Business Development Manager

About us

At Oakland, we help businesses unlock the power of their data. Whether it's data strategy, governance, engineering, analytics, or AI, we work with our clients to turn data into real, impactful results. Our team is made up of friendly, hands-on experts who love solving problems and making a difference. We don’t just advise - we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in, working alongside our clients every step of the way.

Founded in 1986 out of our Leeds HQ, we work with a diverse range of clients across all sorts of industries including Utilities, Telecommunications, Media, Financial Services, Public Sector, and many more! Our projects range from multi-year data transformations to specific, shorter-term assignments, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to diversify your skillset.

We meet high standards for social and environmental impact, transparency, and accountability. We believe businesses should be a force for good, so we make sure our decisions don’t just benefit the bottom line but also our people, communities, and the planet.

And it’s not just us saying we’re a great place to work... we were recently named the Best Consultancy to work for in the UK through Best Companies! We’re all about creating an environment where people can grow, do meaningful work, and enjoy the journey.

The role

In this role, you’ll be a key contributor to the growth plans at Oakland. Your key objective is to progress sales opportunities from early-stage interest through to sale. You'll be picking up with prospective new clients and leading proposal development for a defined service line.

Key responsibilities:

• Act as the first point of contact for new business leads, ensuring a seamless and professional introduction to our services.
• Qualify and assess opportunities, determining fit with our services and readiness for further engagement.
• Support and co-facilitate client workshops, contributing to the development of strategic recommendations.
• Coordinate cross-functional collaboration across Oakland, ensuring alignment and momentum across all stages of the opportunity lifecycle.
• Lead the development of compelling, tailored proposals, working closely with internal teams to articulate our value proposition and secure new business.

The person

We are looking for someone with strong commercial abilities and significant business development experience in professional services, consultancy, or similar environments.

It would be nice to have any of the below:

• Understanding of data, analytics, automation, and AI concepts, vendor landscape, and client challenges.
• Knowledgeable of professional services engagement models, commercial models, and offerings.
• Worked as a junior to mid-grade consultant in a previous role, but looking to move more into sales.

Hybrid working policy:

We operate a hybrid working arrangement from our Head Office in Leeds, designed to balance your commitments and preferences with our client’s needs. Whilst we support flexible working, we expect our team members to be in the office or with clients on a weekly basis. This balance helps us stay connected, learn from each other, and build strong relationships - both within our team and with the businesses we support.

Benefits That Put You First:

At Oakland, we believe in taking care of our people, both inside and outside of work. Here’s what you can expect when you join us:

• Health & Wellbeing – Enjoy Private Healthcare from day one for you and your household, including dental cover, physiotherapy, mental health support, and access to a range of wellbeing services to keep you feeling your best.
• Discretionary Bonus – Your hard work won’t go unnoticed. When we do well, you’ll do well.
• Generous Pension – We invest in your future with a 10% employer contribution, plus flexible options so you can adjust to your investment preferences.
• Giving Back – Support causes you care about with our Payroll Giving Scheme and Matched Charitable Giving program.
• Bike to Work Scheme – Save money, stay active, and enjoy tax savings on a new bike.
• Family-Friendly Policies – We support all paths to parenthood with:
• Enhanced Maternity Pay – 16 weeks full pay, 10 weeks half pay.
• Enhanced Paternity Pay – 2 weeks full pay, 2 weeks half pay.
• Adoption, Surrogacy & Shared Parental Leave.
• Fertility Treatment Support – Because your family matters.
• Time to Recharge – 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (and your allowance grows the longer you’re with us!).
• Learning & Development – We invest in you with:
• Personalised development plans tailored to your goals.
• Full support for certifications.
• Access to The Oakland Academy for a suite of learning materials.
• An annual Personal Learning Budget to upskill in ways that matter to you.
• Refer & Earn – Know someone great? If they join us, you’ll get a referral bonus as a thank you.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging at Oakland

At Oakland, we believe that diverse perspectives drive better outcomes - for our people, our clients, and our business. Our commitment to DEIB isn’t just about policies; it’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.

We are building a truly inclusive Oakland where you can be yourself - no matter your background, gender, age, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that makes you, you.

Fair & Inclusive Hiring – Every interviewer completes recruitment and unconscious bias training, and our hiring process is skills-based and structured to ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates.

Support Throughout the Interview Process – If you require any reasonable accommodations to make your interview experience more accessible, our Talent team is here to help - just let us know.