Head of Business Development & Growth

Spring North; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 70.000 - 95.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Spring North seeks a Head of Business Development & Growth to spearhead the growth and income strategy across health, social care and the VCFSE sector. You will secure sustainable funding via tenders, grants, trusts and partnerships, while line-managing EHWP+ and delivering strong contractual performance across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you will build a robust bid pipeline, shape service propositions and drive strategic partnerships

Aufgaben

• Hold senior accountability for business development, income generation, bid quality and the management of a qualified opportunities pipeline.
• Lead the development and submission of tenders, grant and trust applications, expressions of interest, business cases and partnership proposals.
• Test opportunities for strategic fit, measurable impact, delivery capacity, commercial viability, partnership benefit and organisational risk.
• Contribute to organisational leadership, sustainability, reputation and strategic decision-making as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Jobbeschreibung

Hours: 37 hours per week; salary and contract terms to be confirmed

Probationary Period: 1 month during probationary period, thereafter 2 months

Base: Spring North, Suite 102, 1 Exchange Street, Blackburn, BB1 7JN Flexible/hybrid working, with regular travel across Lancashire & South Cumbria and other service areas as required.

Closing Date: 01/12/2026

Job Purpose

2. Role purposeThe Head of Business Development & Growth is a senior leadership post responsible for developing and delivering Spring North's growth and income generation strategy across health, social care and the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector. The postholder will identify opportunities, create compelling service propositions and secure sustainable funding through competitive tenders, grants, trusts and strategic partnerships. The role also provides direct line management and senior operational oversight of Spring North's EHWP+ offer, ensuring high-quality delivery, contractual performance and strong partnership working.Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team, commissioners and member organisations, the postholder will personally lead high-quality bids and proposals, turn evidence of unmet need into deliverable services, and build a robust pipeline that strengthens Spring North's impact across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The postholder will work with EHWP+ delivery partners to strengthen, extend and grow the offer across Lancashire, building on evidence of need, outcomes and commissioner priorities.

Duties of the Post

3. Scope and senior accountability

• Hold senior accountability for business development, income generation, bid quality and the management of a qualified opportunities pipeline. This includes senior accountability for the EHWP+ service and its designated staff.
• Lead the development and submission of tenders, grant and trust applications, expressions of interest, business cases and partnership proposals.
• Test opportunities for strategic fit, measurable impact, delivery capacity, commercial viability, partnership benefit and organisational risk.
• Contribute to organisational leadership, sustainability, reputation and strategic decision-making as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

4. Key accountabilities

4.1 Business development strategy and growth

• Develop and implement a clear, ambitious business development strategy aligned with Spring North's mission, organisational priorities and income diversification objectives.
• Maintain an active, prioritised pipeline of commissioned contracts, grants, charitable trusts, strategic investments and partnership opportunities.
• Set clear prospecting, conversion and income targets; regularly report progress, risks, forecasts and decisions required.
• Identify opportunities to extend successful existing services and develop new offers across health, social care, prevention and community support.
• Track changes in commissioning, policy, funding and market conditions and translate intelligence into practical growth plans.

4.2 Tendering, grant applications and bid leadership

• Personally lead and write high-quality tenders, grant applications, charitable trust bids, expressions of interest and funding proposals from inception to submission.
• Interpret specifications, eligibility requirements and scoring criteria; coordinate compliant, persuasive and timely responses.
• Develop compelling narratives, methodologies, delivery plans, mobilisation arrangements, partnership structures and measurable outcomes.
• Work with finance and operational colleagues to develop accurate budgets, pricing, value-for-money cases, risk assessments and delivery assumptions.
• Gather robust evidence, case studies, lived-experience insight and impact data to strengthen proposals and demonstrate credibility.
• Manage bid timetables, approvals, quality review and submission processes, capturing feedback and learning from outcomes.

4.3 Service innovation and proposition development

• Identify gaps in local provision through population data, community intelligence, commissioner priorities and feedback from VCFSE members.
• Translate unmet need into practical, evidence-informed service models with clear pathways, target populations, staffing, costs and outcomes.
• Develop proposals that bring together VCFSE expertise, statutory partnerships and innovative approaches to prevention and early intervention.
• Explore opportunities for digital tools, scalable delivery models and improved access where these offer genuine value and measurable benefit.
• Ensure proposed services are realistic about safeguarding, quality, information governance, workforce and operational requirements.
• Engage people with lived experience and community partners in shaping accessible, inclusive and responsive offers.

4.4 Commercial appraisal, impact and value for money

• Evaluate prospective opportunities for affordability, full-cost recovery, cash flow, margin or contribution, sustainability and strategic fit.
• Develop robust business cases demonstrating expected benefits, measurable outcomes, social value and return on investment where appropriate.
• Agree proportionate performance indicators, monitoring arrangements and evaluation approaches at proposal stage.
• Use evidence from existing Spring North programmes and partner delivery to demonstrate track record, reach and outcomes.
• Work with finance colleagues to challenge pricing assumptions, delivery risks and the affordability of proposed commitments.
• Provide clear recommendations to the CEO and relevant governance groups on bid/no-bid decisions and material commitments.
• Maintain accurate records of bids, decisions, funder feedback, pipeline value and achieved income to support continuous improvement.

