Business Development Manager

Hobson, County Durham
Northern Industries Group

Job Title: Business Development Manager

Location: Northern Manufacturing Site (Hobson, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE16)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Reports To: Managing Director
Direct Reports: N/A
Salary & Package: Competitive D.O.E. + incentives

Hours of Work: Monday Thursday: 07 00 Friday: 07 00 (39 hours per week)

Who Are We?

JHT is the Northern Facility of the Northern Industries Group – a collective of specialist engineering and manufacturing businesses including Steelway Fensecure, Steelway Brickhouse, Steelway Protect, CEL Sheet Metal and Landguard Engineering.

We re part of a group with over 90 years of heritage in supplying high-quality fabricated steel products across critical UK infrastructure. Across the group, our products fall into two core families:

• Access Solutions including walkways, platforms, staircases, and structural steelwork.
• Protection Systems including high-security fencing, bespoke enclosures, and industrial safety products.

At JHT, we bring these solutions to life from our Northern site, delivering complex steelwork projects across the UK and driving innovation, quality, and service excellence across the business.

About the Role

We re looking for an experienced and driven Business Development Manager to support the continued growth of JHT Engineering, identifying and securing new business opportunities aligned to the company s capabilities.

Reporting into the Managing Director, you will play a key role in developing new revenue streams, building strong client relationships, and supporting the delivery of profitable projects. Working closely with estimating, contracts, and operational teams, you will help translate business objectives into tangible opportunities, contributing to sustainable growth, strong commercial performance, and long-term customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities across target markets to support sustainable growth for JHT Engineering.
• Establish and develop a strong pipeline of active customer enquiries.
• Track conversation rates of successful enquiry to order, liaise closely with customers to identity reasons for lost enquiries and drive continuous improvement in processes.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, contractors, consultants, and key industry stakeholders.
• Promote JHT Engineering s capabilities, services, and technical expertise within the Northern Industries Group.
• Work closely with estimating, commercial, and operational teams to develop commercially viable solutions and competitive tenders.
• Manage the full business development lifecycle, from initial enquiry through to contract award.
• Attend client meetings, site visits, and industry events to develop pipeline opportunities and market presence.
• Maintain accurate records of leads, opportunities, and client interactions using CRM or internal systems.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer feedback to support strategic decision-making.

Key Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in a Business Development, Sales, or Commercial role within engineering, steelwork, fabrication, or construction-related sectors.
• Strong understanding of engineered or fabricated solutions, with the ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to clients.
• Demonstrable track record of developing new business and managing client relationships.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to identify opportunities and contribute to winning profitable work.
• Comfortable working collaboratively with internal teams across estimating, production, and project delivery.
• Well organised, self-motivated, and capable of managing multiple opportunities simultaneously.
• IT proficient, with experience using Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
• Full UK driving licence

What We Offer

• Performance-related bonus structure
• 32 days holiday (including statutory holidays)
• Bank Holiday & Christmas shutdown
• Cycle to Work Scheme