Business Development Manager

First Table

27d•Remote

About The Position

First Table is seeking a driven, food-loving Business Development Manager to expand its presence in Manchester and Liverpool. This role involves meeting restaurant owners and hospitality leaders to win new business, backed by an established brand and a collaborative international team. First Table is a dining discovery platform that connects diners to restaurants, helping venues fill early tables and encouraging diners to explore new places. The company values are Grow Together, Win-Win-Win, and Own It. The Business Development Manager will grow First Table's restaurant network by approaching prospective partners, understanding their needs, and demonstrating how First Table can support their business. The primary focus is acquiring new restaurant partners, managing opportunities from initial contact through onboarding, and then handing them over to the partner success team. This is a field-based role requiring 4-5 days per week of in-person partner engagement. The individual will work autonomously, meeting restaurant owners and operators, managing a pipeline using market insight, data, and local knowledge, with support from an experienced team, clear systems, and regular coaching.

Requirements

Experience in business development, sales, field sales — ideally hospitality, food tech or SaaS
A track record of meeting or exceeding targets
Confidence building rapport quickly and turning opportunities into long-term partnerships
Self-starter with a commercial mindset, comfortable working independently
Tech-savvy, confident with CRMs, video conferencing and sales platforms
Appetite to use AI to drive efficiency and innovate
Applicants must be based in Manchester

Nice To Haves

Hospitality industry familiarity is a big plus
Existing contacts will push you to the top of the queue
No need for exact prior experience — just the spark to get people excited and the follow-through to make it happen

Responsibilities

Sign up new restaurants within your assigned territory
Track them in the CRM
Build relationships with key decision-makers and influencers
Research prospects to assess sales value and profitability
Win new business against agreed targets, running a call cycle to maintain a healthy pipeline
Track market trends and competitors to spot new opportunities
Attend trade shows and industry events relevant to your region as needed
Respond to and close warm incoming enquiries
Collaborate with cross-functional teams for a seamless partner experience