Business Development Manager – UK & Ireland

Are you passionate about travel, relationship-building, and driving growth in the expedition cruise industry? AE Expeditions, a leader in small-ship adventure cruising, is seeking a dynamic Business Development Manager to grow the UK market and expand our community of valued partners.

This role is ideal for an energetic and strategic self-starter with a proven track record in the expedition, touring, or cruise sector—ready to elevate our brand visibility and partner engagement across the region.

What the Role Involves

• Taking ownership of a defined UK territory, identifying growth opportunities and generating revenue through indirect channels such as member groups, wholesalers, tour operators, and retail/homeworking agents.
• Engaging directly with partners through regular field visits, training sessions, and events (3 days/week in market).
• Representing AE Expeditions at trade shows, networking events, and industry conferences.
• Managing all stages of partner onboarding and performance, from training and product education to contract oversight.
• Collaborating closely with marketing to align activity with campaign timelines and objectives.
• Providing strategic input into budget planning and partner marketing initiatives.
• Keeping CRM (Salesforce) up to date with meetings, partner updates, and opportunities.
• Developing engaging presentations and materials for client events, webinars, and trade communications.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• Strong relationships with UK travel agents and industry partners.
• At least 3 years’ experience in business development, ideally within the expedition, touring, or cruise industry.
• Demonstrated success in meeting KPIs, managing pipelines, and planning effectively.
• Strategic and commercial mindset with contract and budget management skills.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and presentation abilities.
• Willingness and availability to travel frequently and attend evening/weekend functions as needed.
• A genuine respect for sustainability and cultural sensitivity.

Desirable:

• Firsthand knowledge of adventure travel or Polar destinations.
• Experience working with large UK or European travel accounts.
• Familiarity with Salesforce and digital business tools.
• Comfort using LinkedIn for networking and business development.

Why Join AE Expeditions?

• Be part of a passionate and close knit team committed to exploration, sustainability, and delivering extraordinary experiences to guests across the globe. With strong values, a unique brand identity, and an award winning product offering, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact.