Business Development Director - Food

Job Introduction

In an ever-changing world of food and hospitality we know that customers want transparency, quality and sustainability and so we want to be at the forefront of this evolving sector.

We are looking for a Business Development Director to deliver a clear winning strategy for Sodexo Corporate Services, encouraging innovation to instil true partnerships and nurture client relationships to support retention. Someone who understands this space and who can bring with them food retail expertise and market insight to develop relationships.

This is a truly career enhancing role for someone who wants to bring their knowledge and expertise to a growing company

Role Responsibility

• Re-establish the London Sodexo premium corporate services food market
• Acting as the primary representative of the Sodexo Services Business Development team by effective communication to current and prospective clients
• Fostering long term relationships, negotiating client contracts and increasing new business pipeline
• Providing direction and expertise to the operating area by promoting Sodexo strategies and service offers to prospective clients
• Encouraging innovation to develop and grow the business beyond core activities and secure Sodexo’s position as a preferred supplier
• Work with food team to create and deliver cutting edge food service solutions that are best for client, best for us
• Creating compelling tender documents which effectively answer client needs and deliver a clear winning strategy for Sodexo CS Food market in compliance with agreed standards and practices.
• Supporting retention through active involvement in re-bid activity in partnership with OPET
• Identify business targets, define the priorities and design the Sales Plan for our market
• Manage pre-qualification processes with the prospective clients by identifying the expectations of the prospects and designing commercial proposals specific to the prospect.
• Identify the expectations of the prospective clients and design commercial proposals specific to each client and in compliance with agreed standards and practices.
• Achieve the defined Annual Sales targets and promote Sodexo Health and Safety and Quality standards through the Offer Development.
• Promote quality communication and relationships with both existing and future clients, consultants, OPET and other relevant bodies

The Ideal Candidate

• Demonstrable track record of developing successful sales and business development strategies across a broad portfolio of target client groups
• Experience of having operated successfully at a senior level within a segment specific environment
• Intensive experience in global and local markets
• Experience in winning bids and delivering sales targets
• Experience in food trends, market research, and knowledge of high street and workplace trends.
• Awareness of CDM Regulations
• Management of the total bid process for new and retained business
• Sound knowledge of the industry/client sectors, including sound knowledge of both private and public sector tendering procedures
• Exceptional client relationship management skills
• Development of commercially viable solutions
• High standards of numeracy and written communication, particularly sales/bid copy
• Wide range of managing and leading sales / bid teams
• Ability to develop ideas, initiatives and new approaches across all areas of corporate services

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 36,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the energy, corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

At Sodexo we are committed to a leading role in promoting equality opportunities and valuing diversity and inclusion. We seek to create a work environment based on mutual respect for all individuals, building a culture that appreciates and values the experiences and skills brought by each person to benefit our organisation and work hard to ensure that all people, whatever their race, colour, sex, gender identity  disability, nationality, national or ethnic origin, religion or belief, marital/partnership or family status, sexual orientation, age, social class, educational background, employment status, working pattern, are welcome to and included within our organisation. 

We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.