GEA

GEA is one of the world’s largest systems suppliers for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Our portfolio includes machinery and plants as well as advanced process technology, components and comprehensive services. Guided by a strong sense of purpose, our more than 18,000 dedicated employees work to enhance the sustainability and efficiency of production processes globally.

Responsibilities / Tasks

We are seeking a strategic and analytical Business Development Manager to play a critical role in identifying and developing growth opportunities for our business. This role is ideal for someone who is skilled at using market intelligence tools to identify qualified leads, conduct outreach to assess fit, and support the customer success team in crafting and tracking long-term growth strategies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Sales Strategy Formulation: Assist the Senior Leadership team in defining go-to-market strategies for the different business areas by gathering and analyzing relevant market data, trends and comparing those to historical business information available. Support in translating strategies into actionable tasks for the wider sales team to drive business growth.
• Market Research & Opportunity Identification: Utilize market intelligence platforms (e.g., LinkedIn Sales Navigator or industry databases) to research and identify potential business opportunities and decision-makers. Analyze company profiles, industry sectors, buying signals, and trends to build high-quality lead lists. Map out potential markets, ideal customer profiles, and key stakeholders to inform outreach strategies
• Lead Pre-Qualification & Initial Outreach: Conduct light-touch outreach via phone or email to qualify leads based on interest, fit, and readiness of the customers. Gather insights from initial conversations and update CRM records with key qualification details before coordinating with the sales team to pass on warm, vetted leads for follow-up and conversion.
• Account Segmentation & Growth Planning: Work closely with the Director of Customer Success to support the formulation, tracking, and refinement of growth strategies. Assist in identifying expansion opportunities within existing accounts and monitor client engagement and satisfaction. Help segment customer data to identify up-sell, cross-sell, and churn-prevention opportunities.
• Reporting & Performance Analysis: Track and report on sales metrics, pipeline status, and business development performance using CRM. Maintain detailed and organized lead data and track the progression of sales campaigns and lead conversion. Provide regular reporting on pipeline activity, lead quality, and market trends to inform strategic decisions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment between market insights and business objectives.
• Team Collaboration & Internal Communication: Partner with marketing to align lead generation efforts with campaigns and content strategies. Liaise with the customer success teams to ensure a seamless handoff of qualified opportunities. Attend internal planning sessions to contribute insights from market research and client feedback. Collaborate with other GEA divisions on a country-cluster level to align on Business Development topics.
• Customer Health Monitoring: Utilize data and feedback to monitor customer health through surveys and tools available to the business.
• Portfolio Enhancement: Contribute ideas on how to enhance our existing portfolio of integrated sales & service offerings that cater to customer needs resulting in continued satisfaction and retention whilst ensuring recurring revenue growth for the company.
• Partnership Development: Build and nurture strategic relationships with key stakeholders, partners, and influencers in relevant industries wherever relevant.
• Change Management: Embrace and drive customer satisfaction throughout all touchpoints and thereby contribute to our customer first culture.

Your Profile / Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or Marketing; a Master’s degree is an added advantage.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a sales and service environment, or in a Business Development / Business Excellence role.
• Business Development Expertise: Proven experience in business development activities, including cold calling, strategic planning, and market expansion.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Customer Orientation: Strong service mindset focused on delivering value and ensuring customer success.
• Technical Proficiency: Proficient in CRM platforms and the Microsoft Office suite.
• Organizational Awareness: Ability to understand and navigate GEA’s matrix structure, leveraging cross-divisional collaboration and networking opportunities.
• Travel Flexibility: Willingness to travel as needed to support client engagement and business goals.
• Location Requirement: Must reside within a commutable distance to the Milton Keynes office.

Did we spark your interest?

Then please click apply above to access our guided application process.