Senior Business Development Manager

Senior New Business Manager
Up to £80,000 plus excellent benefits, including private healthcare and a company car (Work Level 5) 
Location: this is a field-based role, you can be based anywhere in the UK. Please note that  occasional travel to our Scunthorpe and Manchester offices will be required, along with client site visits

Co-op Wholesale is growing, and we’re looking for talented people who want to shape what comes next. As our Senior New Business Manager for corporate and key accounts, you’ll be at the heart of winning and developing corporate partnerships that are worth millions. You’ll focus on complex, high value, multi-site opportunities that really make a difference across wholesale.

This isn’t just about meeting targets. It’s about building strong, trusted relationships with new corporate clients and making sure Co-op Wholesale is their first choice for large-scale partnerships. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

Exciting things are happening at Co-op Wholesale. We’re growing fast, strengthening our offer for retailers, key accounts, and corporate partners, and we need great people to be part of that journey.

You’ll join our Business Development and Growth team, which is expanding to take on some of our biggest and boldest corporate acquisition targets. This team is all about collaboration, growth, and driving our business forward. From identifying new markets to shaping trusted partnerships, they’re helping take us to the next level.

This is where you come in.

What you’ll do

•    Create and deliver our corporate acquisition strategy, targeting high-value, multi-site groups
•    Build a comprehensive list of new business prospects, and lead new business acquisition from initial outreach through to securing the business
•    Work closely with finance colleagues on business cases, ensuring your new business wins deliver profitable sales growth
•    Along with contract manager, negotiate final contracts that protect Coop Wholesale’s interests
•    Build strong relationships with senior decision-makers and position Co-op Wholesale as their go-to partner
•    Lead on complex negotiations and account planning, making sure deals are commercially sound and operationally ready
•    Collaborate with Bid team to source and submit bid and tender opportunities, submitting market leading proposals
•    Work closely with colleagues to make sure new customers are onboarded smoothly
•    Represent Co-op Wholesale in the market, raising our profile and credibility in the corporate retail space

What you’ll bring

We’re committed to making our roles as accessible as possible, so we only ask for the minimum criteria. To thrive here, you’ll need to bring:

•    Experience managing and delivering multi-million-pound corporate acquisitions
•    Experience leading winning bids and tender submissions
•    Experience leading complex partner onboarding and integration processes
•    Commercial know-how, financial acumen including a strong P&L understanding, and strong negotiating skills
•    Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to turn insights into action 
•    Good communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and challenge inclusively

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

•    A company car
•    Private healthcare
•    An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
•    28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
•    A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
•    30% discount on Co-op products and 10% off other brands
•    Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
•    Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
•    24/7 colleague support service
•    Training and support for your development and career progression
•    Cycle-to-work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.

We’re proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme and offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for a job. If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, we’ll support you.

Learn more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process and our inclusion commitments at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.