Recruitment Consultant - Business Development Focus

Location: Southampton
Contract: Full-time, permanent

About the Role

We are looking for a driven, commercially minded Recruitment Consultant to join our growing team. This is a sales-led role with a heavy focus on business development, client acquisition, and building long-term relationships with employers who need reliable recruitment support.

You will be responsible for developing your own client base, identifying new opportunities, winning vacancies, and delivering high-quality recruitment solutions. The ideal candidate will be confident making outbound calls, comfortable meeting decision-makers, and motivated by targets, commission, and career progression.

Key Responsibilities

• Proactively generate new business through cold calling, sales calls, networking, referrals, and market mapping.
• Identify and approach prospective clients, including hiring managers, business owners, HR teams, and senior decision-makers.
• Book and attend client meetings to understand recruitment needs, promote services, and secure new vacancies.
• Build, manage, and grow a pipeline of active and prospective clients.
• Negotiate terms of business, fees, rates, and service agreements in line with commercial objectives.
• Develop strong knowledge of your market, competitors, salary trends, and hiring challenges.
• Write and advertise vacancies across relevant platforms to attract suitable candidates.
• Source, screen, interview, and shortlist candidates for client vacancies.
• Manage the recruitment process from initial vacancy through to offer, acceptance, and aftercare.
• Work towards daily, weekly, and monthly KPIs, including sales activity, client meetings, vacancies won, interviews arranged, and revenue generated.

About You

• Previous experience in recruitment, sales, business development, telesales, account management, or a target-driven commercial role.
• Confident making outbound calls and approaching new clients.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Commercially aware, resilient, and motivated by results.
• Organised and able to manage multiple vacancies, clients, and candidates at the same time.
• Comfortable working to targets and KPIs in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive attitude with the ability to spot opportunities and convert them into business.
• Professional, credible, and able to build trust with clients and candidates.

What We Offer

• Uncapped commission.
• Clear progression opportunities based on performance.
• Ongoing training, coaching, and support to develop your recruitment and sales skills.
• A supportive team environment with ambitious growth plans.
• The opportunity to build and manage your own desk.
• Regular incentives and recognition for high performance.
• A varied, people-focused role where no two days are the same.

Who This Role Would Suit

This role would suit someone with a strong sales mindset who enjoys winning new business, building relationships, and seeing clear financial reward for their results. You may already be working in recruitment, or you may come from a sales-led background such as estate agency, B2B sales, telesales, field sales, account management, or business development.

Apply Now

If you are ambitious, confident, and ready to grow a successful recruitment desk through proactive business development, we would like to hear from you. Apply today with your CV to find out more.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies Privacy Notice.