Business Development Specialist (Catering & Global Supply)

Location: İstanbul + Field Visits & International Client Engagements

Department: Business Development / Commercial

Reports to: Business Development Manager / Director

Position Overview

AVS Global Ship Supply is seeking a results-driven Business Development Specialist to convert leads into long-term business, secure new customers, and coordinate a seamless handover to our operational teams. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced B2B environment, has strong maritime industry knowledge, and is passionate about growing strategic client relationships.

You'll be working across the full business development lifecycle — from lead generation and sales to onboarding, support, and growth.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead Management & New Client Acquisition

Actively manage and respond to inbound leads from digital marketing, trade shows, and referrals

Initiate first contact with potential clients via email, calls, online meetings, or on-site visits

Build and expand your own client portfolio with a focus on shipowners and fleet managers

Conduct market research and identify new business opportunities in target regions

- Sales & Proposal Management

Analyze client needs for catering and global supply services

Coordinate internally with pricing, supply chain, and operations teams to shape customized offers

Manage end-to-end proposal, negotiation, and contract finalization processes

Close sales with a solution-focused and consultative approach

 - Handover, Onboarding & Problem Solving

Brief operations teams on contract terms, delivery ports, product/meal lists, and customer specifics

Monitor initial deliveries and coordinate a smooth service start-up

Act as the bridge between client and operations during the launch phase

Proactively identify and resolve customer issues, ensuring a smooth experience and minimizing friction*

 -Customer Success, Insights & Growth

Build long-term relationships with clients to drive satisfaction and retention

Identify upsell and cross-sell opportunities

Capture client feedback and relay it to product and operations teams

Take initiative in addressing client concerns, maintaining trust and satisfaction

Proactively identify and resolve customer issues, ensuring a smooth experience and minimizing friction

Review and analyze Net Promoter Score (NPS) reports, turning insights into actionable improvements to enhance the customer experience

- CRM & Reporting

Ensure accurate entry of lead, quote, and customer data into CRM (Dynamics 365)

Maintain an up-to-date sales pipeline and prepare regular opportunity/risk reports

Present actionable insights to management to support strategic planning

 Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Trade, Logistics, Engineering, or related fields

2–5 years of experience in B2B sales, business development, or customer management

Experience in maritime, ship supply, catering, or logistics industries preferred

Native-level English proficiency (spoken & written)

Comfortable with fieldwork and international travel

What We Value

A hunter mentality: you know how to find and close deals

Strong sales & negotiation skills

Ability to identify needs and offer tailored solutions

Operational awareness and cross-team coordination

Proactive approach to customer challenges and issue resolution

Data-driven mindset and ability to turn customer feedback into service improvements

Self-discipline, follow-up skills, and results focus

What Success Looks Like

High conversion rate from digital leads to closed sales

Growth in client base and revenue from new accounts

Smooth handover and service initiation with minimal friction

High client retention and expansion within the first 3 months

Improved NPS and client satisfaction metrics over time