Business Development Manager

The Social Mobility Foundation; London; Hybrid; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

A charitable organization in London is seeking a Business Development Manager to lead the Employer Programme. This role involves managing the Social Mobility Employer Index and developing resources to enhance employer-led social mobility. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, experience in stakeholder engagement, and a passion for improving inclusivity in the workplace. The organization offers a hybrid work model and comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

Cycle to Work Scheme

5% employer pension contributions

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible work options

Regular team building days

Qualifications

• Experience in designing and delivering programs that meet organizational needs.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Understanding of social mobility and diversity issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Employer Programme and Social Mobility Employer Index.
• Develop and deliver products and resources for employers.
• Ensure high standards of quality and customer service.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Policy and data understanding

Commercial awareness

IT skills (Microsoft Office, CRM)

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

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Business Development Manager

Application Deadline: 25 August 2025

Department: Partnerships & Income Development

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London, UK

Reporting To: Head of Partnerships and Income Development

Compensation: GBP 38,100 - GBP 41,100 / year

Description

Location: You can be based near one of the following office locations - Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, or Newcastle.

We operate a hybrid model of work i.e. a combination of in-person and remote, with flexible days in the office depending on business need and your preferences. We would typically expect in-office attendance an average of one day per week.

Your office is where you will usually attend in-person events, training sessions etc. though some travel, to other offices and other locations, will occasionally be expected.

Hours: We are looking for the right candidate and while we envisage this being a full-time role (37.5 hours per week) we are very open to flexible working arrangements such as part-time, compressed hours and/or flexitime.

Occasional/frequent evening or weekend work may be required, for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given.

Ideal start date: ASAP, as agreed with candidate

The Opportunity: As a key leader within our Partnerships and Income Development team, you will be responsible for creating, developing and delivering the Social Mobility Foundation's Employer Programme - how we inform, influence and positively impact employer-led social mobility, and a source of income generation.

Reporting to the Head of Partnerships and Income Development, you'll be the custodian of the Social Mobility Employer Index (SMEI) - our annual benchmarking and assessment tool for how UK employers recruit, retain and develop talent from all socioeconomic backgrounds and build inclusive workplaces. You'll have full product ownership, managing the delivery lifecycle from end-to-end: from marketing, to pipeline development and entrant submissions, data analysis, reporting and evaluation, as well as ongoing development and improvement.

In addition, by collaborating with existing partners who offer pro-bono consultancy, you'll scope, develop and deliver new products, resources and services that equip employers with the knowledge and practical tools to improve social mobility in the workplace.

We're looking for someone who is willing and able to move easily between strategic thinking and hands-on delivery, and is excited about taking full ownership over this important work. Combining a passion for delivering our mission with keen commercial acumen, high attention to detail and project management skills, this is a unique chance to make a big impact on social mobility in the UK.

Key Responsibility Areas:

• Product ownership and project management
• Product and service development
• Quality standards
• Customer service and value proposition
• Stakeholder management
• Systems and processes
• Team development and collaboration
• Line Management (Matrix structure)

Please review the attached pdf for the full job description.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Project management and product development

• Demonstrable experience designing, delivering and developing programmes, products and/or services that meet organisational needs
• Demonstrable experience in project management, shaping long-term strategy while managing day-to-day operations and delivery

Stakeholder engagement

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience building and managing relationships

Policy and data skills

• Understanding of issues related to social mobility, diversity and inclusion, or workforce development
• Understanding of and/or experience in benchmarking tools, indices or assessment frameworks

Commercial and customer service

• Demonstrable experience in managing pipelines and/or stewarding customers, demonstrating excellent customer service skills and a high attention to detail
• Confidence in public speaking, presenting or facilitating workshops with professional audiences

IT skills

• Experience using Microsoft Office
• Experience of using or understanding of CRM software to effectively support pipeline and partnership management e.g. Salesforce
• Experience of or understanding of managing and using digital platforms for programmes, products and/or services

Please review the attached pdf for the full person specification.

Benefits

Annual leave:
33/34 days (England & Wales and Scotland respectively - includes bank and public holidays)

Other benefits:

• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employer pension contributions of 5% of 'qualifying earnings'
• Employee Assistance Programme available to staff and their family
• Flexible work options such as hybrid working, flexitime, part-time
• Regular staff team building and business planning "away days"

How to Apply

Interested candidates should apply by submitting the following information to our application portal Pinpoint by 23:59pm, Monday 25th August:

1. A cover letter (500 words maximum) outlining why you would like to work at the Social Mobility Foundation and why you are a strong candidate for the role, including specific examples from your experience and skills.
2. A short statement answering the following question: "Tell us about a time where you played a key role in securing or growing a funding opportunity or partnership. How did you find the opportunity, and what was your approach to writing the proposal and stewarding the relationship? What impact did it have, and what did you learn?" (500 words maximum)

Please note that generic applications and CV's will not be considered. Ifyou have any questions about the role, please contact the hiring manager Charlotte Owens: [e-mail].

Interviews:
Interviews are scheduled to take place w/c 1st September with multiple slots available at different times throughout the working day. There will also be second round interviews, taking place virtually, likely to begin w/c 15th September.