Business Development Manager - Transport & Logistics

Location: Remote / West Midlands

Territory: Primarily within 30–50 miles of Birmingham

Employment basis: Employed or self-employed

Package: Competitive salary/package depending on experience and preferred remuneration structure

Commission: Margin-based commission structure available depending on agreed salary/package

UPD is looking for an experienced Business Development Manager – Transport & Logistics to become the first dedicated member of our sales function.

This is not an account management role.

We are looking for someone who can identify opportunities, approach new customers, build relationships from zero, develop a strong commercial pipeline and convert opportunities into long-term transport and logistics accounts.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build the commercial function alongside the growth of the business and, over time, potentially develop and lead their own sales team.

The Role

You will be responsible for generating new B2B business across the West Midlands, with a primary focus on companies located within approximately 30–50 miles of Birmingham.

You will work remotely but will be expected to travel regularly for face-to-face customer meetings, site visits, negotiations and contract discussions.

Your responsibilities will include:

Identifying and approaching new prospective customers

Building your own sales pipeline from the ground up

Prospecting through telephone, email, LinkedIn, networking and direct outreach

Arranging and attending face-to-face customer meetings

Understanding customers' transport and logistics requirements

Preparing commercial proposals and quotations

Negotiating pricing, service levels and commercial terms

Closing new business and supporting customer onboarding

Developing long-term commercial relationships

Working closely with operations to ensure proposed solutions are operationally and commercially viable

Identifying opportunities across multiple transport services rather than selling a single product

Helping establish the structure, processes and future direction of the UPD sales function

Services You Will Sell

Our commercial offering includes:

Same-day courier services

Dedicated vehicle transport

Timed and time-critical deliveries

UK freight

European freight

ADR / dangerous goods transport

Freight forwarding

Specialist transport solutions

Depending on the customer's requirements, work may be serviced through our own operational capacity or through our freight forwarding network and approved subcontractors.

Target Customers

You will be encouraged to develop opportunities across a broad B2B market, including:

Manufacturing

Automotive

Aerospace

Freight forwarding

3PL and logistics companies

Retail

Construction

SMEs

Industrial businesses

Dangerous goods and specialist sectors

Other businesses requiring urgent, dedicated or complex transport solutions

Experience Required

We are looking for someone with approximately 3–5 years of relevant experience in business development, transport, freight forwarding, courier, logistics or a closely related sector.

The ideal candidate will have:

Proven experience winning new B2B transport or logistics customers

Strong new-business development skills

Experience building a sales pipeline independently

Good knowledge of the UK transport and logistics market

Strong commercial and negotiation skills

Confidence dealing with senior decision-makers

Ability to understand customer requirements and develop suitable transport solutions

Experience working independently and managing their own territory

An existing industry network or customer relationships — preferred, but not essential

Experience helping build a sales function or commercial operation from an early stage — highly desirable

What We Are Looking For

We are particularly interested in candidates who have previously:

Entered a business with little or no existing sales structure

Created their own prospecting strategy

Built a customer portfolio from scratch

Developed repeat business rather than relying solely on transactional work

Worked across multiple transport products

Created processes that could later be used by additional salespeople

This position has significant long-term progression potential.

The successful candidate may initially operate independently but could ultimately move into a senior commercial or leadership role, helping recruit, develop and manage additional members of the sales team.

Remuneration

We are flexible regarding the structure of the package.

Depending on experience and the candidate's preference, this could include:

Competitive salary

Margin-based commission

A combination of salary and commission

Alternative remuneration structures for self-employed candidates

The final structure will be discussed during the interview process.

Future Progression and Potential Equity

This is intended to become a long-term position for the right person.

As UPD grows, there is potential for the successful candidate to take on greater responsibility, including:

Building and managing a sales team

Leading commercial projects

Contributing to strategic commercial decisions

Developing new sectors and markets

Moving into a senior sales or commercial leadership position

There is also potential for future equity participation.

Company shares are not offered automatically on joining. However, sustained performance, achievement of agreed objectives and long-term contribution to the development of the business may create an opportunity to earn an equity position at a later stage.

Requirements

3–5 years' relevant transport/logistics business development experience preferred

Full UK driving licence

Own vehicle available for business travel

Willingness to travel throughout the West Midlands for customer meetings

Must already have the right to work in the UK

Sponsorship is not available

Business mileage and reasonable customer-related travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Location

This is primarily a remote position, but candidates should ideally be based within or close to the West Midlands due to the concentration of target customers around Birmingham and surrounding areas.

Why Join UPD?

You would be joining at the point where the commercial function is being built.

Rather than inheriting a fixed corporate sales structure, you will have the opportunity to influence how the sales operation develops, build your own customer portfolio and potentially become the person who eventually leads the wider sales function.

We are therefore looking for someone who is comfortable creating opportunities rather than waiting for leads to be provided.