Business Development Manager

ROYAL BOROUGH OF KENSINGTON AND CHELSEA; City Of London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A major public service organization in the UK is seeking a Business Development Manager to improve Housing and Social Investment services. This role involves strategic leadership, project oversight, and team development while engaging with senior leaders. Candidates should possess strong leadership and communication skills, along with experience in a complex public sector environment. The position offers competitive salary and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Collaborative work culture

Access to learning and development

Qualifications

• Significant experience in supporting senior leaders.
• Confident working in a politically aware environment.
• Strong grasp of governance frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead improvements in Housing and Social Investment services.
• Coordinate strategy and performance activities.
• Coach Executive Support Officers.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Budget management

Strategic thinking

Communication

Job description

Overview

Lead with purpose, deliver with impact, in a role that supports one of our most vital services.

Lead with purpose, deliver with impact, in a role that supports one of our most vital services

If you want to be part of some of London's most important and ambitious public services, and to work somewhere where a true public service ethos is valued and celebrated, this is the role for you. As Business Development Manager, you will work right at the heart of the Housing and Social Investment Directorate.

Working Style

Working as part of a dedicated 'engine room' for the directorate, you\'ll combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution. This role is office-based four days per week, with flexibility for evening meetings and working across different locations as needed.

What you\'ll be doing

You\'ll work closely with the Strategic Head of Business Development and Performance, and the Directorate Management Team, leading work that improves how the Housing and Social Investment directorate operates and delivers on the Council\'s priorities and the commitments we have made to ensure we continue to learn from the Grenfell tragedy.

Acting as a bridge between the directorate and the Council\'s Leadership Team, you will ensure constitutional governance and best practice in partnership with Governance and Scrutiny. You\'ll lead the secretariat function for high-level meetings - including those with Lead Members and the Directorate Management Team - and drive follow-up actions.

Working with the Corporate Strategy team, you\'ll coordinate strategy, transformation and performance activity, oversee the directorate\'s forward plan and manage inputs to major cross-cutting programmes.

Drawing on your leadership skills, you will coach and guide the Executive Support Officers to help them deliver top-level executive support across the Directorate Management Team.

You\'ll champion innovation and change while embedding equality, diversity and inclusion. Success demands confident decisions and the ability to juggle complex priorities.

For further details, please review the Job Description and Person Specification

What you\'ll bring

You\'ll have significant experience supporting senior leaders in a large, complex and politically aware organisation, ideally in local government or the wider public sector. You\'ll be confident working at pace while maintaining high standards and a strong grasp of governance frameworks.

We\'re looking for someone who can lead from the front - managing people, overseeing projects and making sound decisions that help us work better. You\'ll have experience coaching and developing others, managing underperformance and creating an inclusive, motivated team culture.

You\'ll also bring strong organisational and project delivery skills, with the ability to develop and embed systems that support operational success. Communication is key - you\'ll need to engage confidently with elected members, senior officers and external partners, using your influence to get things done.

You\'re a self-starter who thrives in a fast-moving, complex environment, balancing strategic thinking with practical delivery while maintaining high standards. Curious and proactive, you stay ahead of developments and look for ways to improve. You\'ll also have experience managing budgets and understand key legislation, including GDPR and the Equality Act 2010.

Why join us

At RBKC, we\'re all in - investing in our people, our communities and our future. We are committed to learning from Grenfell, continuing to build back trust with our communities and residents in our journey to becoming the best Council for all our residents.

This is a high-profile position where you\'ll work closely with senior officers and elected members. You\'ll play a key role within a developing and ambitious team with a wide-reaching remit; you\'ll be part of shaping and supporting a directorate that plays a vital role in delivering frontline housing services across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

We offer a competitive salary, a collaborative work culture and a genuine focus on development and progression. You\'ll be supported to grow, with access to learning and development that helps you thrive, gaining experience across a wide range of strategic and operational opportunities.

About us

Kensington and Chelsea is home to diverse communities, thriving businesses and unique local places.

The importance of the services we provide in Housing and Social Investment lies in the direct impact they have on our residents\' daily lives. By communicating clearly, delivering services promptly and working collaboratively, we strengthen trust and satisfaction in the community. This dedication reflects the Council\'s commitment to put communities first and to ensure every resident feels heard, respected and supported. We listen to our residents, act with integrity and work together to build a borough that is greener, safer and fairer for all.

As Business Development Manager within Housing and Social Investment, you\'ll be key player in this mission.

Interview Details

Interviews will be taking place on the 24th and 27th October 2025.

Ready to join us?

We\'re all in - are you? If you share our values and have the skills to contribute, we\'d love to hear from you.

Please apply online explaining how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification and job description.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.

We are committed to promoting equality and respecting diversity and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.

We are committed to fair, transparent, and consistent pay practices. New hires will start at the minimum of the advertised salary range.

Employees receive annual salary increases until they reach the top of the pay scale. In addition, employees will receive any agreed cost of living pay rises.