Business Development Manager - Channel Partnerships

As the research and analysis division of the Economist Group, The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) helps leaders prepare for opportunity, empowering them to act with confidence when making strategic decisions. The EIU is the global standard in providing high quality, actionable intelligence to the public and private sector, assessing issues that impact the businesses in more than two hundred countries.

We are seeking an ambitious senior sales ‘game-changer‘, to help develop The EIU’s footprint through re-seller and agent partnerships globally.  This opportunity is suited to a senior and current top performer, ready to take the next step and join a global leader in its field, representing a truly unique brand. You will join us ready to unleash your impressive set of commercial skills to achieve business and personal success. You will have a deeply inquisitive mind, a well-honed consultative approach to selling and unquenchable thirst for success by creating strategic alliances with third parties, ensuring growth of our channel partnership business.

You will be a highly driven, self-starting and accomplished partnership manager with excellent presentations skills, strong consultative sales ability and an excellent understanding of B2B subscription businesses. Your natural instinct to ‘hunt’ will be key to success in this role and you will thrive in pursuing sales success in a high profile environment. In return we will offer you a competitive compensation package which will truly reward you for the success you can achieve for the business.

How you will contribute:

• Qualify strategic partnership opportunities across the globe, consisting of re-sellers, content partnerships and sales agents
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline by proactively driving activity via self-generated opportunities
• Personally develop, own and execute an ambitious partnership acquisition plan in your territory
• Develop, manage and constantly improve on your personal lead generation through proactive networking via digital and face-to-face channels and events
• Take ownership of channel partnerships as if it was your own business by constantly improving on activity and conversion
• Manage the entire sales cycle from prospecting through to closing alliances
• Prepare regular sales reports including activity, pipeline, sales invoiced as well as monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts
• Regular travel post Covid-19

The ideal skills for this role are:

• Considerable experience in selling business intelligence solutions and forging strategic partnerships with third party vendors
• A proven track record in generating substantial new business, consistently beating target and performing in the top quartile of a team
• Be a true alliances hunter that thrives on winning
• Commercially creative with the ability to facilitate bespoke partnerships for mutual benefit
• Exceptional networking skills – able to excite potential partners about the opportunity to work with the EIU
• A confident communicator with gravitas, able to sell consultatively and tailor converting solutions for prospects
• Proficient in relevant software/applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, CRM (preferably Salesforce), Sales Navigator, etc.
• Excellent command of English and a second languages a strong plus