Business Development Director

Director of Business Development – Drive Growth & Innovation in Automotive Sales

Are you a dynamic sales leader with a passion for innovation and driving new business? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, high-impact role where your ability to build strategic relationships makes a tangible difference? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!

Why Join Us?

Cox Automotive Enterprise Sales represents an increasing number of the product brands within the Cox Automotive portfolio of businesses, driving the value of our extended customer products and services to support our vision to transform the way the world buys, sells, owns and uses vehicles.

Where we do not represent the transaction of a product brand, we access ‘Business Specialist and Product leads’ to support successful customer conversations, building the image of one joined up Cox Automotive brand at all times to maximise revenue and customer value.

By focusing our sales teams on our customer segments, we aim to become the most knowledgeable, innovative and reliable partner supplier of choice in this segment.

What You’ll Do:

This role is accountable for both leading the development and conquest of new business opportunities (and market-ready solutions) within the Dealer, Corporate and OEM sectors.  The primary focus will be products and services directly supported by the Enterprise Sales function, with secondary consideration being given to introducing & developing opportunities in adjacent business areas as required.

The target customer portfolio’s will be diverse in nature, spanning the full spectrum of the automotive landscape, requiring the role holder to be agile, flexible and able to manage a complex array of stakeholders and decision-makers, often working with multiple competing and conflicting priorities, depending on customer requirements.

Working cross functionally with all product brands included within the Enterprise sales remit (and adjacent business as required), the role is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with the key business leaders, maintaining and delivering a sales pipeline, and maximising opportunities to win across the portfolio of CA products and services.  The expectation will be to develop strong relationships across both Cox Automotive and external stakeholders, supporting the delivery of commercially viable solutions to customers & prospects alike.  The fundamental aim being to position CA as a strategic partner of choice in all accessible sectors.

• The Director of Business Development will be expected to lead the drive for new business across larger and more complex prospects within defined market sectors, working alongside the Sales Directors and other snr leaders to develop commercial opportunities & appropriate customer propositions.  Closing new business will be a leading KPI, as will ensuring a robust implementation plan, and clean handover to the account management team as and when required.
• Operating in a senior sales role, you will be required to identify and win high value contracts through various channels including tenders, pitches and presentations.  You will need to be a self-starter with an entrepreneurial approach to pipeline development.
• This will be achieved through targeted research and intelligence gathering, interpretation and communication of data and the preparation and implementation of appropriate action plans, but primarily through the identification and engagement of customers and their stakeholder’s teams. 
• The expectation will be to develop strong internal relationships across Cox Automotive Europe (and international as required) alongside a deep understanding of sector/customer requirements.
• Ensure the presentation of industry leading tender responses for all new business tenders, maximising on our UK and global network to win business and customers.
• Ensure all activity, including pipeline and prospect reports, tender dates and large business opportunities are collated within Salesforce.com and updated weekly, and drive this behaviour through Cox Automotive teams.
• Achieve all new business targets through developing customer driven strategies focused upon the Customer Value Proposition and their unique range of products.
• Drive the delivery of tactical sales activities supporting the launch of new products and services across Cox Automotive.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to deliver new business targets, cultivating new business opportunities to maximise sales of Cox Automotive products and services to new customers.
• Generate, manage and convert a sustainable and selective pipeline of work that reflects the current and anticipated Business Plan. This will be done in alignment and conjunction with the individual business Sales Directors and leaders.
• Monitor and report on market and competitor activities, providing relevant reports and information to key stakeholders as necessary.
• Be a leader and key member of the Cox Automotive Sales Team and support the board in relevant internal meetings and projects.
• To work closely with Marketing to ensure rich, engaging and relevant sales collateral is available in a timely manner across relevant delivery devices e.g. Digital, Print as well as with the Sales Enablement team to ensure the required supporting sales collateral and training materials are available to support the wider businesses and sales teams
• Work with the wider Cox Automotive Marketing team to enhance the markets and value proposition, develop and drive optimum sales and distribution through identification, whilst addressing market opportunities.
• Lead and manage competent negotiations - educating and coaching Sales Teams to take ownership when required.
• Working closely with the Director of New Business & Growth to develop the Cox Automotive sales strategy and plans.
• Working alongside colleagues within the wider European functions to also develop European wide opportunities across Manufacturer and Fleet customers and prospects

What We’re Looking For:

• Commercial, credible sales leader with a real appetite for winning and who can bring knowledge and experience of selling high value propositions directly and through bid/tendering processes.
• Tenacious new business development leader, used to having a majority of external focus to identify and secure significant new business opportunities with the aim to expand the business through the generation of new business pipeline and the development of strategic relationships.
• Manage with confidence the high-level relationships with the intention of maximising market opportunity as well as promoting increased presence across targeted customer base.
• A good understanding of Salesforce.com and how best to utilise the platform to support accurate sales pipeline reporting and prospect information.
• A good appreciation of building business cases, project management and program delivery will be advantageous.
• Experienced in engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and used to operating across various sectors and customers contacts. The ability to anticipate potential business opportunities and implement actions that will position Re-marketing with differentiated advantage will be of key importance.
• Has a solid understanding of the role technology is playing and will play in future used vehicle propositions, with the aim to be seen as an industry expect in this area of the market.
• A well-rounded and proven individual with demonstrable success in delivering profitable growth through new business development and sales led strategies. You will have proven experience of developing strategic relationships with major customers and winning new business through trusted relationships.
• Able to accurately forecast sales predictions and shifts in the marketplace.
• Able to demonstrate real breadth of experience and particularly strong presentation and influencing skills, together with the ability to engage all levels of stakeholders.
• Display effectiveness in developing, managing and maintaining excellent customer and peer relationships through strong negotiating skills.
• Bring an active voice to the management table – not afraid to voice opinions and can adapt behaviour and style to work with all levels and across all Cox Automotive business functions.

What We Offer:

• A field-based/hybrid role with the flexibility to drive your success.

• The opportunity to work with an industry leader in automotive sales innovation.

• A collaborative and supportive culture where your voice is valued.

• Competitive salary and performance-driven incentives.

Ready to Drive the Future of Automotive Sales?

If you’re a high-performing sales professional ready to make a real impact, we want to hear from you. Apply today and take the next step in your career with Cox Automotive!

STRICTLY NO AGENCIES PLEASE

We work with a carefully selected set of recruitment agencies and we're not looking to add to our PSL.

We do not accept unsolicited agency CV's sent to the recruitment team or directly to the hiring manager. We will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CV's.

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