Senior Business Development Manager job at Dartford Full Time NEW

A Rare Opportunity Within a Specialist Engineering Business

We are representing a highly respected specialist engineering business operating within the fire suppression and critical environment sector across the UK and Europe. The company forms part of a larger £120m engineering group, providing the financial stability, investment backing and long-term security of a major organisation, whilst still operating day-to-day as an agile, close-knit and commercially flexible SME environment.

This creates a genuinely exciting opportunity for somebody who enjoys the pace, visibility and autonomy of a smaller business, but with the backing and infrastructure of a larger group behind it.

The Business:

The company operates within a highly niche and technically specialist area of the fire suppression market, delivering end-to-end solutions across:

• System design & specification
• Supply of suppression agents
• Installation & commissioning
• Service, maintenance & compliance
• Cylinder testing & refurbishment
• Environmental compliance & recycling solutions

What makes the business particularly unique is its ability to manage the entire lifecycle of suppression systems in-house, something very few competitors in the market can offer.

This creates a strong commercial proposition built around:

Full compliance
Reduced downtime
One trusted supplier
Specialist technical capability

Their client base spans highly regulated and mission-critical sectors including:

• Defence / MOD
• Data Centres
• Energy & Utilities
• Marine & Offshore
• Facilities Management
• Industrial & Infrastructure environments

Why This Role Exists:

This is not a replacement position. The business has invested heavily into infrastructure, operational capability and facilities and is now positioned for significant commercial growth.
Current turnover sits around £3.5m–£4m, however the business is operating at approximately 50% capacity, meaning the platform for growth is already firmly in place.
They are now looking for a commercially driven individual capable of helping scale the business, open new doors, strengthen market presence and drive long-term revenue growth across the UK.

The Opportunity:
This is a senior commercial role reporting directly into leadership and playing a key part in shaping future growth strategy.

Responsibilities will include:

• Managing and developing key customer accounts
• Driving new business opportunities across service, maintenance and system solutions
• Building strategic relationships across OEMs, FM providers and end users
• Owning the full sales lifecycle from prospecting through to negotiation and close
• Developing and executing strategic sales plans
• Identifying market trends and commercial opportunities
• Supporting wider commercial positioning and growth strategy
• Acting as a visible commercial presence within the market

This is far more than a transactional BDM role. The successful person will effectively help drive and shape commercial growth across the UK business.

About YouYou may currently be working as a:

• Senior Business Development Manager
• Key Account Manager
• National Account Manager
• Sales Manager
• Commercial Manager
• Business Development Director

Relevant sector backgrounds could include:

• Fire Suppression
• Fire & Security
• Facilities Management
• Building Services
• M&E
• Critical Infrastructure
• Technical Service / Engineering Environments

The ideal individual will bring:

• Strong commercial and relationship-building capability
• Experience operating within technical or engineering-led sectors
• Ability to develop long-term value-based relationships
• A proactive and growth-oriented mindset
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Commercial maturity and autonomy
• Ambition to play a major role within a scaling business

Why Join?

• Genuine growth opportunity within a scaling business
• Strong investment backing and long-term stability
• High level of autonomy and influence
• Ability to shape commercial growth strategy
• Specialist, niche technical offering with clear market differentiation
• Agile and collaborative SME culture
• Opportunity to become a key figure within the business long-term

For the right person, this role offers the opportunity to genuinely make a mark within a growing specialist engineering business operating in a highly resilient and technically interesting market.

Eligo Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy. Eligo is proud to be an equal opportunity employer dedicated to fostering diversity and creating an inclusive and equitable environment for employees and applicants. We actively celebrate and embrace differences, including but not limited to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, and disability. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences and all will be considered for employment without discrimination. At Eligo Recruitment diversity, equity and inclusion is integral to achieving our mission to ensure every workplace reflects the richness of human diversity.