COMMERCIAL SALES DIRECTOR, CBBC LAUNCHPAD – UK BASED

Location: London office based

Salary Range: In region of £45,000 depending on experience

ABOUT THE JOB

The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) is seeking a highly motivated individual with excellent business development and sales skills to lead and drive further growth from our Launchpad service.

CBBC is the UK’s national business network promoting trade and investment with China. Since 1954 we have acted as the independent voice of business, located at the heart of the action, engaging across both countries in every sector and region. CBBC supports our members and clients by delivering the advice, analysis and access which they need to seize the China opportunity. Our diverse membership includes the UK’s leading companies and universities, dynamic UK SMEs, and a growing number of Chinese companies exporting to and investing in the UK.

Besides our membership programme we deliver a range of practical services, including advice and consultancy, market research, event management, and trade missions. Through 70 years of engagement, we have built up exceptional connections with government and business across China. For more information about us, please visit our website at http://www.cbbc.org

Launchpad is CBBC’s highly regarded service enabling UK businesses of all sizes and sectors to enter the China market through our office network across China. Through Launchpad, CBBC allocates dedicated project managers to work for our clients, based out of a CBBC office, where they enjoy a modern office environment and can benefit from CBBC’s extensive in-China networks as well as manage their commercial growth.

The Launchpad platform has enabled businesses of all sizes to succeed in China, from household consumer brands and prestigious academic institutions to SMEs from all sectors, leading UK IP, trade and investment bodies and local authorities.

The Commercial Sales Director - CBBC Launchpad will be key to delivering further growth from CBBC Launchpad working closely with the commercial teams across both the UK and China, the membership teams and operational functions; and external partners.

Reporting to the Senior Director Commercial Services, China in Beijing and based in London, you will be responsible for driving sales of the Launchpad service to meet corporate growth targets, ensure high retention rates and hold oversight of the day-to-day client experience of our 80+ service users.

Additionally, within your job responsibilities, you will support membership growth and retention through your efforts developing the Launchpad business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Key responsibilities for the role of Commercial Sales Director, CBBC Launchpad include:

• Working with the Senior Director, Commercial Services China to deliver the CBBC Launchpad business plan.
• Actively developing sales pipeline and converting these opportunities.
• Developing marketing campaigns, and tactics to drive enquiries.
• Managing relationships with key partner organisations in the UK to generate referrals.
• Overseeing onboarding of new clients in partnership with Senior Director, Commercial China, and operations (Finance & HR)
• Leading Launchpad client relationship management in the UK
• Contract management and renewal processing together with Senior Director, Commercial China.
• Shaping an events programme to maintain high levels of engagement from CBBC’s Launchpad community in both UK and China.
• Engaging and motivating client facing colleagues to position Launchpad as a priority service for CBBC.
• Supporting membership growth and raising sponsorship of CBBC events when required

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

The ideal candidate will have:

• Strong commercial acumen with a passion for business development and excellent client facing skills
• Demonstrable understanding of the challenges and opportunities for UK companies when working with and in China
• The ability to deal at senior levels and to deliver sound business solutions to widely differing types of companies and academic institutions
• Self-motivated with a flexible and entrepreneurial style of working to meet defined business targets and proactively impart/share knowledge
• Experience of building effective external relationships that yield referrals and leads.
• Willingness to travel in the UK to meet with potential and existing business opportunities
• Confident presentation skills
• Exceptional English language verbal and written communication skills
• Mandarin skills are desirable but not essential
• Strong IT skills, in particular database use and record management
• Ability to prioritise with a strong attention to detail
• Willingness to work collaboratively, adapt and participate in / support team activities outside of the core role” as required

APPLICATION

The China-Britain Business Council embraces diversity. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified applicants. Only candidates who have the legal right to work in the UK will be considered for this role. We are unable to offer sponsorship at this time.

Interested candidates are invited to send a detailed C.V. together with a cover letter explaining how your interest and compatibility for the role meets our requirements.

The email subject should be 'Commercial Sales Director, CBBC Launchpad Application' and you should email your application to: [email protected].

We regret that only short-listed candidates will be notified and that applicants who fail to provide a covering letter will not be considered. If you have not had a response within 14 days of the closing date below, then your application has not been taken forward to interview stage.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday 2 July 2025.

We encourage early applications and may decide to open the interview process before the closing date should we receive suitable applications prior to the closing date.