4.5 Internal collaboration and bid capacity

• Work collaboratively with service leads, finance, project teams and VCFSE members to build strong, deliverable proposals.
• Coordinate contributions and deadlines while retaining clear ownership of bid quality, coherence and final content.
• Build reusable evidence, case studies, service descriptions and proposal resources to improve efficiency and consistency.
• Support colleagues to strengthen proposal development, impact narratives and funder engagement skills.
• Promote an inclusive, accountable and solutions-focused culture that combines creativity with disciplined delivery.

4.6 Commissioners, funders and strategic partnerships

• Develop trusted senior relationships with NHS bodies, Integrated Care Board partners, local authorities, public health teams and other commissioners.
• Build relationships with charitable trusts, foundations, corporate supporters and other potential investors in community services.
• Represent Spring North at strategic meetings, market engagement events, funding discussions and partnership forums.
• Develop credible consortia and collaborative proposals that strengthen the contribution and sustainability of VCFSE delivery partners.
• Maintain effective funder stewardship and identify renewal, extension and follow-on investment opportunities.

4.7 Contract performance, commissioner reviews and impact assurance

• Act as a senior representative at contract review and performance meetings with NHS, local authority and other commissioners, presenting clear evidence of delivery, outcomes, risks and improvement.
• Work with operational leads to maintain oversight of commissioned projects and delivery partners, ensuring contractual obligations, service specifications, reporting deadlines and agreed key performance indicators (KPIs) are met.
• Scrutinise project performance dashboards, activity data, quality indicators and financial information; identify emerging underperformance and agree timely, accountable recovery actions with service leads.
• Ensure that monitoring and evaluation evidence demonstrates the difference projects make for individuals, families and communities, including measurable outcomes, lived-experience feedback, case studies and wider system benefits.
• Translate performance and impact findings into credible commissioner reports, presentations, renewal discussions and proposals for service improvement or scaling.
• Maintain constructive commissioner relationships through transparent reporting, early escalation of delivery risks and follow-through on agreed contract review actions.

4.8 EHWP+ leadership, line management and Lancashire-wide growth

• Provide direct line management, supervision, performance management and professional development for designated EHWP+ staff, ensuring clear objectives, appropriate support and accountability.
• Hold senior operational oversight of the EHWP+ offer, working with the delivery team and partners to ensure safe, consistent and timely services that meet the Lancashire County Council contract, service specification, quality standards and agreed KPIs.
• Lead EHWP+ contract review and performance meetings with commissioners, presenting delivery activity, outcomes, quality, risks, improvement plans and evidence of impact.
• Maintain effective relationships with the EHWP+ delivery partners, including regular partnership meetings, shared performance reviews, problem-solving and coordinated service improvement.
• Oversee EHWP+ capacity, referrals, access, waiting times, delivery quality, partner performance and outcome reporting; identify and address emerging pressures or underperformance promptly.
• Work with the CEO, commissioners and EHWP+ partners to identify unmet need and develop proposals to expand the EHWP+ model across Lancashire, including new localities, complementary pathways and sustainable funding opportunities.
• Use evaluation, service-user feedback, partner intelligence and impact evidence to demonstrate the value of EHWP+, inform service redesign and support recommissioning, extensions and wider growth.

4.9 Growth opportunities and organisational sustainability

• Work with the CEO to identify strategic opportunities to grow Spring North’s services, reach and influence across Lancashire and South Cumbria.
• Develop new propositions in response to emerging needs in children and family services, emotional wellbeing, neurodiversity, urgent care and wider population health.
• Lead early-stage commissioner engagement, concept papers, funding pitches and presentations that progress opportunities towards investment.
• Assess partnerships, procurement routes and delivery models for strategic benefit, feasibility, financial sustainability and risk.
• Strengthen the role of VCFSE organisations within integrated service models, alliances and place-based approaches.
• Support recommissioning, contract extensions and diversification of income to reduce reliance on individual funding streams.

4.10 Governance, compliance, finance and risk

• Provide timely and accurate pipeline, income, conversion, risk and opportunity reports to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and trustees as required.
• Ensure bid activity follows procurement rules, funder conditions, delegated authorities, data protection and Spring North’s governance arrangements.
• Identify and elevate commercial, financial, contractual, delivery and reputational risks before commitments are made.
• Work with finance colleagues to ensure bids are properly costed and financially sustainable, with clear assumptions and approvals.
• Maintain appropriate records, version control, due diligence and audit trails for funding and tender submissions.
• Ensure claims made in proposals are evidenced, proportionate and deliverable by Spring North and its partners.

4.11 Senior leadership and delegated representation

• Contribute to organisational strategy, planning, performance, values and culture as an active member of the Senior Leadership Team.
• Provide constructive advice and challenge to the CEO and colleagues on funding markets, commissioning, partnerships and growth decisions.
• Lead cross-organisational development priorities as agreed, connecting intelligence, service expertise and financial planning.
• Represent Spring North at senior strategic and funding meetings and deputise for the CEO on agreed business development matters.

5. General responsibilities

• Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, leadership, integrity and confidentiality.
• Champion equality, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-discriminatory practice in employment, partnership working and service delivery.
• Work in accordance with Spring North’s policies, procedures, values and delegated authorities.
• Maintain continuing professional development and role-appropriate knowledge of sector trends, governance requirements and best practice.
• Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the seniority and purpose of the role. This role profile may be reviewed in consultation with the postholder as services develop.