About Optavo
Optavo builds AI agents and SaaS platforms that automate job roles and repetitive admin in the built environment — construction, plant hire, machinery, and real estate. We design and deploy intelligent systems that take on the operational work humans currently do: handling enquiries, processing data, managing pipelines, and running entire functions end-to-end. Alongside bespoke agentic builds for clients, we develop our own SaaS products tailored to the sector. We're a sister business to Telfer Digital, an established digital marketing agency in the same vertical, giving us a strong existing client base and deep domain expertise to build from.
Role Overview
We're looking for a commercially sharp Business Development Manager to generate new business across our AI, automation, and software offerings. This is a high-ownership role with real commercial impact. You'll own how Optavo wins new business — from strategy and targeting through to closed deals — with the autonomy to shape how we go to market and who we go after. You'll be out meeting clients regularly, building relationships face-to-face as well as through outbound activity. You'll work directly with the founder, alongside a technical team that already delivers high-quality builds, and into a market that's actively waking up to what AI can do for operational businesses. If you're motivated by ownership, real commercial impact, and the chance to grow into a leadership seat as the team scales, this is for you.
Key Responsibilities
New Business Generation
- Identify and target businesses with operational inefficiencies AI and software can solve
- Run outbound activity across LinkedIn, email, calls, and industry networking
- Travel to client meetings, site visits, and industry events to build relationships face-to-face
- Open conversations with decision-makers across operations, finance, and leadership
- Build and manage your own pipeline end-to-end
Opportunity Qualification
- Surface client pain points around admin, systems, and workflows
- Identify where AI agents, automation, or bespoke software can add measurable value
- Qualify opportunities thoroughly before handing into the AI Workflow Architect team
Sales Process Ownership
- Lead discovery conversations with prospects
- Clearly position Optavo's value: reducing admin, increasing leverage, and giving teams their time back
- Manage deals from first contact through to close, with clean handover into delivery
Collaboration with the Delivery Team
- Work closely with our AI Workflow Architects to scope opportunities accurately
- Ensure smooth handovers so clients feel confidence from sale to delivery
- Stay involved at key moments to support close and protect the relationship
Market Development
- Help define target industries, ideal customer profiles, and account strategies
- Test messaging, outreach approaches, and value propositions in-market
- Feed insights back into marketing, product, and growth strategy
Requirements
- Proven track record (or strong, demonstrable potential) in B2B sales, business development, or client-facing commercial roles
- Experience selling digital, tech, SaaS, or agency services to SME and mid-market clients
- Confident communicator who can hold a strategic conversation with senior stakeholders
- Highly self-motivated and comfortable owning a pipeline from scratch with autonomy
- Strong commercial instincts — you can spot where value sits and articulate it clearly
- Comfortable in a fast-moving, founder-led environment where things change quickly
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to client meetings
Nice to Have
- Working understanding of AI, automation, or operational workflows
- Experience with LinkedIn Sales Navigator, HubSpot, or similar CRM and outreach tooling
- Network or prior experience in the built environment sector (construction, plant hire, machinery, real estate)
- Background selling into operations, finance, or leadership functions
What Success Looks Like
- A consistent, qualified pipeline of opportunities
- High-value deals closed across AI, automation, and software builds
- Strong, lasting relationships with decision-makers in our target market
- Clear, measurable contribution to Optavo's growth
- A clear path into a senior or leadership role as the team expands
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary + uncapped commission with strong earning potential
- Hybrid working from our London office
- 25 days' holiday + bank holidays
- Pension, equipment budget, learning & development budget
- Mileage and travel expenses covered
- Direct exposure to founders and strategic decision-making
- Genuine path to build and lead a commercial team
- Yearly discretionary bonus
- The chance to shape a high-growth division at the front edge of where AI is heading
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