Business Development Manager (General Cargo)

About the Role

At the Port of Dover, we're investing in the growth of our cargo business and are looking for an ambitious Business Development Manager to help drive that success. Joining our Commercial team, you'll play a pivotal role in identifying, securing, and growing new cargo opportunities across key sectors including construction materials, infrastructure projects, agri-bulk, and project cargoes.
This is a commercially focused, customer-facing role with a strong emphasis on new business development and revenue growth. You'll build and manage relationships with customers and industry stakeholders, identify market opportunities, develop compelling commercial proposals, negotiate contracts and pricing, and convert prospects into long-term business partnerships.
We're looking for a proactive and commercially driven individual with a track record of winning business and delivering growth. Whether your experience comes from ports, logistics, supply chain, construction materials, aggregates, project cargo, or infrastructure sectors, you'll have the credibility, commercial acumen, and relationship-building skills to create new opportunities and expand our cargo portfolio.
If you're looking for a role where you can influence strategic growth, work with industry-leading customers, have exposure to senior decision makers and the opportunity to contribute to the long-term commercial strategy of the Port, we'd love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing
Account Management
•    Manage customer relationships, service delivery and revenue growth.
•    Support onboarding, account planning and upselling opportunities.
•    Build strong relationships with key customers.

Business Development
•    Generate and convert new business opportunities.
•    Prepare proposals, tenders and presentations.
•    Support pricing, negotiations and commercial forecasting.

Operational Coordination & Service Delivery
•    Coordinate with internal teams to meet customer requirements.
•    Monitor performance, resolve issues and communicate rate updates.
•    Maintain KPI and CRM records.

Market Awareness & Promotion
•    Attend industry events and follow up on leads.
•    Monitor market trends, competitor activity and opportunities.

Reporting & Administration
•    Maintain CRM data and prepare commercial reports.
•    Support presentations, documentation and compliance requirements.

Team & Cross-Functional Activities
•    Coordinate commercial projects and track progress.
•    Support service improvements and strategic initiatives

What We’re Looking For
Knowledge & Experience
•    Proven experience in account management and business development, delivering revenue growth, winning new customers, and developing new market opportunities.
•    Previous background within construction, infrastructure, agri bulk or project cargoes (desirable)
•    Experience in logistics, supply chain or ports (desirable).
•    Strong customer relationship management skills across multiple accounts.
•    Understanding of supply chain operations and basic financial principles.
•    Competent user of Microsoft Office
•    Full UK driving licence and use of own vehicle

Management & Commercial Skills
•    Ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
•    Passion for growth, innovation and developing new supply chain solutions.
•    Confident public speaker and effective external representative.
•    Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret market data.
•    Skilled in negotiation and constructive conflict management.

People & Behavioural Skills
•    Positive relationship-builder internally and externally.
•    Collaborates effectively with cross-functional teams.
•    Inclusive, adaptable and enthusiastic in a fast-paced setting.
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills.
•    Excellent planning, organisation, and attention to detail.
•    Role model for integrity, respect and positive team culture.
 

Why Join Us?

You’ll play a key role in shaping and growing a strategically important part of our business. This is a dynamic role with significant customer interaction, cross department collaboration and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on how general cargo services evolve at the Port.

Salary: IRO £52k (plus discretionary bonus)

Benefits

• 5 weeks annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata)
• Birthday leave
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus scheme
• Private Health Care
• Life assurance
• Employee assistance programme
• 3rd party discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Benefits and reward platform
• Free Parking
• Employee volunteering scheme

All offers of employment are subject to us obtaining satisfactory references (covering all education, training, employment and unemployment in the preceding 5 years) and there will be a pre-employment medical including a Drug and Alcohol test. We need to satisfy your Right to Work in the UK.

Please be aware that all employees will be subject to background security checks in order to obtain a Dock Pass.

We value the unique differences that each of our colleagues bring to work every day and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is looking after each other and respected, included and able to perform at their best.

All applications are reviewed by our team — we do not use AI for screening.

Closing date:  25 October 2026 at 5pm