Business Development Specialist

Company: The Lanes Group
Apply for the Business Development Specialist
Location: South West
Job Description:

Business Development Specialist – Automotive Aftermarket

Location: South & South East Region

Job Type: Full-Time

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Business Development Specialist to support commercial growth and strengthen customer relationships across the South and South East region within the automotive aftermarket sector.

This is a field-based role covering the purple territory shown on the regional coverage map, including areas across the South Coast, South West, London, Kent, Essex, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, and surrounding regions.

We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running — someone practical, approachable, and comfortable working directly with independent garages and trade customers. This role is ideal for someone with strong automotive parts knowledge who can build trust and credibility quickly without being overly corporate in their approach.

The Role:

As a Business Development Specialist, you will spend approximately 85% of your time visiting garages, distributors, and customers across your designated territory.

Working closely with sales, logistics, technical, and marketing teams, you will play a key role in strengthening customer engagement, identifying business opportunities, and supporting long-term commercial growth across the region. The role will involve regular travel throughout the territory, including approximately 1–2 nights away from home per week.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Build and maintain strong relationships with garages, distributors, and existing customers
  • Identify opportunities to increase sales volume and customer loyalty
  • Support regional commercial strategy and business growth
  • Visit garages and customer sites regularly across the purple territory
  • Work closely with sales, logistics, technical, and marketing teams
  • Monitor competitor activity and market trends
  • Attend customer meetings, trade shows, and regional events
  • Maintain accurate reporting through CRM systems
  • Provide market insights and recommendations to improve customer experience and business performance

What We’re Looking For:

Experience:

  • 3–5 years’ experience within a business development or field sales role
  • Strong automotive aftermarket industry background
  • Good automotive parts knowledge and understanding of garage environments
  • Experience working within fast-paced, customer-facing environments
  • Comfortable managing a regional territory independently

Technical Knowledge:

  • Strong understanding of the automotive aftermarket sector
  • Knowledge of digital technologies, online platforms, data analytics, and AI tools advantageous
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Proficient using Microsoft Office and CRM systems

Skills & Attributes:

  • Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
  • Practical and personable approach
  • Comfortable engaging directly with garages and trade customers
  • Strong organisational and time-management ability
  • Commercially focused and customer driven
  • Proactive, adaptable, and collaborative mindset

Additional Information:

  • Field-based role covering the purple regional territory
  • Approximately 1–2 nights away from home per week
  • Excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking and innovative organisation
  • Long-term career development and progression opportunities available

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Posted: May 23rd, 2026