Business Development Manager – Visit Agency

Visit Isle of Man are seeking a Business Development Manager to play a key role in delivering the Visitor Economy Strategy. The candidate will drive product and market development to grow visitor numbers, work closely with the Director of Business Development, build strong relationships with industry partners on and off Island, deliver sales and development activity across multiple markets, and represent the Island in the UK, Ireland and internationally.

Based at the Sea Terminal in Douglas, this role offers the chance to shape the future of the visitor economy while contributing to work that delivers real economic value. The candidate will gain exposure to international markets, develop strategic partnerships across the travel trade sectors, and strengthen your leadership, commercial and stakeholder engagement skills within a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilites:

• Reporting to the Director of Business Development you will lead the sales, business and product development activity, delivering activities to meet the objectives within the Visit Agency ‘Our Island, Our Future’ strategy and ensure all business requirements are met.
• Drive the development and growth of business to the Island from established and emerging markets through strategic relationship management with key trade
  partners and provide knowledge and guidance to stakeholders on product offerings and development.
• Lead and shape strategic activity across established and emerging markets, with a particular focus on driving sustainable growth during off-peak and shoulder seasons, aligning programmes with wider organisational priorities and market intelligence.
• Lead the team towards attracting and retaining customers and business to the Island, supporting sector growth.
• Identify opportunities to expand the Island’s presence across retail and wholesale channels, including domestic, inbound and international operators, distribution partners, and online travel agencies (OTAs).
• Work collaboratively with tourism industry businesses to identify opportunities that benefit the Island and support growth.
• Guide the team in the analysis and interpretation of B2B market intelligence, identifying new feeder markets and using evidence-based insight to inform and shape business development activity that supports visitor growth and long-term strategic objectives.
• Support the delivery of organisational strategies and integrated sales plans, working collaboratively across the team to drive growth in visitor numbers and support the local economy.
• Build strong engagement with sector businesses, providing strategic support and guidance on the development of high-quality visitor products and experiences suitable for all visitor groups, enhancing visitor satisfaction and supporting sustainable business growth.
• Keep informed of technical and digital advancements within the industry, working collaboratively to share relevant insight and learning that helps ensure the Island remains visible, competitive, and responsive to market change.
• Act as a professional ambassador for the Island, based in the Isle of Man office, representing Visit Isle of Man at business and tourism industry events and trade shows across the UK, Ireland and international markets, including overnight travel as required.
• Provide a senior point of contact for off-Island businesses seeking support from Visit Isle of Man, facilitating the development of visitor experiences, building itineraries, and supporting familiarisation visits.
• Manage, coordinate and deliver familiarisation visits and hosted experiences that drive business growth.
• Plan, design and deliver high-quality presentations and pitches, both in person and online, to a wide range of international audiences, including travel trade sales teams, OTAs, cruise operators, MICE organisations, and other partner organisations, effectively showcasing the Island’s tourism offering to support market growth and commercial objectives.
• Research, plan and implement new initiatives to support the successful delivery of the Visitor Product Development Action Programme.
• Provide leadership within a proactive, outward-facing team by supporting relationship building, generating sales activity, and managing accounts across all market segments.
• Build positive working relationships with industry partners—including, but not limited to, OTAs, travel trade, cruise operators, MICE agencies, and event organisers—to support growth objectives.
• Work alongside the Director of Business Development and the Business Development team to develop a robust return on investment (ROI) measurement process to assess opportunities and record outcomes.

How to apply: apply via this link.