Business Development Manager

Founded and operate a family-run independent bar and restaurant in Praia da Luz, Portugal. I am responsible for end-to-end commercial performance, customer experience, and overall business operations.

I build supplier, local business, and customer relationships; analyse sales, margins, and customer behaviour; and deliver retention initiatives including events, loyalty schemes, and local pricing. I also lead hiring, training, staff reviews, KPI development, and concept and menu design.

Focused on UK and European technology start-ups, providing specialist on-site staffing solutions to support business growth. Identified and qualified start-ups progressing through Pre-Seed and Seed funding rounds with recruitment and software development requirements.

Conducted discovery calls, managed the full sales pipeline in Pipedrive, and supported the setup of CRM processes and parameters for a new business unit. Managed the sales cycle from prospecting and client engagement through commercial agreement, team implementation, account growth, and ongoing business development.

Generated new B2B business in the construction industry for environmental health surveys while overseeing a six-person inbound B2C sales team. Recruited sales staff, created training plans, monitored pipelines and closing rates, and conducted regular performance reviews.

Identified, qualified, and closed new B2B clients; managed repeat-business accounts; negotiated commercial agreements; and identified account-growth opportunities. Also attended customer projects to cost larger work and resolved customer escalations involving service or commercial issues.

Joined as a trainee recruitment consultant and was promoted to the executive search team within four months.

Managed retained executive search assignments in the university sector, supporting recruitment for C-level positions.