Business Development Manager - Water

The Business Development Manager (BDM) – Water will play a key role in managing relationships and driving growth with Local Authorities, property developers, and other stakeholders impacted by water neutrality challenges. The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of sustainability, environmental solutions, and water neutrality, enabling them to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and stay ahead of industry trends and best practices in water efficiency.

This role is focused on handling enquiries about our services, identifying and securing new business opportunities, winning contracts, and promoting Cenergist’s innovative water solutions. As a core member of the Water leadership team, the BDM will be responsible for sales development, key account management, and strategic networking. Their efforts will help grow Cenergist’s client base, foster long-term partnerships, and contribute to lead generation and overall business strategy.

In addition to business development, the BDM will lead the creation of high-value proposals, support funding applications, and manage the end-to-end bidding process for new projects. Their ability to effectively position Cenergist as a leader in water neutrality and a trusted partner in sustainability and environmental impact reduction will be critical to the company’s continued success and market leadership.

We provide water efficiency solutions for the domestic, commercial, and agritech sectors. Our work in the UK involves partnering with leading water companies and local authorities to reduce residential water consumption, improving over 20,000 homes each year. Our patented ‘Control Flow’ water efficiency technology is widely used by our clients. Additionally, we manage water efficiency projects in Care Homes, Student Accommodation, Leisure Centres, and Hotels. In 2023, we launched a consumer offering to sell and install our products directly to homes across the UK, helping homeowners save an average of £380 per year on water and heating.

• Salary £50,000 per annum (flexibility depending on experience)
• Business mileage (45p per mile)
• 25 days' annual leave (plus Bank Holidays)
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Life insurance
• Wellness programme

• Business Development & Stakeholder Engagement
• Sales & Account Management
• Proposal & Bid Development & Funding Applications
• Project Management & Delivery
• Strategic Planning & Reporting
• Expert Advisory & Consultation on Water Neutrality

• Sales, account management and networking within sectors focused on water neutrality, sustainability and environmental impact reduction.
• Develop an expanded network of repeat clients in allocated regions
• Create proposals for new delivery projects, incorporating sustainability assessments, water neutrality strategies, and commercial viability.
• Advise and support clients in producing approval documents, internal project briefings, and proposals
• Collaborate with internal funding teams to develop funding proposals for sustainable water and energy projects.
• Assist in production of quality responses & administration for tenders.
• Project manage the range of activities required
• Plan, contribute to, and manage lead-generation activities, including industry events, sustainability forums, and promotional campaigns that highlight Cenergist’s expertise in water neutrality.
• Act as the primary point of contact for client queries in allocated regions, maintaining strong client relationships.
• Develop and maintain project plans, tracking performance and reporting environmental impact.
• Manage and update the sales pipeline, providing regular insights on business development progress to the Director of Water Services.
• Support Delivery and Finance teams in the allocation of Project Purchase Orders from clients, invoicing and cash collect

• Achieve or exceed monthly and annual revenue targets.
• Develop and convert a pipeline of opportunities into contracts.
• Number of new clients acquired in the water and energy efficiency sectors.
• Retention rate of existing clients and repeat business generated.
• Number of bids/tenders submitted and success rate.
• Quality and timeliness of bid submissions.
• Number of networking events attended, and new contacts made.
• Strength and quality of relationships with key stakeholders (e.g., water companies, property developers, public authorities).
• Timely and successful delivery of projects according to client specifications and Cenergist quality processes.
• Client satisfaction scores for project delivery.
• Demonstrated understanding of water saving requirements and flow control products.
• Ability to communicate new product developments to clients effectively.
• Number of leads generated through promotional events and other activities.
• Conversion rate of leads to contracts.
• Effectiveness in supporting the Director for Water Services and the Water leadership team.
• Collaboration with internal teams (e.g., funding, delivery, finance) to ensure smooth project execution.
• Accuracy and timeliness in managing project plans, performance reporting, and client queries.
• Efficiency in handling project purchase orders, invoicing, and cash collection.
• Continuous improvement in sales and technical skills.
• Contribution to team goals and support for colleagues.

• Proven experience and success in a sales, business development, or relationship management client-facing role (preferably 3+ years)
• Excellent written & spoken English and ability to communicate at all levels and ability to communicate complex proposals simply
• Proven high quality of influence
• High level of literacy and ability to co-ordinate high quality project proposals, some writing experience beneficial
• Bid writing experience and good commercial acumen 

·      Ability to gain confidence of clients and create strong working relationships

·      Keen interest in energy efficiency & decarbonisation

Desirable

• Experience producing and managing tenders for sustainability and water efficiency projects.
• Experience in developing energy and water efficiency projects, particularly in the built environment.
• Knowledge of environmental engineering principles and their application to water neutrality solutions.
• Understanding of planning regulations and processes (particularly Section 106 notices and environmental impact assessments).
• Familiarity with the domestic water industry, including water company regulations, metering, and flow control technologies.
• Experience of working with local government departments such as planning to support their environmental strategic goals
• Experience within the sustainability, environmental, or water management sectors

• Self-driven
• Passionate
• Commercial acumen
• High energy & enthusiasm
• Excellent communicator (verbal & written)
• Resilient
• Completer/Finisher
• Team worker
• Work in line with Cenergist Values – Quality, Collaboration, Innovation, Support and Passion