Port of Dover
Business Development Manager (General Cargo)
🇬🇧Dover, England, United Kingdom2 months ago
From £52,000MidFull Time
About the Role
We are looking for a proactive, customer-focused Business Development Manager (General Cargo) to join our growing Commercial team. This is an exciting, commercial role that supports the development of general cargo services and helps drive new business opportunities across the sector.
You will manage day-to-day relationships with customers, generate new leads, commercial proposals, and help deliver the Port’s wider commercial strategy. This is a hands-on, customer-facing role with real impact in shaping the future of our general cargo operations.
If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy building strong partnerships, and want to contribute to the growth of a key strategic business area, we’d love to hear from you.
What You’ll Be Doing
Customer Relationship Management
• Manage daily interactions with general cargo customers, ensuring high levels of service and timely responses.
• Support customer onboarding and align operational requirements across internal teams.
• Maintain regular customer engagement to identify service improvements and upsell opportunities.
• Produce and maintain account management plans with guidance from the Head of Business Development.
Business Development Support
• Identify and qualify new commercial leads through networking, market insight, and industry engagement.
• Support the preparation of proposals, tenders, and customer presentations.
• Gather operational and financial data to support business cases and forecasting.
• Contribute to sales pipeline updates and support negotiations by coordinating key inputs.
Operational Coordination & Service Delivery
• Work closely with Operations, Finance, Engineering and other teams to ensure customer expectations are met.
• Monitor service performance, escalating any issues or improvement needs.
• Support rate and tariff updates through materials preparation and customer communication.
• Maintain accurate KPI tracking for general cargo accounts within the CRM.
Market Awareness & Promotion
• Attend industry and trade events, ensuring leads are captured and followed up.
• Gather and share market intelligence on competitors, cargo flows and emerging opportunities.
Reporting & Administration
• Maintain accurate CRM records and prepare routine reports on market activity, customer performance, and events.
• Assist in developing internal and external presentations and documents.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality, safety, security and sustainability standards.
Team & Cross-Functional Support
• Support commercial project delivery by coordinating tasks and monitoring progress.
• Contribute to discussions on improving service quality and operational efficiency.
• Support strategic initiatives led by the Head of Business Development.
What Success Looks Like
• Growth in general cargo revenue year-on-year
• Strong customer retention and positive service feedback
• Accurate, timely CRM updates and high quality customer materials
• Effective support across proposals, projects, events, and internal activities
• Consistent delivery of key reports, insights, and commercial outputs
What We’re Looking For
Knowledge & Experience
• Experience in account management or business development within a commercial environment.
• Background in logistics, supply chain or ports (desirable).
• Strong customer relationship management skills across multiple accounts.
• Understanding of supply chain operations and basic financial principles.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office; full UK driving licence required.
Desirable:
• Project management experience
• Knowledge of quality, security or food safety standards
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks
Management & Commercial Skills
• Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Passion for growth, innovation and developing new supply chain solutions.
• Confident public speaker and effective external representative.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data.
• Skilled in negotiation and constructive conflict management.
People & Behavioural Skills
• Positive relationship-builder internally and externally.
• Collaborates effectively with Marketing and cross-functional teams.
• Inclusive, adaptable and enthusiastic in a fast-paced setting.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent planning, organisation, and attention to detail.
• Role model for integrity, respect and positive team culture.
Why Join Us?
You’ll play a key role in shaping and growing a strategically important part of our business. This is a dynamic role with significant customer interaction, cross department collaboration and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on how general cargo services evolve at the Port.
Salary: IRO £52k (plus discretionary bonus)
Benefits
All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years) and there will be a pre-employment medical including a Drug and Alcohol test. We need to satisfy your Right to Work in the UK.
Please be aware that all employees will be subject to background security checks in order to obtain a Dock Pass.
We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is looking after each other and respected, included and able to perform at their best.
All applications are reviewed by our team — we do not use AI for screening.
Closing date: 01 May 2026 at 5pm
