Business Development Specialist – Fire Engineering, UK and Ireland

Company Overview

Across our global network of experts, clients and communities, we are recognised for our leadership in fire protection engineering – a legacy of responsibility we have proudly upheld since 1939. Today, our expertise extends across closely related fire safety, security and risk-based disciplines, including building safety, accessibility consulting, risk analysis, process safety, forensic investigations, security risk consulting, emergency management, digital innovation and more.

Our engineers and consultants work together to address complex safety and security challenges, helping our clients protect what matters most. For more than 80 years, we have helped manage risks that threaten lives, property and reputations. Through technology, expertise and industry-leading research, we remain committed to our purpose of making our world safe, secure and resilient.

At Jensen Hughes, we believe that creating and sustaining a culture of trust, integrity and professional growth starts with putting our people first. Our employees are our greatest strength, and we value the different perspectives and talents they bring to our organisation.

Our Global Employee Networks connect colleagues across the organisation, supporting career development and providing forums for people to share experiences on topics they care about. Together, we are building a connected culture where everyone has the opportunity to learn, develop and succeed.

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes is looking for a motivated and commercially focused Business Development Specialist to support the continued growth of our fire engineering and building safety services across the UK and Ireland. The role will involve identifying and developing opportunities with existing and prospective clients, understanding their project and compliance requirements, connecting those requirements to our technical services, and helping to maintain an organised and effective opportunity pipeline.

This is a relationship-led business development role in a specialist technical consultancy environment. The successful candidate will work closely with fire engineers, consultants, project leads, marketing and operations colleagues to support client development, bid and proposal activity, order conversion, service line growth and wider market engagement across sectors including commercial, residential, infrastructure, public sector, healthcare, education, industrial and mixed-use development.

The role will suit someone who can build confidence with clients, recognise opportunities arising from the evolving fire safety and building safety landscape, and coordinate internal input so that clients receive clear, timely and practical support.

This will be a full-time salaried position without commission.

Responsibilities:

• Develop business development opportunities across the UK and Ireland by identifying developers, architects, contractors, project managers, asset owners, public bodies, insurers and other relevant client groups.
• Follow up on leads, enquiries, bid opportunities and framework opportunities in a timely and professional manner.
• Provide clear and practical explanations of our fire engineering, fire safety, building safety and related risk services, and the value they offer to clients.
• Work with technical colleagues and marketing to prepare proposals, capability statements, CVs, case studies, qualifications, framework submissions and other client-facing materials.
• Communicate with existing and prospective clients through calls, meetings and written correspondence, supporting a professional and consistent client experience.
• Respond to client queries, coordinate technical input from fire engineers and subject matter experts, and help ensure responses are accurate, timely and commercially appropriate.
• Build and maintain client relationships, support key account activity, assist with service renewals, and identify opportunities to broaden our support across client portfolios.
• Support the UK and Ireland Business Development and Operations teams by maintaining a clear view of the opportunity pipeline and helping to progress proposals through to order conversion.
• Maintain accurate CRM and sales data for current and prospective clients, opportunities, bids, orders, renewals and relevant market contacts.
• Understand client drivers linked to fire safety, compliance, building safety, asset management, due diligence and project delivery, and explain how our services can support their objectives.
• Recognise when to involve Operations, technical leads and subject matter experts to shape opportunities, support client discussions and improve bid quality.
• Keep up to date with UK and Ireland market trends, sector developments, competitor activity and regulatory drivers affecting fire engineering, fire safety and building safety consultancy.
• Support annual growth planning, client development campaigns and service line initiatives for the UK and Ireland sub-region.

Qualifications:

• Business English language skills essential - written and verbal
• Degree-level qualification preferred, and/or at least two years’ experience in business development, bid coordination, sales support, account support or a similar client-facing role.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 or another CRM platform preferred.
• Experience using public-sector procurement portals, framework opportunity platforms or tender portals to monitor and research opportunities across the UK and Ireland preferred.
• Experience in professional services, engineering consultancy, construction, fire engineering, fire safety, building safety, security, risk, property or the wider built environment preferred.
• Confident using CRM systems, databases and reporting tools, with the discipline to keep client, opportunity and pipeline information accurate and up to date.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently, prioritise activity and follow through on agreed actions.
• Strong coordination and organisational skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Able to perform consistently in a busy, client-focused consultancy environment.
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a wider regional team, including colleagues from technical, marketing and operational functions.
• Excellent client service, communication and listening skills, with the confidence to engage with technical and commercial stakeholders.
• Able to think commercially and creatively, identify practical solutions, and support clear next steps that help convert opportunities into work.

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