BASELINE INFORMATION
JOB TITLE: Business Development Manager (North)
JOB TYPE: Field-Based, Permanent
OPERATING LOCATION: Northern England
SALARY: £45,000-£50,000 (Depending on experience)
HOURS: 40 Hours per week
REPORTING TO: Managing Director/Brand Leader
ABOUT US
Neighborly (yes, without the “u”) began over 40 years ago in the United States as a small family-run business. Today, it has grown into a global leader in home services. Since arriving in the UK in 2010 as Neighbourly, the business has focused on acquiring and developing premium franchise brands across the home services sector.
Over the past 15 years, Neighbourly UK has demonstrated strong and consistent growth, now representing more than 330 locations across six brands and supporting over 4,000 frontline operatives. We are recognised for our commitment to investment, franchisee development, and long-term success.
Our Brands:
- Pimlico Plumbers
- Drain Doctor
- Bright & Beautiful
- Countrywide Grounds Maintenance
- Dream Doors
- Greensleeves Lawn Care
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
As Business Development Manager, you will be the primary link between Franchise Business Owners and Head Office. Your role is to drive sustainable growth, profitability, and operational excellence across the franchise network.
You will partner closely with Franchisees from onboarding through launch and ongoing development, ensuring they operate in line with the business model, achieve financial targets, and continuously improve performance.
KEY OUTCOMES
- Profitable, high-performing Franchisees aligned to the business model
- Strong, trusted relationships between Franchisees and Head Office
- Early identification and turnaround of underperforming businesses
- Consistent use of data, KPIs, and insight to drive decision-making
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Franchise Performance & Growth
- Analyse Franchisee businesses with a strong focus on profit, margin, and efficiency
- Partner with Franchisees to develop and deliver robust business plans
- Monitor KPIs, sales pipelines, and operational performance to drive growth
- Proactively manage underperformance with early intervention and turnaround planning
- Set, review, and support sales, growth, and customer service standards
Financial & Commercial Insight
- Build and review financial models, P&Ls, and performance dashboards
- Identify opportunities to improve profitability and operational efficiency
- Provide meaningful insight and analysis to support Franchisee decision‑making
- Prepare reports for Senior Management highlighting trends, risks, and opportunities
Franchise Development & Onboarding
- Support new Franchisees through training, launch, and early development
- Oversee setup activities including vehicles, uniforms, stationery, and systems
- Support transitions of cluster areas into successful Franchisee operations
- Accompany Franchisees on customer appointments where appropriate
Leadership & Coaching
- Coach, mentor, and motivate Franchise Business Owners to maximise performance
- Provide best practice guidance to Franchisees and the if appropriate the wider BDM team
- Collaborate closely with colleagues across Marketing, Finance, and Operations
- Support and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the network
Systems, Standards & Governance
- Ensure Franchisees operate in line with company standards and brand expectations
- Deliver training on in‑house systems to improve productivity and efficiency
- Maintain accurate, timely performance data and reporting
- Positively promote company policies and ways of working
Strategic Projects & Brand Partnership
- Partner closely with the Brand Leader to support the development and delivery of strategic initiatives within designed franchise network.
- Translate brand and strategic objectives into practical, scalable actions for Franchisees and where appropriate the wider Business Development team.
- Provide operational insight and commercial challenge to strategic projects, identifying risks, opportunities, and implementation considerations.
- Act as a key conduit between strategy and execution, ensuring initiatives are effectively embedded within region and as appropriate across the network.
- Support the rollout of new processes, systems, and ways of working, ensuring consistency with the Brand and Franchise model.
Best Practice & Continuous Improvement
- Champion a continuous improvement mindset across the franchise network and as appropriate the Business Development team.
- Identify, develop, and share best practice to drive performance, efficiency, and customer outcomes.
- Regularly review Franchisee performance to identify trends, capability gaps, and improvement opportunities.
- Lead by example in adopting and promoting data-led decision making and performance insight.
- Encourage innovation while ensuring alignment with company standards, brand values, and governance requirements.
- Any other reasonable duty that falls within your capabilities.
EXPERIENCE/SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE
Experience:
- Proven experience in Business Development, Sales or Commercial Leadership
- Strong background in business planning, data analysis and performance management
- Demonstrable P&L and commercial acumen
- Experience working cross-functionally (Marketing, Finance, Operations)
- Right to work in the UK with a full UK driving licence
- Experience working within a franchise environment (desirable)
Skills/Competencies:
- Strategic thinker with strong commercial judgement
- Analytical, influencer and negotiator
- Strong problem-solver who acts quickly and decisively
- Able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
INCLUSIVITY STATEMENT
Neighbourly is fully committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and to attracting, retaining, developing, and promoting the most qualified employees without regard to their age, sex, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. We are dedicated to providing a work environment free from discrimination and harassment, and where employees are treated with respect and dignity.