Business Development Manager - Care & Education

LJ Recruitment; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% performance-related bonus

Hybrid working

Senior role with influence over growth

Job summary

LJ Recruitment is seeking a skilled Business Development Manager to lead growth across regulated education services. Hybrid working with travel to schools and the head office will be required, offering a strategic senior role.

You will build partnerships with local authorities and commissioners, manage placements and referrals, and align services with regulatory requirements and market demand. A strong background in children's social care or education is essential.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years' experience in business development, commissioning or strategic leadership within children's social care or education.
• Experience within independent specialist education or closely related environment.
• Proven experience partnering with operational teams to align commercial growth with service delivery.
• Experience leading or managing a placements/referrals function, especially with complex/high-volume referrals.
• Strong track record building relationships with local authorities, commissioners and other stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and ability to identify and convert growth opportunities.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Analytical and strategic thinking with ability to use data and market intelligence.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with commissioning frameworks, funding pathways and procurement in children's services.

Responsibilities

• Partner with regional operational teams to drive service growth, occupancy and align BD with capacity.
• Provide market intelligence on commissioner requirements, regulatory developments and local demand.
• Support teams to maximise placement opportunities and keep services competitive and responsive.
• Lead and manage a placements/referrals function, ensuring referrals are handled effectively.
• Oversee end-to-end referral and matching process aligning with needs and availability.
• Monitor referral activity, conversion rates and pipeline opportunities.
• Provide regular analysis and insight to leadership.
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and service growth.

Skills

Commercial awareness

Communication skills

Relationship-building

Analytical thinking

Organisational skills

Job description

Business Development Manager

Location: Hybrid, with frequent travel to schools and occasional travel to the organisation's head office

Salary: £55,000 per annum

Bonus: 10% performance-related bonus

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead business development activity across a portfolio of regulated education services.

The successful candidate will have a strong background in children's social care and/or education, ideally with experience of independent specialist education provision. You will bring a strong understanding of the regulatory environment, Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), commissioning processes and the wider sector landscape.

This is a key role focused on identifying new opportunities, developing strategic partnerships with local authorities and commissioners, and ensuring services are aligned with both regulatory requirements and the evolving needs of young people.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnering

• Partner closely with regional operational teams to drive service growth, improve occupancy and align business development activity with operational capacity.
• Provide market intelligence and insight into commissioner requirements, regulatory developments and local demand.
• Support operational teams to maximise placement opportunities and ensure service offerings remain competitive and responsive to market needs.

Placements & Referral Management

• Lead and manage a placements function, ensuring referrals are handled effectively and responsively.
• Oversee the end-to-end referral and matching process, ensuring the needs of young people are appropriately assessed and placements align with availability, quality and service requirements.
• Monitor referral activity, conversion rates and pipeline opportunities.
• Provide regular analysis and insight to operational teams and senior leadership.

Market Development & Growth

• Identify, develop and secure new business opportunities within the education and children's services sectors.
• Undertake market and competitor analysis to inform strategic decision-making.
• Identify emerging opportunities and support the organisation's positioning within the market.

Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with local authority commissioners and other key stakeholders.
• Develop partnerships and identify opportunities for collaboration and service growth.
• Represent the organisation at relevant sector events, forums and strategic meetings.

Compliance & Regulatory Guidance

• Maintain strong knowledge of the regulatory framework applicable to regulated education services.
• Provide guidance and updates to internal stakeholders on relevant regulatory developments.
• Ensure business development activity and placement processes reflect appropriate regulatory and quality standards.

Reporting & Performance Insight

• Develop and deliver regular trading reports and dashboards for senior leadership.
• Provide clear insight into:Referral volumes and conversion ratesOccupancy levelsPlacement and business development pipelinesMarket trends and competitor activityCommissioner engagement
• Analyse data to identify trends, risks and opportunities and provide actionable recommendations.
• Ensure reporting is accurate, timely and aligned with operational KPIs and growth objectives.

About You

You will ideally have:

• At least 3 years' experience in business development, commissioning or strategic leadership within children's social care or education.
• Experience within independent specialist education or a closely related environment.
• Proven experience of partnering with operational teams to align commercial and growth strategies with service delivery.
• Experience leading or managing a placements/referrals function, particularly involving complex or high-volume referrals.
• A strong track record of developing relationships with local authorities, commissioners and other key stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to identify and convert business growth opportunities.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to interpret data, market intelligence and regulatory developments.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Experience working closely with operational leadership teams in children's services, social care, education or related support services.
• An understanding of commissioning frameworks, funding pathways and procurement processes within children's services.
• Experience supporting service design or redesign in response to regulatory changes or changing commissioner requirements.

What We Offer

• £55,000 salary
• 10% performance-related bonus
• Hybrid working
• A senior role with significant influence over business growth and service development
• The opportunity to work closely with operational and executive leadership teams
• A role with a direct impact on improving access to appropriate services for young people