Business Development Manager Permanent Dublin - Hybrid working About this role This is a senior, autonomous role for an experienced commercial professional who can generate their own pipeline, build trust with SME decision-makers, and close complex deals independently. Our client are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager to join their team as their first dedicated commercial hire. This is a pivotal role: you will own the full new business function for the clients software and automation services, and simultaneously build the commercial pipeline. What you will do: Generate and qualify your own pipeline through your network, referrals, LinkedIn outreach, events and strategic partnerships. Run discovery conversations with SME decision-makers CEOs, MDs, finance directors, operations managers. Own the relationship from first conversation through to signed contract, managing the full sales cycle which typically runs 26 months. Hand over cleanly to the delivery team ensuring the client's expectations are documented and aligned before work begins. Track all activity, pipeline and deal progress you will be expected to report on pipeline value, conversion rates and new business won at monthly board meetings. Business development Identify and qualify recruitment agencies, HR teams and professional services firms as potential clients through your existing conversations and your own network. Run product demonstrations and commercial conversations with prospective clients. Convert trials and interested parties to paying license agreements. Feed market intelligence back on what features, pricing and positioning are resonating and what is not. Over time, build the processes, collateral and case studies needed to hand off a repeatable sales function. Commercial infrastructure Set up and maintain a CRM we do not currently have one fully operational. You will own this. Develop sales collateral, case studies and proposal templates. Identify the most effective lead generation channels and build repeatable processes around them. Contribute to the company's content and LinkedIn presence where it supports commercial goals. Experience and background Min 510 years of B2B sales or business development experience, ideally in professional services, software, SaaS, digital agency or IT services. Proven track record of closing complex, relationship-driven deals not transactional sales. We want to see deals you have built from cold or warm relationship through to signed contract. Experience selling to SME owners, directors or C-suite decision-makers. You are comfortable in a boardroom and know how to build trust before presenting a solution. Deep familiarity with the Irish SME market. An existing network of relevant contacts is a significant advantage. Experience managing a long sales cycle (26 months) where multiple stakeholders are involved and trust is the primary driver. Skills and approach Strong commercial instincts you can qualify quickly, identify the real decision-maker, and sense when a deal is genuinely progressing versus going nowhere. Consultative and curious. You ask great questions. You are genuinely interested in how a client's business works before you start talking about solutions. Self-sufficient and structured. You do not need to be managed. You know what activity leads to pipeline and you do it consistently without being told. Clear and credible communicator written and verbal. Your proposals, emails and presentations need to reflect the professionalism. Comfortable with ambiguity. There is no established playbook, CRM or marketing machine behind you. The right person sees that as an opportunity to shape something. Commercially literate. You understand margin, deal structure, retainer models and how to construct a proposal that works for both sides. Skills: Business Development Sales
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