Director of Business Development

Director of Business Development

Salary: €150.000 +commission

Start: ASAP

Languages: German and English

I am looking for a seasoned Business Development Director who thrives on winning big, building influence, and shaping the future of hospitality and event experiences across Germany.

This is not a “wait for the tender” role.

This is about getting in early, building trust with the right people, and turning opportunity into long-term, profitable partnerships.

You will operate at the sharp end of the market—working with some of the most influential clients, venues, and stakeholders—owning the full journey from first conversation to signed contract and beyond.

What you will be doing

Driving Growth That Matters

Own and deliver ambitious new business revenue targets across the sectorBuild and execute a sharp, insight-led business development strategyIdentify, qualify, and convert high-value opportunities before they become public tendersMaintain a strong and forward-looking pipeline with a clear path to conversionSpot trends early and translate them into commercial opportunities

Building Relationships That Win Deals

Develop trusted relationships with senior decision-makers and industry influencersPosition the business as a strategic partner, not just a supplierEngage early to shape client thinking and influence procurement directionCreate long-term partnerships that lead to repeat and expanded business

Leading Bids That Stand Out

Own complex, high-value bids end-to-end—from strategy to contract awardDefine compelling value propositions and lead winning bid strategiesCollaborate with finance, operations, marketing, and bid teams to deliver best-in-class proposalsEnsure commercial strength, governance compliance, and sustainable profitabilityLead negotiations with confidence and commercial clarity

Collaborating to Deliver Excellence

Work closely with operations teams to ensure seamless handover and mobilisationAlign internal stakeholders around growth priorities and key opportunitiesContribute to national and cross-regional strategic bids

Being Visible in the Market

Represent the business at industry events, conferences, and key networking platformsBuild personal and company credibility within the hospitality and events sectorContribute to thought leadership through insights, articles, and market engagement

Keeping the Engine Running

Maintain accurate pipeline tracking and CRM reportingProvide clear forecasting and performance updatesEnsure all activity aligns with internal governance and approval processes

What great looks like

Your experience

Senior commercial or business development leadership within hospitality, foodservice, events, or related sectorsProven success in winning complex, high-value, multi-stakeholder dealsExperience navigating long sales cycles and influencing at executive levelStrong financial and commercial acumen, including pricing and margin strategyExperience in corporate and/or public sector environments

Your skill set

Strategic mindset with strong market awarenessExceptional relationship builder with access to key industry playersHighly persuasive communicator and confident presenterStrong project leadership across cross-functional teamsCommercially sharp and a skilled negotiator

Your mindset

Driven by results and motivated by growthProactive, resilient, and comfortable in a high-performance environmentCreative in how you open doors and win businessCredible, professional, and trusted at senior levelEnergised by the challenge of “the big win”