Business Development Consultant

Business Development Consultant

Application Deadline: 18 May 2026

Department: Sales and Commercial

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Darlington

Reporting To: Samantha Linfoot

Compensation: £33,000 - £35,000 / year

Description

At LOCALiQ, part of Newsquest Media Group, we're passionate about helping local businesses grow through smart, data driven digital marketing. As a Business Development Consultant covering the North East, you'll be at the heart of that mission - working closely with SMEs to raise their profile, generate demand, and connect them with the audiences that matter most.

You'll represent LOCALiQ's digital marketing solutions alongside The Northern Echo, one of Newsquest's most established and respected publications in the region. Together, this gives you a powerful proposition: trusted local media combined with performance led digital marketing.

This is a hybrid role, blending home working, time in our Darlington office, and regular face to face client meetings across your territory. You'll be out building relationships, understanding business challenges, and recommending tailored digital solutions including paid social, digital display, video and websites. We'll also expect you to spend time in the office to stay connected, review progress, and support your ongoing development and earning potential.

If you're commercially minded, digitally confident, and motivated by helping businesses succeed, this is a great opportunity to build a rewarding sales career within a forward thinking, supportive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Driving B2B sales across the North East through a mix of telephone, video and face to face meetings
• Using a consultative sales approach to uncover customer needs and recommend the most suitable digitally led solutions
• Researching client businesses and sectors to deliver relevant, tailored proposals
• Identifying and developing new and lapsed business opportunities within your territory
• Building and maintaining strong customer relationships through high quality account management
• Growing your own customer base through effective territory planning and competitor awareness
• Generating opportunities via inbound leads, referrals and self sourced prospects
• Consistently meeting and exceeding KPIs, including activity levels, meetings booked, pipeline management and follow up

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Proven experience in B2B sales, ideally within a consultative or solution based environment
• Good understanding of digital marketing products, such as paid social, digital display, video and websites
• Demonstrated success in outbound prospecting, cold calling and lead generation
• Confident, professional and persuasive when securing new business over the phone and in person
• Ability to grow and retain client accounts, delivering long term value
• Strong customer focused mindset with a proactive and responsive approach
• Experience selling digital marketing services or SaaS is advantageous, but not essential
• Interest in local media and a genuine passion for helping businesses succeed
• Able to travel across the territory and commute to the Darlington office
• Access to a vehicle for business use and a full UK driving licence

Benefits and D&I Statement

• Competitive salary + uncapped commission
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off
• Holiday buy scheme for extra flexibility
• Structured career progression & ongoing training
• Pension plan
• Employee Helpline counselling and advice
• Perks & discounts including:
  • Gym membership
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Eye care
  • Retail discounts
• Team building days & annual volunteer charity day

Newsquest Media Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all community sections regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Our recruitment process will consist of various stages and activities. As part of our commitment to fairness to all applicants, we will take into account any adjustments that could help you.