Assistant Director: Business Development and Operations

RINOVA LTD; City Of London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education and training provider in London is seeking a dynamic Assistant Director: Business Development and Operations. In this senior role, you will be responsible for overseeing funded contracts, securing funding opportunities, and supporting the senior management team. Ideal candidates are strong team leaders with extensive experience in employability, skills, and lifelong learning. This role offers the chance to significantly influence the organization’s growth and social impact.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operational delivery and managing funded contracts.
• Strong track record in securing funding and developing partnerships.
• Ambitious for growth with a commitment to social impact.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Rinova’s funded contracts ensuring quality and compliance.
• Identify funding opportunities and lead on tenders and proposals.
• Support the senior management team and contract delivery staff.

Skills

Team leadership

Interpersonal skills

Strategic development

Contract acquisition

Relationship building

Job description

Overview

Rinova Ltd is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to join us as Assistant Director: Business Development and Operations.

Over the last 15 years, Rinova has established itself as a leading independent learning provider in London, specialising in employability, skills and lifelong learning, as well as wider social, cultural and economic development initiatives. As an employee-owned company, all staff are members of Rinova Trustees Ltd – an Employee Ownership Trust – creating a collaborative culture where everyone has a stake in our shared success.

This newly-created senior role has been designed to support Rinova’s continued growth and innovation. The postholder will work closely with the CEO acting as her Deputy across Rinova’s UK portfolio and, in time, managing and supporting our senior management team and contract delivery staff.

The role combines operational leadership with strategic development responsibilities:

Responsibilities

• Operational Delivery – directing and managing Rinova’s wide-ranging funded contracts, ensuring they consistently meet and exceed targets while maintaining high standards of quality, compliance, and innovation. The postholder will oversee multiple project teams, foster cross-programme collaboration, and provide solutions to underperformance.
• Strategic Development – identifying and pursuing funding opportunities, leading on tenders, bids and proposals, and representing Rinova in key forums and networks. The postholder will be expected to bring a strong track record in securing funding and developing long-term partnerships with funders, local authorities, training providers, and voluntary sector organisations.

The successful candidate will join a friendly, close-knit and highly experienced team that is both supportive and ambitious. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with proven experience in funded provision and contract acquisition, a collaborative leadership style, and the vision to shape Rinova’s future direction.

In the first instance, the focus of the role is on strengthening and extending our work in London. Over time, the role will also provide the opportunity to contribute to Rinova’s growing international portfolio, including Turing and Horizon-funded projects, and the work of our affiliated subsidiary, Rinova Malaga, which maintains active involvement in EU programmes such as Erasmus+.

Candidate profile

• An inspiring and effective team leader with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highly experienced in employability, skills, and lifelong learning provision.
• Ambitious for growth and committed to social impact.
• Proactive in building relationships and partnerships at all levels.

By joining Rinova, the successful candidate will play a central part in shaping the next stage of our development and will share in the benefits of being part of an employee-owned organisation.