Business Development Manager - Affinity Partnerships (New Partner Acquisition)

Business Development Manager – Affinity Partnerships (BDM-26)

The Role

This is a pure new business role focused exclusively on acquiring new affinity and strategic partners.

The successful candidate will be responsible for generating, progressing, and closing new partner opportunities. There are no account management or retention responsibilities within this role.

While insurance comparison is a core focus, experience in other comparison or switching verticals — such as energy, broadband, mobile, current accounts, or credit cards — is advantageous.

This role will play a critical part in driving Seopa’s next phase of growth by securing commercially robust, scalable partnerships that deliver meaningful revenue and profit. Recent partnership wins have included leading national media companies and major UK retail brands.

Key Responsibilities

·       Relentlessly pursuing new partnership opportunities across broadband, mobile, current accounts, and credit cards.

·       Identifying and engaging high-quality partners through proactive market research and targeted outreach.

·       Creating and delivering compelling commercial propositions and presentations to senior stakeholders.

·       Leading complex, high-value negotiations to secure profitable, compliant, and strategically aligned partnerships.

·       Managing inbound enquiries while actively building and progressing outbound sales pipelines.

·       Acting as a subject matter expert on Seopa’s comparison capabilities and partner value proposition.

·       Working closely with Product, Marketing, Compliance, and Technology teams to support partner acquisition and onboarding.

·       Maintaining accurate pipeline reporting, forecasts, and performance updates.

·       Monitoring market, regulatory, and competitor trends relevant to assigned verticals.

·       Continuously improving new business sales processes and ways of working.

·       Supporting and mentoring junior team members as required.

Experience & Skills

Essential Criteria

·       Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in B2B sales or new business acquisition.

·       Proven track record of winning and scaling high-value commercial partnerships.

·       Strong experience operating in target-driven environments.

·       Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

·       Commercially astute with strong analytical and data interpretation capabilities.

·       Ability to manage multiple opportunities and maintain momentum in competitive markets.

·       High standards, resilience, and a growth mindset.

Desirable Criteria

·       Experience in comparison or switching products, including insurance, broadband, mobile, current accounts, or credit cards, with experience energy switching is also beneficial.

·       Background in fintech, financial services, utilities, or e-commerce.

·       Understanding of digital marketing channels such as PPC, SEO, and paid media.

·       Experience using CRM systems such as HubSpot.

·       Comfort working closely with Product and Technology teams.

Academics

A degree in a business, technology, or related field is desirable but not essential where relevant experience can be demonstrated.

Company Values

·       SMART – We are innovative and strategic, always finding better ways to do things.

·       EFFICIENT – We maximise productivity and value while minimising waste.

·       OPEN – We work as one team, welcoming new ideas, challenge, and change.

·       PASSIONATE – We are ambitious, positive, and driven.

·       ACCOUNTABLE – We do what we say we will.

Remuneration & Benefits

·       Competitive salary and performance-related incentives.

·       Private medical insurance and life assurance.

·       Pension scheme and annual pension clinic.

·       Health cashback plan.

·       Remote/Hybrid working arrangements.

·       Annual travel card loan.

·       Additional service-related holidays.

·       Option to buy additional holidays.

·       Cycle to work scheme.

·       Wide-ranging discount and reward schemes.

·       Access to online learning and development resources.

About Seopa

Seopa is a multi-award-winning technology company and an industry leader in creating and hosting insurance, finance, and utility price comparison engines. Founded in 2003, Seopa operates market-leading comparison brands and provides white-label solutions to partners across the UK and Europe.