Business Development Director

Business Development Director

Field Based

37.5 hours a week (Monday – Friday)

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Accelerate your career with a company that leads the way!

Overview

At Cox Automotive Enterprise Sales, we're bringing more of the Cox Automotive portfolio together under one team, helping our customers get the most value from our products and services. Our goal is to support our vision of transforming the way the world buys, sells, owns, and uses vehicles.

When a product sits outside our direct team, we work closely with our Business Specialists and Product Leads to make sure every customer has the right expertise and support. By working as one connected CA team, we create a seamless customer experience while maximising value for both our customers and our business.

Our sales teams are dedicated to specific customer segments, allowing us to build deep industry knowledge and deliver tailored solutions. We strive to be the partner our customers trust most known for our expertise, innovation, reliability, and commitment to helping their businesses succeed.

Why Join Us & What’s In It For You?

As a Cox Automotive team member, you’ll have access to a wide range of benefits, including exclusive discounts, cashback offers and our brilliant peer to peer recognition scheme.  And there’s even more to enjoy: 

• Option to buy additional holiday days
• Your birthday off every year - paid
• One annual Well-Being Day for you to relax and recharge
• One paid Charity Day to give back and support a cause that matters to you
• Opportunities for career progression across the Cox Automotive network
• Competitive pension scheme

About The Role

Reporting to the Director of New Business & Growth & Buyer, you'll lead the development of strategic new business opportunities across the Dealer, Corporate, and OEM sectors, while also identifying growth opportunities in adjacent markets.

As Business Development Director, you'll play a pivotal role in driving sustainable business growth by identifying, developing, and securing high-value, complex opportunities across the full Cox Automotive portfolio. Drawing on your extensive commercial experience, you'll act as a trusted advisor to customers, colleagues, and senior stakeholders, building strong relationships and delivering solutions that create long-term value.

You'll also be recognised as a thought leader within Cox Automotive and the wider automotive industry, using your expertise to influence strategy, shape customer conversations, and help position Cox Automotive as the partner of choice.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Influence enterprise-level strategy at C-Suite level, by identifying emerging trends, shaping propositions, and driving innovation across the automotive ecosystem.
• Operate with executive-level engagement, managing relationships with C-suite stakeholders and positioning Cox Automotive as a strategic partner of choice.
• Work cross-functionally across all product brands and adjacent businesses to deliver integrated, commercially viable solutions that maximize customer value.
• Navigate a diverse and complex customer portfolio, requiring agility, flexibility, and the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple decision-makers.
• Act as a mentor and coach to other business development professionals, sharing best practices and guiding strategic pursuits without direct line management responsibility.
• Represent Cox Automotive at industry forums and high-profile events, reinforcing the company’s leadership position in the market.
• The fundamental aim is to drive transformational growth, secure strategic partnerships, and position Cox Automotive as the partner of choice in all accessible sectors.
• The Business Development Director will be expected to lead the strategic drive for new business across the most complex and high-value prospects within defined market sectors, working alongside Sales Directors and senior leaders to shape commercial opportunities and develop compelling customer propositions. Closing major new business deals will be a primary KPI, alongside ensuring robust implementation plans and seamless handover to account management teams.
• Operating at an executive level, you will identify and secure multi-million-pound contracts through tenders, pitches, and strategic negotiations. A self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset, you will take ownership of pipeline development and influence enterprise-level decisions.
• Success will be achieved through advanced market intelligence, interpretation of data, and strategic action planning, but primarily through building trusted relationships with customers and their senior stakeholder teams.
• You will develop strong internal relationships across Cox Automotive Europe (and globally as required) and maintain a deep understanding of sector and customer requirements to inform strategy and execution.
• Ensure the delivery of industry-leading tender responses, leveraging Cox Automotive’s UK and global network to win business and strengthen strategic partnerships.
• Drive accurate reporting of all activity—including pipeline, prospect updates, tender timelines, and major opportunities—within Salesforce, ensuring visibility and governance at senior leadership level.
• Achieve all new business targets through customer-driven strategies focused on value propositions and differentiated solutions.
• Champion the launch of new products and services by driving tactical sales activities and influencing go-to-market strategies.
• Develop and implement strategic growth plans to deliver new business objectives, cultivating opportunities that align with Cox Automotive’s long-term vision.
• Generate, manage, and convert a sustainable pipeline of high-value opportunities that reflects current and future business priorities, in collaboration with Sales Directors and senior leaders.
• Monitor and report on market and competitor activity, providing actionable insights to inform strategic decisions.
• Act as a senior voice within the sales leadership team, contributing to board-level discussions and supporting key internal projects.
• Work closely with Marketing and Sales Enablement to ensure compelling, timely, and innovative sales collateral is available across all channels.
• Collaborate with the wider Cox Automotive Marketing team to enhance market positioning, strengthen the value proposition, and identify new opportunities for growth.
• Lead and manage executive-level negotiations, coaching and mentoring other sales professionals to build capability and confidence in complex deal-making.
• Partner with the VP of New Business & Growth to shape Cox Automotive’s sales strategy and influence long-term planning.
• Work alongside European colleagues to develop pan-European opportunities across manufacturer and fleet sectors, leveraging global relationships for scalable growth.

What We’re Looking For

• Commercially astute and credible business leader with a proven track record of winning complex, high-value propositions through strategic negotiations, tenders, and executive-level engagement.
• Visionary and tenacious growth driver, focused on identifying and securing transformational new business opportunities that expand market presence and deliver long-term value.
• Confident in managing executive-level relationships, influencing strategic decisions and positioning Cox Automotive as a trusted partner of choice across targeted sectors.
• Advanced understanding of Salesforce and CRM platforms, leveraging data for accurate forecasting, pipeline visibility, and strategic reporting.
• Strong capability in building business cases and shaping strategic programs, with experience in governance, risk management, and commercial delivery.
• Expert in stakeholder engagement, operating effectively across diverse sectors and senior decision-making groups, anticipating opportunities and creating differentiated advantage.
• Deep knowledge of automotive industry trends and technology, including EV, digital retail, and mobility solutions, with the ability to act as a thought leader in these areas.
• Proven success in delivering profitable growth through strategic business development and enterprise-level sales strategies.
• Highly skilled in forecasting and market analysis, anticipating shifts and adapting strategies to maintain competitive advantage.
• Exceptional influencing and presentation skills, able to engage and inspire at board and C-suite level.
• Strong negotiator and relationship builder, maintaining trusted partnerships and driving collaboration across internal and external stakeholders.
• Active contributor to senior leadership discussions, bringing strategic insight and adaptability to influence decisions across Cox Automotive’s business functions.

We’re Committed to Inclusion

We are proud to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in all its forms.  We are a place where you can be you.

Ready To Join Our Team & Make A Difference? 
Apply now and drive your career forward with one of the automotive industry’s most trusted names. 

STRICTLY NO AGENCIES PLEASE
We kindly ask that agencies do not contact us regarding this vacancy.  We work with a carefully selected and trusted group of recruitment partners.  We do not accept unsolicited CVs sent to the recruitment team or directly to a hiring manager. We will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions.