Business Development Manager Automotive

Business Development Manager

We are looking for a driven and inspirational Business Development Manager to deliver profitable and sustainable growth across DS Smith's UK & Ireland Automotive segment. This is a high-impact role for a sales leader who thrives on developing others, building strategic partnerships and growing a global, market-leading brand at the forefront of sustainable packaging innovation.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the development and execution of short- and long-term market strategies for the Automotive segment within the UK Speciality Cluster
Deliver targeted, profitable growth through effective pipeline development and strategic new customer acquisition
Identify, shape and convert new business opportunities using compelling, value-led propositions
Act as a brand ambassador for DS Smith, positioning us as the leading sustainable packaging partner in Automotive
Monitor performance against targets and implement actions to ensure delivery
Work cross-functionally with Cluster, Design & Innovation and Commercial teams to win and onboard new business
Develop tools, materials and processes that support consistent and repeatable sales success
Build and maintain a strong pipeline of opportunities to meet growth targets within and beyond the financial year
Lead world-class pitches and workshops, collaborating with Sales, Marketing, CX, Commercial, Supply Chain, Innovation and Design teams to deliver tailored DS Smith solutions
Act as senior point of contact for target Automotive customers, supporting strategic meetings with high-impact, insight-led materials
Ensure pitch and presentation content reflects DS Smith's innovation pipeline, sustainability credentials and closed-loop solutions
About You
Proven B2B sales leadership experience with a strong business development mindset
Demonstrated success selling into the Automotive sector, ideally within production, logistics or supply-chain environment
Ability to operate effectively within a matrix, multi-stakeholder organisation
Strong senior stakeholder management skills, both externally and internally
A resilient, persuasive and ethical leader with the credibility to act as a change agent
Track record of sustainably growing revenue and delivering against targets
Commercially astute with strong negotiation, forecasting and budget ownership experience
Confident presenter with excellent written and verbal English communication skills
Highly collaborative, working effectively with central and regional teams
What we can offer you:
Competitive salary
Digital GP, Pension scheme, Life insurance and Income Protection
25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
Employee Assistance Programme
Employee Discounts
Location: Remote with travel, UK