Business Development Manager - Leeds & Sheffield

About the opportunity 

We’re bringing First Table to Sheffield and growing our presence in Leeds, and we’re looking for a food-loving Business Development Manager to help lead both. This is a unique opportunity to launch a brand-new city while also taking ownership of an established market, building strong restaurant partnerships and helping more diners discover great places to eat. Based in either Leeds or Sheffield, you’ll split your time between working from home and being out in the market, meeting restaurant partners face-to-face multiple days each week.

About us

At First Table, our vision is simple: to be the first place diners go to book a table.

Proudly established in Queenstown, New Zealand - where our head office is based -  we've been leading the charge in the hospitality tech industry for over a decade, with operations spanning New Zealand, Australia, and the UK. Following the recent city launches in Newcastle, Leicester, Norwich, and Southampton, we are doubling down on building a strong presence and connected team across the UK.

First Table is a dining discovery platform that connects diners to restaurants through their love of food.  Through our clever tech, we help restaurants get their night off to a great start and give diners a compelling reason to try somewhere new. It’s a win-win situation. From early bird offers to last table reservations, we make discovering and booking great dining experiences fast, easy, and rewarding.

At the heart of everything we do are our values: Grow Together, Win-Win-Win, and Own It.  These guide how we show up for each other, our restaurant partners, and our diners and they’re a big part of what makes First Table a great place to work.

Learn more about our story here:
www.firsttable.co.nz/our-story

About the role

Join us at a truly exciting time of growth as we expand First Table’s presence across the UK. As a Business Development Manager, you’ll lead the charge in your region, building relationships with local restaurants, uncovering new opportunities, and bringing our platform to more diners to help restaurants thrive, it’s a win for everyone. This role is tailor-made for individuals who thrive on networking, can take ownership, embrace challenges with open arms, and value the essence of teamwork.

What you’ll be doing

Own and grow your local market.

Build long-lasting, win-win relationships with restaurants in your assigned patch.

Maintain an in-depth understanding of market trends and competitors, using this knowledge to identify new opportunities.

Drive user acquisition and retention strategies.

Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams

What you’ll bring

Proven experience in a similar role such as business development, sales, partnerships or account management. 

Excellent relationship-building, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.

Familiarity with the hospitality industry is a massive plus, and your ability to hit the ground running with existing contacts will push you to the top of the queue for this position.

You don’t need to have done this exact role before, but you’ve got a spark to get someone excited about trying something new and the follow-through to make it happen.

Be a self-starter with a commercial mindset - someone who thrives in an autonomous environment and knows how to spot opportunities (then go after them).

A “can do attitude”, the drive to grow with us and flexible when needed to stay connected with a global team (including our New Zealand HQ)

You’re currently based in either the Sheffield or Leeds area, with the ability to be out meeting restaurant partners regularly.

You have existing right to work in the United Kingdom.

Why you’ll love working with us

Flexible working hours and the autonomy to manage your own schedule in this full time role

Remote-first, but never remote-feeling, with regular coaching and support from your manager and opportunities to connect with the wider UK team

Competitive OTE (base salary + commissions), plus travel allowance, laptop and phone

You’ll get the best of both worlds: launching a brand-new market in Sheffield while growing an established restaurant base in Leeds.

Enjoy perks like free First Table bookings, referral incentives, team recognition, and regular opportunities to celebrate wins.

Being part of a purpose-led, award-winning brand that champions exceptional dining experiences and values creativity, collaboration and growth.

What’s next? 

Ready to make your mark on the Leeds & Sheffield dining scene? We’d love to hear from you.

Include your CV and a cover letter, we genuinely read them, so make it count: why First Table, and why you?

We’re reviewing and progressing applications as they come in, so don’t wait to apply.