Business Development Manager

Role Overview

Liftrucks New Zealand Ltd is seeking a results-focused sales professional to take charge of a Christchurch-based territory covering Christchurch and the wider Canterbury region. This position is centred on winning new business, developing existing accounts, and helping drive the company’s next phase of growth in material handling and equipment sales.

The role offers ownership of a defined market, exposure to a broad solution set, and the opportunity to influence branch growth directly while reporting to senior management.

What You’ll Do

• Take responsibility for the Christchurch and surrounding Canterbury territory, balancing prospecting with account growth.
• Generate new business through cold calling, site visits, and active opportunity conversion.
• Sell complete customer solutions across new and used forklifts, rentals, attachments, service agreements, and related technology.
• Build, maintain, and move a strong sales pipeline forward with a consistent call cadence and clear commercial focus.
• Prepare quotes and proposals that address customer needs and support successful deal closure.
• Work closely with the service, rental, and administration teams to ensure commitments are delivered and customers remain engaged.
• Represent the company professionally at client locations, events, and throughout the region.
• Maintain accurate records of activity, pipeline status, and forecasts, and report performance against targets.
• Monitor the market for competitor activity, pricing movement, and new opportunities, then share insights internally.

About You

You are a self-driven sales professional who enjoys prospecting, takes ownership of outcomes, and is comfortable building a territory from both existing relationships and new opportunities. You know how to sell on value, build trust quickly, and work independently with discipline.

• You have proven B2B sales experience, ideally in capital equipment, material handling, transport, automotive, or another technical industry.
• You have a history of building pipelines, managing a call cycle, and consistently closing business.
• You are comfortable with a hunter-style sales approach and enjoy opening new accounts.
• You bring strong relationship-building, communication, and negotiation skills.
• You have commercial judgement and can shape solutions that work for both the customer and the company.
• You are organised, self-disciplined, and able to manage your own territory effectively.
• You hold a current New Zealand driver licence.

What’s on Offer

• A competitive base salary with an incentive and commission plan tied to performance.
• A company vehicle, mobile phone, and laptop.
• A defined territory with an established customer base and strong potential for new business.
• The chance to have a visible impact in a growing company where decisions are made quickly.
• Good scope for career progression as the business expands.
• A supportive, collaborative team environment.

Application Notes

Applicants should be ready to provide a CV and a short cover letter describing relevant sales experience and the value they would bring to the role.

Candidates must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to complete pre-employment checks.

Additional Information

This is a material handling and equipment sales position focused on territory ownership, business development, and long-term customer growth in Christchurch and Canterbury.