Senior Client Manager

The Workforce Development Trust; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Hybrid working

Enhanced pension scheme

Group life insurance

Health and wellbeing benefits

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

The Workforce Development Trust is seeking a Senior Client Manager for the Public Sector, based in Bristol with hybrid working. This permanent, full-time role focuses on growing strategic accounts across health, justice, emergency services and local government, and delivering commercially viable workforce transformation.

You will lead client strategy, develop consultancy propositions, and build long-term partnerships with senior decision-makers, while aligning with our mission to improve public

Qualifications

• Experience originating, winning and growing complex consultancy/professional services work.
• Ability to diagnose client challenges and craft commercially viable solutions.
• Strong networks and credibility with senior public-sector decision-makers.

Responsibilities

• Strategic business development: build regional/sector plans and generate a self-sustaining pipeline.
• Manage client relationships and lead strategic accounts across health, justice, emergency services and local government.
• Lead end-to-end tendering and negotiations, shaping proposals and internal business cases.
• Comply with governance, confidentiality and data protection; travel across the UK; work autonomously.

Skills

Public sector experience

Strategic account management

Business development

CRM management

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Job Title: Senior Client Manager - Public sector

Department: Consultancy and Research

Location: Bristol Office with hybrid working available

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week)

The Workforce Development Trust

The Workforce Development Trust is a not-for-profit organisation that provides services that support employers to develop skilled, sustainable, and efficient workforces in the UK and abroad. We operate via our collective of five brands; Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards, People 1st International and ICQ Awards, which deliver specialist, targeted skills interventions to support a variety of frontline public services.

Job Summary

WDT Consulting creates lasting, measurable impact across the Public Sector. We combine consultancy expertise with public purpose to build a competent, resilient and effective workforce that delivers better outcomes for the public. We are a supportive, collaborative team that cares as much about how we work together as what we achieve – with passion, innovation, respect and integrity. Guided by our Consultancy Charter, WDT Consulting share ideas, learn from each other and celebrate success.

The Senior Client Manager will grow strategic accounts across health and care, justice, emergency services and local government. You’ll shape client strategy, develop consultancy propositions and build long-term partnerships that drive sustainable workforce transformation.

As a respected not-for-profit organisation with a strong Sector Skills Council heritage, we offer the opportunity to combine commercial growth with meaningful public impact, supported by trusted national brands, established sector relationships and specialist expertise.

You’ll work with senior decision-makers to understand their challenges and bring together the right expertise to develop practical, commercially viable solutions. Taking ownership from initial market insight and relationship building through to proposal development, negotiation and conversion, you’ll turn opportunities into lasting client value.

What success will look like

Within your first 12 months, you’ll have built a well-qualified pipeline, secured new and expanded business against agreed revenue and margin targets, strengthened senior client relationships and shaped solutions that can be delivered effectively and profitably.

Disciplined forecasting, sustained market engagement and close collaboration with delivery colleagues will underpin your success.

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

• A track record of originating, winning and growing complex, high-value consultancy or professional services work.
• The ability to diagnose client challenges, shape bespoke solutions with subject matter experts and present compelling commercial cases.
• Strong networks and credibility in one or more public service sectors, with the confidence to open doors and build new relationships.
• Experience of meeting stretching commercial targets, supported by disciplined qualification, forecasting and CRM management.
• A proactive, resilient and curious approach, using client insight and learning to strengthen your propositions.

In return, you’ll have the scope and support to lead with confidence, transform services and create long-term value. You’ll join a purpose-driven team that values ambitious thinking, creative problem-solving and measurable impact - where your ideas and contribution matter.

Key responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Develop and deliver regional and sector business development plans aligned with strategic
• Build a self-generated pipeline through targeted market development, senior networking, referrals, partnerships and insight-led conversations, beyond inbound leads and published

Client Relationships & Strategic Account Leadership

• Build trusted relationships across the public and third sectors, using existing networks to establish credibility and develop new strategic opportunities.
• Engage employers, commissioners and senior decision-makers with expert insight aligned to their workforce and skills needs.

Consultative Selling & Tendering

• Lead the end-to-end bid process, from scoping and solution development with subject matter experts to writing, presenting and submitting high-quality, commercially viable proposals aligned with client needs and WDT/C&R objectives.
• Lead or support negotiations, secure commercial agreements and prepare internal business cases.
• Monitor workforce trends, strategic challenges and policy developments to provide forward-looking advice that informs clients’ workforce decisions.
• Share client and market insight internally to strengthen our offer and proposition.

General Requirements

• Uphold corporate standards, policies and procedures, including financial governance, confidentiality and data protection, exercising discretion with sensitive and commercially significant information.
• Act as an ambassador for the organisation, promoting its mission and services with professionalism and passion.
• Work autonomously with minimal supervision, managing complex workloads and competing proposal, tender and client priorities.
• Travel regularly across the UK

This job requires some days in the office.

• Generous annual leave entitlement up to a maximum of 28 days, plus public holidays and a potential Christmas closure
• Flexible working - 50% working from home with a dress for your day approach
• Staggered start and finish time
• We provide enhanced leave, bereavement, carers, maternity, paternity and sickness leave.
• Health and wellbeing benefits, access to our mental health first aiders, a confidential employee assistance programme, free eye tests and payment for an annual flu jab
• Group Life Insurance.
• Enhanced pension scheme, with a contribution matching up to a combined 12%, along with death in service coverage at three times annual salary
• Flexible employee benefits, portal including a cycle to work scheme
• Buy annual leave scheme
• Organisational development days and departmental training budgets
• Payroll giving, this is a tax-free way to donate to any charity, good cause or place of worship

The Workforce Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone.

We strongly encourage people of all gender, religion, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and individuals with disabilities to apply.