Sales and Business Development Recruitment Ireland

Specialist Sales and Business Development Talent Search for Irish employers

Sales and business development teams influence revenue, market reach and the quality of customer relationships. The right people can open new opportunities, strengthen important accounts and build a more consistent approach to commercial growth.

Successful sales hiring requires clarity about the market, sales cycle, customer profile and results expected from the role. A candidate who performs strongly in one environment may not be suited to another with different routes to market, levels of complexity or leadership support.

Connexus works with organisations across Ireland to recruit experienced sales, business development and account management professionals. Our searches cover commercial leadership, new business, strategic accounts, partnerships and sales operations.

We assess relevant results alongside the behaviours, judgement and relationship capability needed to succeed in the employer’s specific market.

8 weeks: The median time-to-hire reported in Connexus Talent Insights

How we approach Sales and Business Development Talent Search

MAP

We clarify the market, customer profile, sales cycle, revenue expectations and team structure before mapping the relevant candidate market.

ENGAGE

We approach suitable active and passive professionals, assessing relevant results, commercial judgement and relationship capability.

DELIVER

We present a focused shortlist supported by clear candidate information, market feedback and practical guidance for the interview process.

CONNECT

We support interviews, feedback, offer management and communication through to placement, helping both parties make a well-informed decision.

Typical Sales and Business Development hiring requirements

Appointing a
Head of Sales

An organisation preparing for growth may need a leader who can set direction, improve forecasting, develop the team and create greater consistency across the sales process.

Hiring a Business Development Manager

A business entering a new market may require someone who can identify opportunities, establish senior relationships and build a credible pipeline over time.

Strengthening strategic account management

An organisation with a concentrated customer base may need an experienced account professional who can protect relationships, identify growth opportunities and coordinate delivery across teams.

Typical Sales & Business Development Roles:

Connexus recruits experienced professionals across sales leadership, business development, strategic accounts, partnerships and sales operations. Our work typically covers specialist, senior and leadership appointments.

Commercial and sales leadership

Commercial Director
Sales Director
Head of Sales
Regional Sales Director
National Sales Manager
Regional Sales Manager

Business development and partnerships

Business Development Director
Senior Business Development Manager
Business Development Manager
Business Development Executive
Partnerships Manager
Channel Manager

Account management

Account Director
Strategic Account Manager
National Account Manager
Key Account Manager
Senior Account Executive
Account Manager

Sales operations and support

Sales Operations Manager
Commercial Operations Manager
Bid Manager
Commercial Analyst
Client Services Manager

Sales titles do not always reveal the complexity of the role. We work with employers to define the customer base, sales cycle, route to market, revenue expectations and balance between new business and account growth before approaching candidates.

What employers say about working with Connexus

“I have worked with the team at Connexus for over a year now. They have supported on everything from assistant to senior manager roles to contract appointments. No ask has been too small for Connexus, the team have always sought to understand our business and the needs of each of the roles. They have placed some really successful candidates. Communication is excellent, I would highly recommend.”

General Paints Group

Head of Marketing

“I have worked with Connexus to recruit a number of team members during my time as Head of Marketing at Very Ireland. Connexus has been a joy to work with each time and really took a lot of time to understand not only the requirements of each role but also to understand the company culture and myself as a manager so he could find and place the right candidates. I highly recommend Connexus and I will continue to work with them in the future.”

The Very Group

Head of Marketing

“I cannot speak highly enough about the excellent service provided by Keith and his Team at Connexus. From the initial consultation to the successful placement of candidates, every step of the process was handled with professionalism, efficiency, and a deep understanding of our company's culture and needs.”

LifeStyle Sports

Head of Talent Acquisition

When employers engage Connexus

Specialist recruitment support for important, difficult or time-sensitive hiring requirements.

Entering a new market

Hiring business development capability to establish relationships, test opportunities and build a credible route to revenue.

Strengthening sales leadership

Recruiting a leader who can improve direction, performance management, forecasting and team capability.

Growing strategic accounts

Finding experienced account professionals who can protect and expand high-value customer relationships.

Scaling a commercial team

Building the sales and business development capability needed to support a new stage of growth.

Improving sales operations

Hiring professionals who can strengthen forecasting, process, reporting and commercial discipline.

Replacing a critical leader

Running a focused or confidential search for a senior commercial or sales appointment.

What employers need to know when hiring Sales and Business Development talent

Strong sales professionals examine the quality of the proposition, leadership, earning opportunity and evidence that the organisation can deliver what is being sold. Unclear targets or unrealistic descriptions of the market can weaken candidate confidence.

Connexus Talent Insights reported a median time-to-hire of eight weeks. Employers competing for proven commercial talent need a clear process and timely decisions, particularly when candidates are already performing successfully in their current roles.

Before beginning a search, employers should agree the target market, customer profile, sales cycle, revenue expectations, existing pipeline, base salary, variable reward, working arrangement and interview process.
A well-defined commercial brief enables a more focused search and gives candidates a realistic picture of the opportunity.

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Sales and Business Development Talent Search FAQs

Connexus recruits specialist, senior and leadership professionals across sales leadership, business development, strategic accounts, partnerships and sales operations. Roles include Sales Directors, Heads of Sales, Business Development Managers, Account Directors and Key or National Account Managers.

Yes. Connexus works with organisations hiring Sales and Business Development professionals across Ireland. Candidate availability will depend on location, sector, customer market, seniority and the required sales experience.

We assess results in the context in which they were achieved. This includes the market, sales cycle, target, customer profile, level of support and the candidate’s personal contribution, alongside commercial judgement and relationship capability.

Yes. We can conduct focused and confidential searches for Sales Directors, Heads of Sales and other business-critical commercial leaders, with an agreed approach to market engagement.

Timelines depend on seniority, sector experience, location, remuneration and the interview process. Connexus Talent Insights 2026 reported a median time-to-hire of eight weeks across the market. Clear targets and timely feedback help maintain candidate engagement.

Submit your brief through the website or contact the Connexus team. We will arrange an initial discussion about the market, customer profile, commercial objectives and preferred recruitment timeline.

Sales and Business Development Talent Search in Ireland

Specialist Sales and Business Development Talent Search for Irish employers

How we approach Sales and Business Development Talent Search