Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager – Cumbria & Lakes

Function: Star Pubs

Location: Field-based role – Cumbria and Lake District – due to the nature of the work and to ensure you can achieve the right work-life balance, we're looking for someone who lives in or close to this area

Salary: circa £55,000 base, depending on experience, plus full benefits listed below.

Closing Date: Sunday 21st September 2025

Contract: Permanent

HEINEKEN has a long-held belief that pubs are an integral part of British culture and that well-invested pubs, run by skilled pub operators, can prosper and thrive. As the nation's leading pub, cider and beer company and the name behind a host of brilliant brands, we're looking for equally brilliant people to help us bring out the best in the great British pub.

Part of that future is supporting our pub operators to grow sustainable businesses and play a positive role in their communities. None of this is possible without colleagues who care about people, account management, and delivering commercial results.

As a Business Development Manager at Star Pubs, you'll manage around 35 pubs within the Cumbria and Lake District region , working with a dedicated support team to build strong relationships with operators and lessees. Your role will be crucial in delivering a first-class retail experience and ensuring the success of our pubs. This is a truly commercial generalist position – no two days are the same. You'll have the flexibility to plan your own diary and manage your work/life balance, and you'll work closely with a virtual team, including Pub Operations, Estates Managers, and our Property Team, to create and execute tailored business plans for each pub. Whether it's recruiting new lessees and driving the letting of pubs, reviewing commercial terms, or rolling out brand and marketing initiatives, you'll have the tools and support to bring your vision to life.

A key part of your role will be owning the P&L (Profit and Loss) for each pub in your portfolio. You'll have direct responsibility for driving financial performance, managing costs, and ensuring profitability. Using your commercial acumen, you'll identify opportunities to optimise revenue streams, increase efficiency, and deliver strong financial results across your pubs.

You'll also have the freedom to design and implement innovative retail solutions that directly impact the consumer experience. With your solid understanding of retail or hospitality, you'll be empowered to take bold steps to enhance the customer journey and drive profitability.

While experience in the pub sector is a bonus, we're equally open to candidates with a background in other industries who bring the same passion for customer experience and operational excellence.

This role is more about developing and coaching rather than sales, and would suit candidates who have had previous area/regional operational management experience.

• A proven track record in retail, hospitality, or business development.
• Strong experience with P&L management and driving financial performance.
• The ability to collaborate across functions, balancing commercial delivery with long-term partnerships.
• Strategic thinking, with the confidence to take bold decisions that grow profitability.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• A passion for creating exceptional customer experiences.

Experience in the pub sector is a bonus, but we're open to candidates from other industries who bring the right commercial acumen and customer focus gained outside of the pub industry (retail, hospitality etc.) and who're as passionate about consumers and customers as we are.

At Star Pubs, part of the global Heineken family, we believe in investing in our people and fostering a culture of collaboration and growth. This is a role where you can really make a difference, to both the business and the communities we serve. If you're looking for a challenge and an opportunity to take your career to the next level, then we want to hear from you. Then this could be the role for you

In addition to your base salary, you'll also receive:

• Annual bonus
• Company Car (a current and full driving licence is a must for this role)
• Meal and Broadband Allowance
• Company-funded Private Medical Healthcare
• Double-matched pension contributions (up to 10%)
• 35 days holiday (with the opportunity to buy/sell)
• A monthly product allowance to purchase our delicious ciders and beers (low and non-alcohol options available)
• Exciting opportunities to develop your career.

You'll also get the opportunity to get involved with one of our colleague networks, where groups of colleagues from all over the business work together to ensure we're always working towards being a diverse and inclusive company.

If you like what you've read and want to explore this opportunity further, please apply as soon as possible. We may close vacancies early when we receive significant numbers of applications, so don't delay

If you need any adjustments made to support your application, for example, if you require information in different formats, or if you have any accessibility issues, then we're more than happy to review our processes – please feel free to get in touch with us as

Star Pubs is part of HEINEKEN UK. The vast majority of our 2,400 pubs are leased out to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Around 200 pubs operate on our Just Add Talent model (a managed operator agreement). Our ambition is to bring out the best in the great British pub – by attracting and retaining the best operators, investing to create great pubs at the heart of their communities and providing licensees with market-leading insight and support.

Apply today to discover Your Future, Untapped