Location: Midlands & East (Field Based)
Salary: £35,000 – £40,000 + Bonus + Company Car
Our Client
The Animal People Recruitment Company is delighted to be partnering once again with a well-established and highly respected business in the pet and aquatic sector.
With a strong heritage, loyal customer base and a genuine passion for the industry, this business has built its reputation on long-term relationships, quality products and exceptional service.
Operating across the UK, they support over 2,000 independent retailers and continue to invest in both their people and their future growth.
As the business continues to evolve within a challenging but opportunity-rich market, they are now looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to take ownership of a key Midlands & East territory.
The Opportunity
This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded and relationship-driven individual to take on an established territory with significant growth potential.
Covering a broad Midlands & East region (as shown in the territory map), you will manage a portfolio of approximately 150–160 independent customers, with a current turnover of circa £6.5 million.
The territory has seen some change in recent months, so the immediate focus will be on rebuilding relationships, re-establishing trust, and stabilising the area, before driving long-term growth.
This role follows a structured “Find, Grow, Keep” model, but with real autonomy to shape how you deliver against it.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and develop relationships across an established customer base
- Rebuild trust and engagement across the territory
- Identify and win new business opportunities
- Grow product distribution, particularly across private label and exclusive brands
- Use data and insights to drive commercial decisions and recommendations
- Deliver structured customer visits (3–5 per day, ~20 per week)
- Build tailored commercial proposals aligned to customer needs
- Collaborate with internal teams including marketing, logistics and sales
- Represent the business at industry events and customer meetings
- Strong relationships re-established across the customer base
- Regular customer visit cadence achieved
- Increased engagement and trust within the territory
- Early signs of growth across key accounts
- A clear structure and rhythm established across the patch
What We’re Looking For: We are open to a range of backgrounds, including:
- Experienced BDMs or Territory Sales Managers
- Individuals with strong retail or pet industry experience looking to step into field sales
- Candidates with a proven ability to build relationships and drive growth
- Strong relationship-building and communication skills
- Commercial awareness and data-driven thinking
- Self-motivation and resilience
- Ability to manage a large geographical territory
- Confidence working independently in a field-based role
This is a supportive, down-to-earth and collaborative team environment.
While the role is field-based and can at times feel independent, there is strong internal support, regular team interaction and a culture built on helping each other succeed.
The business is realistic about current market conditions, it’s a challenging environment, but has a clear plan focused on stability now and growth ahead.
For the right person, this represents a genuine opportunity to make their mark and grow with the business.
Package & Benefits
- £35,000 – £40,000 basic salary (depending on experience)
- Bonus up to £5,000 (moving towards quarterly structure)
- Company car (with future hybrid upgrade)
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays
- Pension, BUPA healthcare, life insurance
- Staff discount on pet products
- Strong onboarding & training (4-week structured induction)
- Ongoing support and development
Our client is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and supported.
We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
If your skills align with the role, we encourage you to apply.
