Our client The Vegetarian Society is the UK's original and leading voice for the vegetarian and vegan movement, driven by convictions and hunger for change. The Society is a fundraising charity and campaigns for compassionate and environmental dietary policies in addition to running a flagship cookery school.
The Role: A business development (Key Account) Manager is now required to coordinate the Vegetarian Society's trademark accreditation and licensing programme, working working with FMCG product manufactuers, retailers, restaurant and catering groups etc.
* You will mainly operate over the telephone (from home if preferred) to meet set targets and corporate objectives, in addition to assessing food products and menus etc to check ingredients.
* There will be close liaison with marketing colleagues to engage with prospects and partner organisations via tele-research, client visits, mail promotions and other activities.
The Business Development Manager will be required to attend events - foods fairs and other exhibitions - in the UK and Europe, involving occasional work away from home, assisting with the assembly and dismantling of the stand and, perhaps, driving a van. A driver with a clean licence is therefore preferred.
The Ideal Candidate for this business development role will be a bright, personable and proactive key account anager with at least two years' similar prior experience, mainly over the telephone but also including face-to-face presentations and meetings.
* Experience of selling licensing or trademark products/services - whether commercial or regulatory - would be a distinct advantage but is not essential.
* Prior business development or key account management experience within the foods manufacturing or retail sectors would also be of particular interest.
* A vegetarian, vegan (or perhaps pescatarian) is required, seeing as a full commitment to the Society's ethics and values is naturally of fundamental importance when promoting its agenda to customers and commercial partners.
The Business Development Manager remit requires dedication, drive and a robust commercial flair, being central to the further growth of one of the charities' key revenue streams. The opportunity comes with excellent career prospects.
The role can be conducted either from home (with approx' two days per month attendance in central Manchester necessary for meetings etc) or from the Vegetarian Society's comfortable offices if preferred