Business Development Director

About Sand

Sand Technologies is a global leader in digital transformation, empowering leading organisations and governments worldwide to achieve their digital dreams. We offer a comprehensive suite of services, including enterprise AI, data science, software engineering, and IoT, delivered from our centres in the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Our talent solutions enable companies to scale rapidly, while our training programs, in partnership with organisations like the Mastercard Foundation, Amazon Web Services, and Holberton, cultivate the next generation of agile digital leaders. 

In 2023, Sand Technologies merged with Explore AI, further strengthening our AI capabilities and expanding our service offerings to include machine learning, data analytics, and AI-powered software development.

Role Summary

Our insurance solutions enable carriers to operate their business optimally and enhance customer experience. We are a fast-growing organisation and are looking for a dynamic and driven Sales Executive to lead the growth of our Insurance business in the UK.

As the Business Development Director, you will be responsible for driving business growth in the UK market. You will have industry contacts to help you build new relationships and grow existing ones. Taking on the mantle of an AI and tech evangelist, you will identify business opportunities, build a robust sales pipeline and achieve business targets. You will work closely with the customers to become their partner they can trust to solve complex problems..

Specific Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sales strategies to achieve business targets
• Identify new business opportunities and build strong relationships with prospective clients, including tier-1 and 2, as well as emerging insurance companies
• Meet or surpass sales goals and objectives
• Stay up-to-date with industry trends, competitive landscape, and technological advancements in the insurance sector, ensuring that our solutions remain competitive and relevant.
• Work collaboratively with other departments in the company to deliver high-quality solutions to our customers
• Attend industry events and conferences to represent the company and build relationships with prospective clients
• Provide regular feedback to the management team on market developments, opportunities, and threats
• Keep track of customer feedback and work closely with the customer service team to ensure customer satisfaction

Skill Requirements - Essential

• Consultative selling: Ability to understand client problems and then be able to work together with them to discover the applications required to deliver business value
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sales, preferably in the insurance sector, with sales experience selling to tier-1 and 2 insurance companies
• Demonstrated success in meeting or surpassing sales goals and objectives
• Confident, articulate, but humble and willing to learn
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with customers and stakeholders
• Existing network in the UK insurance industry
• A passion for digital strategy/transformation, technology and AI
• Strong analytical and data-driven approach to sales
• Ability to travel regularly to meet customers and attend industry events
• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or a related field

Skill Requirements - Preferable

• Experience with negotiating MSAs and contracts
• Prior experience with professional services/ technology consulting firms
• Experience in selling data modernization and AI engagements

Person Specification/Attributes

• Courage: Willingness to speak up, challenge the status quo, and embrace new challenges.
• Humility: Openness to learning, seeking help when needed, and a focus on serving others.
• Adventure: A passion for setting ambitious goals, tackling difficult tasks, and finding joy in the journey.
• Initiative: Proactive problem-solving, a sense of ownership, and a willingness to go above and beyond.
• Resilience: The ability to bounce back from setbacks, persevere through challenges, and emerge stronger.

Due to the considerable amount of virtual working and interaction with colleagues and customers in different physical locations internationally, it is essential that the successful applicant has the drive and ethic to succeed working in small teams physically but in larger efforts virtually. Self-drive to communicate constantly using web collaboration and video conferencing is essential.