Senior Business Development Manager

About us

EcoAct is an international climate consultancy and project developer that supports companies to set robust science-aligned net-zero strategies and achieve their climate targets. Founded in France in 2005, the company now spans three continents with offices in Paris, London, Barcelona, New York, Montreal, Munich, Milan, and Kenya.

With a team of more than 300 international climate experts, EcoAct's core purpose is to lead the way in delivering sustainable business solutions that deliver true value for both climate and client. EcoAct is a CDP Gold Partner, a founding member of ICROA, a strategic partner in the implementation of the Gold Standard for the Global Goals and reports to the UN Global Compact.

About the role

Playing a key role in the Commercial team, this role will work collaboratively with Commercial and Consulting colleagues to prospect and close sales in line with team and personal targets.

The mission of the Senior Business Development Manager (Carbon Markets) is to sell EcoAct’s market leading services to our target client base, with a primary focus on carbon offset sales. Clients are typically FTSE 100, 250 corporates or similar across the UK and the North Europe region. The focus of the role is primarily new business focused.

Roles and Responsibilities

• New business: Prospect and identify new business opportunities to existing and new customers through online and offline lead generation activities.
• Account management: Work with account managers to build effective relationships with existing clients to ensure repeat business and further penetration through identification of new business opportunities that add value.
• Sales meetings: Set up and attend sales meetings. This will include attending meetings where the SBDM is acting in a lead role AND a supportive role.
• Quality assurance and team support: Support Sales and Advisory colleagues to achieve their sales targets by contributing to and reviewing sales documentation, presentations, pitches etc.
• Lead qualification: Working closely with the Marketing team, contact and qualify marketing qualified leads (leads generated through our content lead marketing platform).
• Service development: Developing and building sales offerings in line with market requirements.
• Continuous improvement: Working collaboratively with colleagues to maintain and improve sales collateral (proposals, presentations etc.)
• Customer feedback: Obtaining and addressing feedback from clients to ensure high quality service delivery and supporting Advisory team colleagues where required.
• Self-management: Taking responsibility for achieving personal and team targets and reporting accurate management information in sales meetings.
• Collaboration: Driving co-operation and collaboration with other functions across the EcoAct Group to maximise efficiency and effectiveness and to provide an integrated response to client needs/global accounts.
• Relationships: Developing and maintaining a positive, collaborative working relationships with all other functions in the UK business and wider organisation.
• Team management: Experience of managing a team is desirable. Willingness to do so is essential.
• Feedback: Communicating market/customer feedback and service requirements/ opportunities to the rest of the organisation as appropriate.

Relationships

Reporting in the first instance to the Commercial Director, the Senior Business Development Manager (Carbon Markets) will be required to work closely with all members of the EcoAct team, particularly senior management, to achieve company objectives. External relationships are part of the role, with a requirement to liaise with clients and prospective clients, project teams, overseas offices, and representatives from partner organisations.

Professional Background and Experience

This position would suit an accomplished professional with a passion for sustainability who is looking to expand their career in consulting sales. Strong sales skills are essential, along with a good understanding of sustainability, carbon and/or energy services.

• Able to demonstrate success or aptitude for selling in a complex consultative environment
• In-depth knowledge of Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM), offset mechanisms, and how to price portfolios.
• Successful track record of personally closing significant levels of business with FTSE 100 - 250 clients preferably within the Sustainability/Climate/Environmental Sector
• Active, hands-on approach with clients, and willingness to personally help colleagues to close opportunities as necessary.
• A professional, team-oriented, relationship-oriented approach to winning business and developing successful, long-term client engagements.

Knowledge/ Skills/ Attitude

The ideal candidate will:

• Be values-driven with a genuine interest in sustainability and be able to embrace the company culture and values
• Have the energy and gravitas to succeed in a growing, technical industry leader.
• Have an entrepreneurial mentality with a driving desire to succeed in the market
• Be people and relationship oriented, sociable, and good at building relationships
• Be a strong team player with high personal and professional standards, who a proven track record of managing, developing, and motivating more junior staff.
• Demonstrable intellectual curiosity.
• Have a willingness to roll up their sleeves and execute.
• Have strong interpersonal and communication skills with proven track record of quickly building credibility at senior levels, both internally and externally.
• Have impeccable integrity and ethical standards.

Location

The role is based in the UK with a flexible blend of home and office working. The role requires attendance at the London head office as necessary for business purposes.

Salary and Benefits

EcoAct know how important it is to look after our colleagues. As well as a competitive salary and excellent commission scheme, EcoAct offers a comprehensive benefits package including a flexible pension allowance, private medical insurance, life insurance, professional subscriptions plus the option to opt into a range of individual and family benefits.

EcoAct offers great opportunities for your personal development and career advancement. We offer a structured career development path with clear timelines and expectations for progression.

Working with our dedicated team of experts, you will gain a high standard of skills development and expertise, starting with our in-depth induction programme, through to ongoing technical training and an extensive range of learning and development opportunities.

Company Culture

Company culture is of great importance to us and is something that every member of EcoAct helps to create. Our colleague led initiative, which represents the three pillars of Colleagues, Community and Environment, runs numerous activities including, Veggie lunches, volunteering and fund-raising opportunities, wellbeing activities, plastic reduction and energy saving initiatives, social and sports events.

Employee well-being is a key priority for us, and we recognise the importance of work-life balance and how EcoAct can be supportive of individual needs; working from home, working part-time or flexible start and finish times can all be accommodated.

Eligibility

Applicants must have authorisation to work in the UK.

Type of Employment

Permanent, full-time.

EcoAct is an equal opportunities employer committed to the goal of building a culturally diverse workforce. We want our employees to feel valued, appreciated, and free to be who they are at work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy/ maternity/ paternity, religion or belief, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status or any other aspect which makes them unique.