Business Development Manager - Holidays & Travel

Blue Light Card. Individually great, together unstoppable

The Role and the Team

Holidays and travel is one of the most searched categories on Blue Light Card - and for good reason. Our members work some of the toughest shifts imaginable, so when they take a break, it matters. The Partnerships team is now building a dedicated outbound acquisition capability across key categories, and this role sits at the heart of that for Holidays and Travel. You will own the pipeline, build the relationships, and help more of our members access genuinely great travel deals.

As a Partner Acquisition Manager, you will take full responsibility for identifying, approaching, and signing new travel and holiday partners to the BLC platform. That means working a pipeline from cold through to go live - running outreach across phone, email, and LinkedIn, negotiating commercial terms, and closing deals that deliver real value for our members. You will report into the Holidays and Travel Category Lead and work closely with B2B, Partner, and Performance Managers.

This is a role for someone who enjoys the hunt, stays motivated through setbacks, and wants genuine earning potential with room to grow in a team that is still taking shape.

What You'll Do

• Own and manage your new business pipeline across the holidays and travel category, using conversion data to prioritise your time and ensure opportunities are progressing at every stage

• Lead outbound outreach across phone, email, LinkedIn, and in person to identify and engage prospective travel and holiday partners, from niche operators to household names

• Negotiate commercial terms and offer strength from the first conversation, securing partnerships that deliver genuine discounts and value for BLC members

• Communicate the BLC partner proposition clearly and persuasively, helping travel businesses understand what joining the platform means for their brand and their customers

• Take deals from agreement through to go live efficiently, adapting your approach based on what you learn about what works in this category

• Manage new partner accounts for the first six months post-launch, building strong relationships and supporting early growth before a structured handover to the account management team

• Share what is landing in your outreach with the wider team, contributing to collective learning and supporting colleagues who are developing their own pipeline skills

• Keep stakeholders informed on pipeline progress, flagging where resource or support is needed before it becomes a blocker

What You'll Bring

• Some experience in a commercial, sales, or customer-facing role - we are genuinely open to where that has come from, whether recruitment, lettings, fundraising, retail, account management, or something else with a similar rhythm

• Comfortable having commercial conversations and finding terms that work for both sides, without needing a script

• A clear and confident communicator, able to explain a compelling proposition simply and persuasively in writing and in person

• Self-starting and motivated by targets - you take ownership of your pipeline, stay focused through setbacks, and find ways to keep things moving

• Any experience in travel, hospitality, or leisure, or exposure to B2B sales, affiliate or performance marketing, would be a bonus - as would familiarity with a CRM such as HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive - but neither is essential

Our Culture

Our mission is simple: make heroes happy. Our members are real-life heroes who keep us all safe, cared for, and thriving. It's what gets us up in the morning, what makes us want to think bigger, and create something that truly matters. By focusing on their happiness, we create amazing experiences, deliver unrivalled discounts, innovative products, and world-class service.

We don't just follow the usual path - we look for smarter, bolder ways to deliver real impact. We take ownership, move fast, and work shoulder to shoulder to build something special.

We promote hybrid working, and value in-person collaboration so encourage time in our offices – either the HQ in Leicestershire, or London, Holborn office. The frequency and office location will vary depending on the role and team. We aim to be flexible, but we aren't able to offer fully remote working.

Blue Light Card is an equal opportunities employer. We're committed to building a diverse and inclusive team where different perspectives and experiences help us grow, innovate, and better reflect the communities we serve. We make recruiting decisions based on your experience and skills. In the event of a high number of applications, we'll prioritise candidates who meet both the essential and desirable criteria for the role.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays and an additional day off for your birthday

• A Moments that Matter day – one extra day of leave each year to use for something that matters to you

• Buy and sell holiday scheme of up to 5 days

• A volunteering/fundraising day – one paid day each year to give something back to the community

• Your own Blue Light Card and exclusive access to thousands of discounts

• Personal growth fund of £450 per year to invest in your development

• Private Medical Insurance that includes cover for pre-existing conditions

• Auto-enrolment pension scheme via salary sacrifice, with 100% of employer NI savings reinvested into your pension

• Enhanced Maternity, Partner, Adoption and Shared Parental Leave

• Healthcare cash-back plan

• Colleague Assistance Programme – 24/7 confidential support whenever you need it

• Hybrid working and flexible hours

• EV charging and free parking onsite at HQ

• Relaxed dress code and modern office space (games area, chill-out areas, book club, free drinks and well stocked snack drawers!)

• On-site gym including free HIIT and stretch classes at HQ