Business Development Manager

Job ID: AD142 Job title: Business Development Manager – Plumbing & Heating Location: Hove Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent Hours: 44.5 per week (Mon–Fri 07:00–17:00, Alternate Saturdays 08:00–12:00) Salary: Circa £45k About the Opportunity Join a well-established and highly respected UK network of plumbing and heating merchants, with over 300 locations nationwide. Each branch operates with real independence—empowering teams to build strong local relationships, make commercial decisions, and truly own their success. This is not a rigid, corporate environment; it’s a place where your experience, ideas, and initiative genuinely shape outcomes. The Role We’re looking for a driven and commercially minded sales professional to play a key role in a busy and successful branch. This position offers the opportunity to take ownership of your customer base, grow revenue, and make a visible impact on the business. You’ll be at the heart of the operation—developing relationships, identifying new opportunities, and delivering tailored solutions to trade customers. What You’ll Be Doing • Driving revenue growth through proactive account management and reactivating dormant customers • Identifying and securing new business through your industry network and local market knowledge • Building strong, long-term relationships with trade professionals by offering expert advice and support • Preparing quotes, negotiating effectively, and contributing to pricing strategy • Supporting the wider branch team with product insight and commercial awareness • Representing the business at customer visits, trade events, and networking opportunities • Collaborating with leadership to identify and act on growth opportunities What You’ll Bring • Proven experience in plumbing & heating or builders’ merchant sales • An established network within the local trade industry • A track record of growing accounts and delivering profitable sales • Confidence in negotiating, quoting, and making commercial decisions • A proactive, self-starting mindset with the ability to work independently • A full UK driving licence What’s in It for You? • Real autonomy to manage and grow your own customer base • A competitive salary with a rewarding profit share scheme • Ongoing product training and strong operational support • The chance to be part of a business that values initiative, entrepreneurial thinking, and results Rhodium Consulting Ltd is a niche recruitment consultancy specialising in wholesalers, merchants and distributors within the building products sector. We strive to be the industry leader in delivering the highest calibre of candidates to our client companies, whilst enhancing the careers of our candidates