Business Development Manager (Bid Manager) in Brighton

Change Grow Live is looking for a Business Development Manager to join our national Business Development Team. You will lead tenders and proposals for new and existing services, support us to successfully respond to the government’s 10-year drug strategy, and navigate processes under the Provider Selection Regime. We’d particularly like to hear from people that have experience of writing high-scoring drug and alcohol service bids. You’ll share our passion for supporting people to make positive changes in their lives. This is a key leadership role and you’ll be part of a successful national team. You’ll have the chance to share and further develop your skills, knowledge and experience, whilst working with great people from across our organisation.

Location: London, Brighton, Manchester or Leeds.

Salary: £52,221 – £57,786 per year. If you’re based in London, you’ll receive an additional £4,133.14 per year - Inner London Weighting.

Contract: 12 months, fixed term.

Responsibilities

Working as part of Change Grow Live’s national Business Development Team, you will lead and manage one of our Business Development Teams that focuses on Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services. You will have joint responsibility for retaining existing contracts and winning new business opportunities on your pipeline, including all aspects of tender and proposal processes. You will work collaboratively with people who use our services, front line staff and managers, clinicians, departmental leads and senior stakeholders, including Directors, to develop service delivery models, budgets and partnerships for tenders and proposals. You will work with colleagues and service users across the country to learn about CGL services and specific local needs and challenges. As part of our national Business Development Management Team, you will lead on improving the quality of our work and developing our team culture, thinking creatively, sharing your own knowledge and experiences, and challenging existing ways of working. Ultimately you will play a key role in the design, development and delivery of our services and will help us to deliver on our organisational mission, strategy and values.

About you

The ideal candidate will have proven experience of managing tenders, proposals or grant applications in health and social care. You’ll be an excellent writer and you’ll be able to give and receive constructive, challenging feedback on your colleagues’ work. You’ll be a confident and competent communicator, have excellent IT skills, be highly numerate and be able to analyse and work with complex data and financial information.

What we offer

You’ll be able to access structured internal and external training, development and mentoring as part of a supportive team. We also offer:

• The option to work from home for some of the week
• Wellbeing support, including an employee assistance programme and an hour each week for wellbeing activities of your choice.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we work with. We pride ourselves on an inclusive and supportive workplace, evidenced through our Investors in People silver status. We’re happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that you need to be successful. Please let us know in your application or at any stage of the process if you would like to discuss this.

Before you apply

In the CGL application portal, there’s a section called ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’. This is your chance to tell us about why you’re a good fit for this job – this is what we use to shortlist candidates and we won’t be able to consider your application unless it’s filled in. Please explain how you meet each of the person specification criteria (listed at the end of the job description). Use clear examples of your experience. As guidance, written statements should not exceed 1,000 words. You can address multiple criteria together where you think it makes sense.

Interviews will be held 16th – 22nd February 2026. We’ll also ask shortlisted candidates to complete a task online during this timeframe, at a time of your choice. We may hold a pre-qualification stage task (e.g. presentation) depending on the number of applicants. We encourage applications from individuals who may not meet every requirement but are excited about the role. We value lived experience of substance use, homelessness, and/or multiple disadvantages. We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer. Under our Disability Confident interview scheme, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates where they meet our selection criteria in their application. Some of our roles attract a high volume of applications and in some circumstances where it is not practicable or appropriate, we may limit the number of interviews offered to disabled and non-disabled candidates. Please confirm in the ‘how you meet the criteria for the role’ part of the application if you are applying under this scheme. We will provide reasonable adjustments as needed.

Check the job description and team explainer for more information. You can contact Ollie (oliver.wilcox@cgl.org.uk) to discuss this role further.

What our people say

Lorena, Business Development Manager

What are your favourite parts of the job? Working with stakeholders from across the organisation to develop service models that will improve people's lives - it's great to be able to identify innovations and influence systemic changes early. I also love supporting people to develop in their roles, take on new responsibilities and hone their writing skills.

How would you describe the team? Brilliant. Having always previously worked in services I was apprehensive about joining, but I shouldn’t have worried - the team are such a welcoming, supportive and dedicated group of people. The team culture means there are always opportunities to grow and improve how we do things without losing sight of our goals and purpose.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying? If you care about the drug and alcohol sector, thrive on leading bids/direct award processes and enjoy building relationships with different people, come and join us! You’ll be part of a great team within a great organisation where there’s always something interesting to do and more to learn.

Salary Range (pro rata if part time) CGL points 47 to 52 (£52,221.35 - £57,786.02)

Interview Date 16/2/2026

Closing Date 8/2/2026

If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details: Ollie Wilcox | oliver.wilcox@cgl.org.uk