Business Development & Account Manager
Location: Newhaven, East Sussex
Job Type: Full-time, On-site
Salary: £28,000 – £31,000 per annum + Bonus
Company: Leads Direct Ltd
About Leads Direct Ltd
Leads Direct is a well-established UK specialist in the supply and manufacture of cables, leads and connectivity solutions. For over 20 years, we’ve supported customers across a wide range of industries — including industrial, aerospace, audio, video, computing and telecommunications — providing both high-volume stock products and bespoke lead assemblies.
We combine strong technical knowledge with responsive, reliable service. With thousands of products available from stock and the capability to source or manufacture specialist solutions, we work closely with customers to understand their requirements and deliver practical, commercially sound outcomes.
Following a period of sustained growth, we have recently doubled the size of our Newhaven facility and are investing in further expansion. Over the next five years, we have ambitious plans to significantly grow the business, creating genuine opportunity for individuals who want to develop their careers with us.
Based in Newhaven, East Sussex, we operate in a supportive, hands-on environment where teamwork, accountability and long-term customer relationships are central to how we do business. As a growing SME, we value individuals who are prepared to contribute, take responsibility and make a noticeable impact.
The Role
We are looking for a commercially astute Business Development & Account Manager who wants to take real ownership of an account base and grow it into a significant revenue stream.
This role will take ownership of a substantial portfolio of dormant and inactive customer accounts (circa 3,000) as well as finding new customers through outreach. You will be responsible for re-engaging lapsed customers, identifying genuine commercial opportunities, converting them into active trading accounts, and then managing and growing those relationships long term. This is not a high-volume cold-calling role.
Success in this role will require the ability to confidently manage a large and varied portfolio, quickly build a strong understanding of our product range, and work comfortably with technical specifications. You will need to combine relationship-building skills with commercial awareness, attention to detail and a disciplined, structured approach to account management.
This role would suit someone with existing sales experience who is keen to develop into a high-performing Account Manager. As the business continues to expand, there will be opportunities to progress into Senior Account Management, Key Account Management and broader commercial roles.
Within your first 6 months, you will have:
· Developed a strong understanding of our products, customers and internal processes.
· Built a structured engagement plan for your account portfolio.
· Successfully reactivated a number of dormant customer accounts and generated new revenue opportunities.
· Established a healthy sales pipeline with clear growth potential.
· Built strong working relationships with internal teams, suppliers and customers.
Within your first 12 months, you will have:
· Developed a core portfolio of active, regularly trading customers.
· Consistently achieved agreed activity, revenue and growth targets.
· Created long-term customer relationships that generate repeat business.
· Identified opportunities to increase account value through upselling, cross-selling and account development.
· Become a trusted commercial contact for your customers and a key contributor to the company's growth plans.
Key Responsibilities
· Take full ownership of a defined portfolio of dormant and inactive accounts.
· Develop a structured plan to proactively re-engage customers and identify opportunities to establish trading relationships.
· Develop a structured approach to account planning and revenue growth including cross-selling, upselling and strong relationship management.
· Convert reactivated accounts into consistent, revenue-generating relationships.
· Build strong working knowledge of Leads Direct’s product range and technical specifications.
· Prepare quotations and commercially sound proposals.
· Maintain accurate CRM records and manage your sales pipeline effectively.
· Work collaboratively with internal teams and suppliers to ensure accurate processing, high service standards and timely fulfilment.
· Achieve agreed revenue and growth targets.
What We’re Looking For
This role would suit someone with existing sales experience who is ready to take genuine ownership of revenue growth and build long-term customer relationships. You will be self-motivated, results-oriented and comfortable working towards clear performance targets from day one.
We are looking for someone who combines a strong work ethic with commercial curiosity, attention to detail and the discipline to manage a large portfolio in a structured way. You should enjoy both the challenge of winning back business and the satisfaction of developing accounts over time.
You will ideally have:
· Previous experience in sales, business development or account management, with demonstrable achievement of revenue or growth targets in a structured, target-driven environment.
· Experience within technical sales, electronics, manufacturing, engineering, industrial products, telecommunications or related sectors would be advantageous but is not essential
· Strong relationship-building skills and good core sales skills, including prospecting, objection handling, negotiation and closing.
· A proactive, self-starting approach with the confidence to take ownership of your results and drive activity without close supervision.
· Confidence learning and working with technical product specifications.
· Commercial awareness – understanding the importance of revenue, margin and retention.
· The ability to coordinate effectively with internal teams and suppliers to ensure high service standards.
What You’ll Get
· Competitive base salary + uncapped bonus.
· Monthly discretionary bonus (subject to successful completion of probation and individual performance)
· 28 days holiday including bank holidays
· Paid overtime
· Free tea, coffee and refreshments
· Smart/Casual dress code
· Clear ownership of your own account portfolio.
· Structured training and development.
· Company pension scheme.
· Staff product discounts.
· Opportunity to develop into a senior position.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £28,000.00-£31,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
Application question(s):
- The role is office based in Newhaven. Are you fully able and prepared to work on-site every work day?
- This position involves learning a wide range of technical specifications. Are you willing and able to develop knowledge of areas such as worldwide mains power connectors, IEC connections, network standards, and related technical products?
Experience:
- Account management: 1 year (preferred)
- sales: 1 year (preferred)
- Cabling Industry: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
