Business Development Manager

Are you looking to take the next step in your sales career? Are you driven by KPIs and targets? Do you want to work in a highly rewarding and dynamic environment in one of the world's most vibrant markets?

We’re looking for a dynamic individual to join our team in Shanghai.

Reporting to MMR’s Global Head of Client Solutions, you’ll play a key role in expanding our market presence in China and engaging with clients across the region. You will be an early-stage sales specialist with a collaborative and authentic style.

Your responsibilities will include driving our outreach and initial contact efforts, promoting our range of services, including brand consistency, food innovation and development, and creative teams. Your goal will be to source new conversations, opportunities, and research briefs in the Chinese market, ensuring leads are qualified and translate into opportunities and ultimately sales.

If you’re passionate about FMCG market research and ready for a rewarding career move, we want to hear from you! Join us in shaping the future of our client solutions in China.

A Bit About Us

MMR is an independent, global consumer and sensory research agency specialising in food, drink, personal and household care research. We are industry leaders, guiding best-in-class innovation for our clients – partnering with over 50% of the top 100 global food and drink brands.

Our team of over 800 highly engaged, multi-disciplined employees are primarily dynamic research professionals, sensory experts, and data scientists. We’re a diverse bunch, with backgrounds in R&D, insight, marketing, sensory science, data sciences, and psychology. We also boast a true global reach with offices in Wallingford (near Oxford), London, New York,Shanghai, Singapore, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Cali (Colombia), Bangkok, and Durban. What Makes MMR Special? We are a “people first” company that prides itself on collaboration, honesty, and mutual trust. Don’t take our word for it though—check us out on Glassdoor. You’ll see we’re currently rated at 4.8 out of 5 as an employer destination, and a massive 97% of our employees would recommend working for us to a friend. Add to that 99% of our people approve of our CEO, and you get a general feel of what it means to be part of the MMR family.

Responsibilities:

Prospecting New Leads

• Identify target segments for sales outreach such as new and lapsed clients in the Chinese market, specifically focusing on R&D, innovation, and marketing functions within FMCG companies.
• Find contact information for leads to contact within our target audience using a variety of platforms and methods.
• Develop and implement a prospecting cadence, incorporating local communication preferences such as WeChat messages, emails, calls, and other tactics, while continuously optimizing success rates.
• Ensure all prospecting activity is accurately tracked in Salesloft, meeting monthly activity targets.
• Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to qualify and follow up on Marketing Qualified Leads (MQLs) and enhance campaign effectiveness.
• Partner with client solutions and research teams effectively to gain insight and maximize initial outreach success.
• Provide a high-quality handover of opportunities generated to client solutions once a brief has been received.

Introducing the MMR Family

• Customize credential and introduction presentations to align with client needs in China, incorporating relevant category and methodology examples.
• Lead initial presentations to potential clients, ensuring a strong understanding of local market nuances.
• Promote MMR as a trusted partner, emphasizing its ability to assist clients in creating successful products for the modern market.
• Drive awareness and growth of new methodologies and innovations beyond MMR's core product testing services.
• Raise awareness of MMR through active engagement on Chinese social media platforms.
• Attend seminars, conferences, and networking events in China to build industry connections and represent the company.
• Develop a deep understanding of the MMR offer to effectively communicate to prospects.

Requirements

• Keen and motivated, with previous experience in sales.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to tailor messages to meet client needs in the Chinese market.
• Strong social selling attitude – able to cut through and get results.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and support team members.
• Remote pitching skills essential (with research design knowledge advantageous).
• Ability to devise and follow efficient and effective commercial and pipeline processes.
• Client-focused with the ability to operate effectively within client organizations.
• Collaborative relationship-builder who can work well with commercial, marketing, technical, and research teams.
• Fluency in Mandarin and proficiency in English.

Benefits

MMR is an equal opportunities employer. This role offers a competitive salary, a wealth of progression opportunities for the right candidate, and the chance to work with some of the world’s most famous brands in a collaborative and highly rewarding environment.