At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development and writing of impactful bids for health and social care services.
- Company: Join a supportive health and social care charity making a real difference.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work options, and wellbeing support.
- Why this job: Grow your career while making a positive social impact in communities.
- Qualifications: Experience in bid writing for health and social care is essential.
- Other info: Clear progression pathways and a collaborative team culture await you.
The predicted salary is between 43384 - 47792 £ per year.
We are looking for a Senior Business Development Officer to join our national Business Development Team. This is an ideal next step for you if you are an experienced bid writer looking to grow your career in business development, make social impact, and develop your leadership skills. We would particularly like to hear from people that have experience of writing high-scoring drug and alcohol service bids.
Location: London, Brighton, Manchester or Leeds.
Salary: £43,384.62 - £47,792.23 per year. If you are based in London, you will receive an additional £4,133.14 per year for Inner London Weighting.
Contract: Permanent.
Responsibilities
Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity. Across the country, we support people to make positive changes in their lives, including around drug and alcohol use, smoking, homelessness and criminal justice.
As a Senior Business Development Officer, you will play a lead role in the development and writing of tenders and proposals for a variety of health and social care services. This role offers a great opportunity to learn and develop while using your established skills, and you will be encouraged to take on more responsibility as you progress, including line management opportunities.
Your day-to-day will include:
- Writing and editing complex and highly weighted bid responses, working to short timeframes
- Project managing the writing of key tenders with support from a Business Development Manager
- Supporting the development of Assistant Business Development Officers and Business Development Officers, with the potential of providing line management
- Working with staff across the organisation and our partners to develop bids that reflect best practice and respond to local needs
- Producing and coordinating detailed research for upcoming opportunities, including meeting with subject matter experts, analysing data and collating evidence
- Creating presentations, diagrams and reports
- Participating in and leading reviews of our bid and proposal processes.
About you
We are looking for candidates with proven experience of writing tenders, proposals or grant applications in health and social care.
You are:
- A highly competent communicator with a successful track record in bid writing, ideally for drug and alcohol treatment or related services
- Experienced in leading smaller bids and proposals
- Able to analyse data and interpret evidence, with good IT and research skills
- Solution-focused, creative and proactive
- Happy to give and receive constructive, challenging feedback
- Collaborative and contribute to a positive culture team
- Ready to work hard to deliver on CGL’s values and mission.
What we offer
You will be able to access structured training, development and mentoring as part of a supportive team. There is a clear progression pathway within the team, from Senior Business Development Officer to Manager, Senior Manager, Deputy Director, and Director. Several of our current Business Development Managers were previously in the Senior Business Development Officer role.
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 are 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 application portal, there is a section called how you meet the criteria for the role. This is your chance to tell us about why you are a good fit for this job; 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. 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 - 23rd February 2026 via MS Teams. We will also ask shortlisted candidates to complete a written task online during this timeframe, at a time of your choice.
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 are 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.
Check the job description and team explainer for more information. Contact Yasmin Gilders to discuss this role further.
Senior Business Development Officer employer: Change Grow Live
Contact Detail:
Change Grow Live Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Business Development Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the health and social care sector. Attend events, webinars, or even local meet-ups. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to bid writing and business development. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. This will help you showcase your experience effectively and stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t forget to research Change Grow Live thoroughly! Understand their mission, values, and recent projects. This knowledge will not only impress during interviews but also help you tailor your responses to align with their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed! Make sure to fill out the 'how you meet the criteria' section with clear examples of your experience. This is your moment to shine, so don’t hold back!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Business Development Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Experience: When filling out the application, make sure to highlight your relevant experience in bid writing, especially in health and social care. Use specific examples that demonstrate how you've successfully tackled similar challenges in the past.
Tailor Your Responses: Don’t just copy and paste your CV! Tailor your written responses to match the criteria listed in the job description. This is your chance to shine, so make it clear why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Business Development Officer role.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your written statements clear and to the point. Remember, you have a word limit of 1,000 words, so make every word count! Avoid jargon and focus on delivering your message in a straightforward manner.
Use Our Application Portal: We encourage you to apply through our website. It’s designed to guide you through the process and ensure you don’t miss any important sections. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised!
How to prepare for a job interview at Change Grow Live
✨Know Your Bids Inside Out
Before the interview, brush up on your experience with writing tenders and proposals, especially in health and social care. Be ready to discuss specific examples of high-scoring bids you've worked on, particularly those related to drug and alcohol services. This will show your expertise and passion for the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Since this role involves supporting and potentially managing others, think about times when you've led a project or mentored someone. Prepare to share these experiences during the interview to demonstrate your leadership potential and collaborative spirit.
✨Research the Organisation
Familiarise yourself with Change Grow Live's mission and values. Understand their approach to health and social care, and be prepared to discuss how your skills align with their goals. This shows that you're genuinely interested in the organisation and its impact.
✨Prepare for the Written Task
As part of the interview process, you'll likely have a written task. Practice writing concise, compelling responses to hypothetical bid scenarios. This will help you feel more confident and showcase your writing skills effectively during the actual task.