Business Development Director

About you This is an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Director to join Heywood. Our aim is to become the leading provider of data-driven, technology-enabled solutions in the pensions and financial services sector, and this role is at the forefront of that ambition. You will have…

• a demonstrable track record of building and managing a sales pipeline , and successfully negotiating and closing deals in the context of Financial Services.
• experience selling software, services, data, and analytics solutions into the Public and Private Sectors.
• strong attention to detail and the ability to multi-task.
• the ability to adapt to changing customer, market, and/or business requirements.
• confident and accomplished communication skills across various formats (public speaking, authoring, presentations, etc.), generating high levels of engagement and persuasion.
• solid commercial skills, including an understanding of cost models, guiding price setting to win and shaping commercial deals which are compelling to customers.
• fantastic working relationship building capabilities to efficiently build credibility internally and externally, with prospects, market-makers and influencers, and partners.
• a positive attitude , and a collaborative approach to business
• an innovative approach to further develop our solutions to drive new sales.
• ideally, experience of working within the UK workplace pensions space with established contacts across the industry.
• (experience across pensions and /or financial services in other territories or geographies will be advantageous).
• (experience of de-risking will be advantageous).

The role Heywood is a leading provider of solutions to the UK pensions market. Our origins are in providing specialist pensions administration systems. In 2021, our business was acquired by BlackRock Long Term Private Capital (LTPC). This ownership change has brought us extensive support and a broadening of focus, to find further ways in which we can support the workplace pensions and financial services markets. These markets – both here in the UK and overseas – are set to undergo significant change in the coming years, and much of this change will be technology enabled. As such, this is an exciting opportunity for the right person to come in and be part of shaping how we grow further. The key purpose of the Business Development Director will be to generate revenue and profit growth and increase our customer footprint, selling across our range of best of breed solutions and services, working across both private and public sectors. You will be working across the whole sales cycle, managing the process from lead-generation through to deal closure. Reporting to the Chief Sales & Marketing Officer (CSO), and working closely with our SMEs, Proposition and Product Development teams, you will also help shape how our existing products and services develop and input to the development of the new ways we want to support our market. Key responsibilities include: Lead generation, opportunity development and deal closure : Work with new customers to deliver consistent and sustainable revenue growth. Proposition development : Supported by our own experts, engage proactively with customers in a consultative way, understanding their challenges and needs whilst marrying these to our solutions to construct compelling propositions. Proposal writing : Write compelling proposals to articulate the value of our solutions, our differentiators, key win themes, and deal structures. Maintain an awareness of competitor solutions to help shape our propositions in an informed way. Presentations, demonstrations, and pitches : Design, prepare and deliver high quality presentations to prospective and existing customers. Coach and mentor relevant team members in developing and delivering their contributions to the overall pitch. Solution and collateral development : Work with our Product Development and Propositions teams to ensure that we develop the right solutions to meet existing and emerging market needs. Collaborate with Brand to produce marketing collateral which showcases the value of our solutions. Networking : Actively engage to maintain and build on our market presence and relationships with market-makers and partners. Identify and engage with potential new customers and key decision-makers to sell our products and services. Actively promote our propositions as an ambassador for the Company, and a thought-leader at industry events (e.g., conferences, focus groups etc.) About us Heywood combines a passion for software with Agile methodologies to create modern software and data solutions and services for businesses, pension providers and third parties that help transform how their members and customers manage their lifelong financial journeys. Working for an expanding established market leader, you will have a real voice to influence our evolution. Continued learning and progression is ingrained in our daily life, encouraged through a variety of forums from e-learning subscriptions and a monthly down-tools day (“Hive Day”) and communities of practice for learning and experimentation. Our open culture encourages wide participation and innovation. We also reward our hard work through regular socials, organised by our people. Socials events include fiercely competitive bake-offs, Pride month office parties, sporting events, games nights and much more! We are committed to a hybrid working model, combining remote and office-based working. Discover more at EDI statement As an equal opportunities’ employer, Heywood is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Heywood. Legal stuff