Business Development Executive – Food Hygiene | Northern Division | Permanent

Drive growth in a specialist food hygiene environment where commercial development, client relationships and industry expertise come together. This is an opportunity for an experienced business development professional to take ownership of new business, strategic sales initiatives and market expansion across a diverse food and hygiene client base.

The Business Development Executive will be responsible for identifying and converting new business opportunities, managing leads, developing proposals and tender responses, and implementing sales and marketing initiatives aligned to annual growth targets. The role will work closely with the General Manager Sales, Operations and strategic suppliers to deliver commercially sound solutions and grow market share.

Beyond traditional business development, the role carries an important knowledge-transfer component. The successful candidate will support the team with food hygiene standards, cleaning and hygiene programmes, and the practical application of ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and R638 requirements across food-sector environments.

The client is an established services business with specialist capabilities across hygiene and related operational solutions. The organisation works with clients across food production and processing environments and places strong emphasis on service quality, compliance, commercial performance and long-term client relationships.

What You'll Do

• Identify, pursue and engage prospective clients across targeted market segments.

• Generate new business through lead follow-up, networking, market development and cold calling.

• Develop and maintain a strong understanding of existing contracts and customer requirements.

• Work closely with the General Manager Sales and Operations Manager on regional sales opportunities.

• Manage and, where required, draft high-quality proposals, bids and tender submissions.

• Ensure tenders and bids are submitted professionally, accurately, timeously and in compliance with requirements.

• Engage and manage strategic suppliers contributing solution and commercial content to proposals and tenders.

• Identify weaknesses in the sales process and implement improvements.

• Follow up on cancelled contracts and identify opportunities for recovery or re-engagement.

• Develop and implement strategic sales initiatives to achieve annual growth and market-share objectives.

• Achieve monthly sales budgets through effective sales and marketing activity.

• Identify new growth opportunities across relevant market segments.

• Apply an appropriate marketing mix to support the company's marketing communications and business development objectives.

• Promote complementary services and solutions across the broader group.

• Prepare comprehensive weekly and monthly sales and marketing reports.

• Support knowledge transfer across the Business Development team and sales leadership.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree or National Diploma in Sales, Business Development, Marketing or a related field.

• Matric or equivalent.

• Minimum 3 years' solid experience in business development within a sales environment.

• Strong sales and marketing knowledge, ideally within the services industry.

• Demonstrated ability to identify, develop and convert new business opportunities.

• Experience preparing proposals, bids and tender responses.

• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.

• Commercially focused approach with a clear ability and desire to sell.

• Good understanding of sales processes and market development.

• Strong customer and client focus.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong planning, scheduling and organisational ability.

• Proficiency in MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.

• Valid driver's licence.

Experience or knowledge of food hygiene environments and standards, including ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and R638, will be highly advantageous.

What Success Looks Like

• New business opportunities are consistently identified, pursued and converted.

• Monthly sales budgets and annual growth targets are achieved.

• The regional client base and market share continue to grow.

• Proposals and tender submissions are commercially strong, accurate and delivered on time.

• Strategic suppliers are effectively managed to support competitive and compliant solutions.

• Sales process weaknesses are identified and addressed proactively.

• Cancelled contracts are actively followed up and suitable recovery opportunities pursued.

• Market segments and growth opportunities are continuously assessed.

• The sales team has stronger practical understanding of food hygiene requirements and service delivery considerations.

• Knowledge of ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, R638, prerequisite programmes, Master Cleaning Schedules and Safe Operating Procedures is effectively transferred to relevant team members.

• Sales and marketing activity is accurately reported and translated into actionable business insights.

• Client relationships are developed and maintained through professional, responsive and commercially focused engagement.