Business Development Manager - French Speaking

About Us The Financial Times is one of the world’s leading news organisations, globally recognised for its authority, integrity and accuracy, with a mission to deliver quality information and services worldwide. At the FT, curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded. Here, you’re given the chance to reach millions, create work that matters and deliver impartial journalism in a polarised world. In our warm, collaborative culture, you’ll connect with a diverse community of experts who support your growth, career aspirations and wellbeing. Your future at the FT will be filled with opportunities that challenge and inspire you. With no fixed path, you’ll discover new skills and forge a career that can take you anywhere. Build a newsworthy career at the FT. Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion We believe in the power of unique perspectives and want all voices in our organisation to be heard, respected and valued. A supportive workplace is one where employees feel they can be themselves and operate to their full potential. We are committed to removing barriers for everyone, with a focus on addressing those faced by underrepresented groups. The Role FT Professional a part of our Reader Revenue Group licenses Financial Times content and solutions to organisations around the world, serving customers across corporate, financial services, government, professional services, education and media sectors. We are looking for a Business Development Manager to drive new business growth across the French-speaking region, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and French-speaking African markets. Reporting to the Head of New Business – CEMEA, you will own the development and delivery of the regional new business sales plan, manage the full sales cycle from prospecting through to contract, and build relationships with senior decision-makers across a diverse range of organisations. Alongside your individual sales responsibilities, you will manage and support a Sales Development Representative, helping to create a collaborative, focused and high-performing team environment. This is an opportunity for an experienced consultative salesperson to combine hands-on business development with regional strategy, people management and cross-functional collaboration. Key Responsibilities Own and deliver against new business sales targets across the French-speaking region. Develop and implement the annual regional sales plan, identifying priority prospects, market opportunities and areas for growth. Manage the complete sales cycle, from prospecting and qualification through to negotiation and contract. Lead, support and develop a Sales Development Representative, providing clear direction, regular communication and coaching. Build strong relationships with senior decision-makers and stakeholders across prospective customer organisations, developing a detailed understanding of their priorities and requirements. Work closely with Marketing and Customer Success colleagues to plan and prioritise activity that supports new business revenue growth. Make effective use of available sales intelligence and prospecting tools, including FT.com content, Looker, LinkedIn, copyright leads, channel partner contacts and internal FT networks. Develop strong knowledge of the region and stay informed about relevant customer, market and competitor developments. Contribute to strategic discussions around product, pricing and process improvements that could support sustainable year-on-year growth across the region. Maintain accurate and timely records of sales activity in Salesforce, ensuring leads are followed up promptly and opportunities, forecasts and expected close dates remain current. Work collaboratively with colleagues across support functions to deliver an excellent experience throughout the customer journey. Required Skills and Experience Fluency in both spoken and written French. A proven track record of meeting or exceeding new business sales targets. Strong consultative selling, communication and negotiation skills. Experience building credible relationships with senior decision-makers and a range of organisational stakeholders. A high level of initiative, self-motivation and accountability for results. Strong understanding of FT Professional’s value proposition and the ability to discuss customer challenges and requirements confidently. Demonstrated ability to build effective cross-functional relationships that contribute to successful commercial outcomes. Strategic and creative thinking, with the ability to identify new approaches and opportunities that support business growth. Strong prioritisation and organisation skills, with the ability to focus activity on the opportunities most likely to deliver results and work effectively to deadlines. An understanding of business intelligence and content-based solutions. Experience managing, mentoring or coaching others, with the ability to support the performance and development of a Sales Development Representative. Strong problem-solving skills. Desirable Previous direct line-management experience within a sales environment. Knowledge of FT Professional subscription models. Knowledge of the French-speaking markets covered by the role. Previous experience using CRM systems, particularly Salesforce. Good working knowledge of Google Workspace and Microsoft Office. What’s in it for You? Our benefits vary by location but we are committed to providing best-in-class perks across all our offices. These include generous annual leave, medical cover, inclusive parental leave packages, subsidised gym memberships and opportunities to give back to the community. Full details of our benefits are available here. We’ve embraced a 50% hybrid working model (averaging two to three days onsite) that fosters trust and remote adaptability while encouraging in-person camaraderie and peer learning. Additionally, we are open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests for all roles where feasible. Accessibility We are a disability confident employer and Valuable 500 signatory. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments/personalisation as part of the application process or to enable you to attend an interview. If you would like to discuss your requirements or have any questions, email talent@ft.com and a member of our team will be happy to help. Further Information At the FT, we embrace innovation and the use of technology and appreciate that individuals may leverage AI tools as part of their job application process. Whilst we are happy for you to use AI to assist with your application, it is essential that all information provided is authentic and accurately represents your skills, experience, and qualifications. Candidates should be aware that the use of AI throughout the application process may be monitored to ensure a fair and transparent hiring process for all. Please beware of fraudulent job postings and offers claiming to be from the Financial Times. All legitimate opportunities will direct you to apply through the official Financial Times careers site, and the FT will never ask for financial information, payments, or referrals to third parties during the hiring process. If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting or suspect any scam activity, please contact talent@ft.com. 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