New Business Development Manager – Contract Manufacturing
On-site / Hybrid (Burnley, UK)
£35,000 per year + uncapped commission (realistic OTE £45k–£60k+)
Reports to: Sales Director / Commercial Director
LifeLab is a UK-based contract manufacturer specialising in high-quality dietary supplements across capsules, powders and related formats.
We partner with emerging and established brands to deliver compliant, scalable and commercially disciplined manufacturing solutions. Our business is built on regulatory integrity, operational reliability and long-term customer relationships. We do not compromise on standards — commercially or operationally.
The Role
We are recruiting a New Business Development Manager to drive net-new customer acquisition within the supplement manufacturing sector.
This is a genuine outbound role focused on building pipeline from scratch, converting new accounts and contributing directly to profitable growth. It is not an account management position.
You will own the full sales cycle from first contact through to contract signature, working closely with R&D, regulatory and operations teams to ensure solutions are commercially viable and operationally deliverable. Accounts are handed over via structured transition once contracts are secured.
This is consultative B2B sales involving founders, brand owners, procurement leads and technical stakeholders.
What Success Looks Like
Once fully ramped, performance expectations include:
* Generating and converting 2–3 new production accounts per month
* Delivering approximately £35k–£40k in new contract revenue per month
* Achieving sustainable gross profit levels aligned to margin thresholds
* Maintaining 3× pipeline coverage against revenue targets
* Completing 200+ structured outbound prospecting activities per month
Sustained performance equates to approximately £9k–£10k gross profit per month from new accounts.
Commercial discipline, structured pipeline management and clean operational handovers are essential.
Key Responsibilities
You will:
* Proactively identify and engage emerging and established supplement brands
* Conduct structured discovery calls to understand formulation, volume and regulatory requirements
* Qualify opportunities against margin, lead time and operational constraints
* Collaborate with internal teams to scope viable manufacturing solutions
* Present LifeLab’s capabilities, certifications and value proposition
* Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, MOQs and production timelines
* Maintain accurate CRM records and pipeline forecasting
* Execute structured handover to operations once contracts are secured
Required Experience
Applicants should have:
* Minimum 3 years’ B2B sales experience
* A demonstrable track record of new business acquisition
* Experience managing longer (3–6 month) sales cycles
* Strong commercial judgement and margin awareness
* Disciplined CRM usage and structured follow-up
Experience in supplement manufacturing, nutraceuticals, food manufacturing, ingredients or related contract manufacturing environments is highly advantageous.
Personal Attributes
We are looking for someone who is:
* Commercially disciplined and data-oriented
* Comfortable with outbound activity and rejection
* Structured in their approach to pipeline management
* Accountable for measurable performance outcomes
* Realistic about margin, capacity and long-term value
Compensation & Benefits
* £35,000 base salary
* Uncapped commission on profitable new business
* Realistic OTE £45k–£60k+
* Profit-sharing scheme
* Healthcare plan (family options available)
* 28 days holiday + service increases
* Structured daytime hours
* Personal development pathways
* Team incentives and product benefits
Why Join LifeLab
This is an opportunity to play a direct role in scaling a commercially disciplined manufacturing business.
You will help build a structured new business function, contribute to profitable growth and work within a business that values operational integrity as highly as revenue generation.
If you are confident in your ability to build pipeline from zero and convert commercially viable contracts in a technical B2B environment, we would welcome a conversation.