income from £2 million to £4 million, this is your chance to make a significant impact in the thriving event space.
Key Responsibilities
1. Lead Generation & Sales Strategy Implementation
As the Business Development Manager, you will take ownership of the sales strategy to significantly grow the business. Your key responsibilities will include:
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Proactively generating new business leads within the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.
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Developing and implementing tailored sales strategies to meet University targets, focusing on attracting national and international conferences.
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Building strong relationships with a variety of stakeholders, including academic colleagues, venue finding agencies, and local industry sectors.
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Researching and identifying new opportunities to position the University of Leeds as the venue of choice in the Leeds city region.
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Developing a robust pipeline and consistently meeting or exceeding sales targets.
2. Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Building
A significant part of your role will be focused on establishing and nurturing relationships with external clients:
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Collaborating with academic departments to bring high-profile national and international conferences to the University.
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Working closely with event management agencies, industry associations, and local businesses to secure future events.
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Networking within local industry sectors to ensure the University of Leeds stands out as a premier event venue in the region.
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Acting as the main point of contact for clients, ensuring their needs are met and fostering long-term relationships.
3. Event Management and Coordination
Beyond the sales aspect, the Business Development Manager will also play a part in the logistical side of events:
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Working with the events team to ensure smooth coordination and execution of conferences and events.
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Collaborating with internal teams to ensure that all facilities, including the newly launched city centre venue, are utilized to their full potential.
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Overseeing venue selection, event planning, and execution to meet the high expectations of clients.
4. Reporting & Analysis
To ensure the success of the sales strategy, you will be responsible for tracking performance:
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Maintaining accurate records of sales activities, client interactions, and leads.
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Providing regular updates on progress toward sales targets and identifying any potential areas for improvement.
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Analyzing industry trends and client feedback to refine strategies and stay ahead of competitors.
Qualifications & Experience
We are looking for a motivated and experienced business development professional who thrives in a fast-paced, target-driven environment. The ideal candidate will possess:
Essential Qualifications
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Proven experience in business development, preferably within the MICE sector, with a track record of success in sales and lead generation.
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Strong understanding of the local business landscape, including key industry sectors within the Leeds city region.
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Excellent relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate and engage with stakeholders at all levels.
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A strong sales focus, with a drive to meet and exceed targets in a competitive environment.
Desirable Qualifications
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Experience working within higher education or a conference and events management setting.
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Knowledge of venue management and event logistics.
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Project management experience with the ability to handle multiple client accounts simultaneously.
Skills & Attributes
To excel in this role, the following skills and attributes will be essential:
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Strong Negotiation Skills: Ability to secure contracts and grow business relationships with a results-oriented approach.
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Organizational Excellence: A detail-oriented professional with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines effectively.
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Proactive & Results-Driven: Passionate about driving growth and overcoming challenges to achieve sales objectives.
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Team Player: Collaborative mindset and excellent communication skills to work effectively across departments.
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Strategic Thinker: Able to develop and implement long-term sales strategies while also being agile enough to adapt to immediate opportunities.
What We Offer in Return
The University of Leeds offers a comprehensive benefits package to ensure the well-being of its staff. Here’s what you can expect as part of your employment:
1. Competitive Holiday & Leave Benefits
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26 days of holiday per year, plus 16 bank holidays and days off that the University customarily closes for (including Christmas) — that’s 42 days a year in total!
2. Pension Scheme & Life Assurance
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Enjoy access to generous pension scheme options, with life assurance for added peace of mind.
3. Health & Wellbeing Benefits
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Access to discounted staff membership at The Edge, a state-of-the-art campus gym with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, and cycle circuit.
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Wellness programs and health initiatives to help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
4. Personal Development Opportunities
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Take advantage of professional learning courses and self-development programs, such as languages, Creative Writing, Wellbeing Therapies, and more.
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Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities through the University’s professional development team.
5. Additional Perks
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On-site childcare services and shopping discounts.
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Travel schemes to make commuting easier and more affordable.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about business development and ready to take on an exciting challenge, we want to hear from you! To explore this opportunity further or if you have any questions, please contact Chelsea Rolfe-Hayes at C.R.Rolfe@leeds.ac.uk.
To apply, please submit your application via the link below:
Closing Thoughts
Joining the University of Leeds as a Business Development Manager is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of our conference and events business. If you are an experienced professional with a strong sales background, an enthusiasm for business growth, and the ability to build meaningful relationships, we encourage you to apply.
Take the next step in your career, make an impact, and be part of a world-class institution that is focused on achieving excellence. With our competitive salary, generous benefits, and supportive work environment, the University of Leeds is the ideal place to develop your career and contribute to our success.