Business Development Lead

This exciting new and broad ranging role is ideal for an experienced business development manager to play a leading role in the visitor economy and drive transformational change across Experience Oxfordshire that significantly contributes to the organisation’s sustainability. We are looking for someone that has significant experience in successful grant application, management and delivery, alongside strong commercial acumen to develop new revenue opportunities. The role would be suitable for someone that is looking to join a small, collaborative team with big plans for future growth. The individual should be innovative and creative, with strong partnership skills and a passion for Oxfordshire and the visitor economy.

The business development manager will play a vital role in ensuring the growth and sustainability of Experience Oxfordshire, with a major focus on successful funded programme application and delivery, implementation of new commercial contracts and commissioned services and ensuring that delivery standards are consistently high, whilst maximising revenue.

• Lead on developing and delivering new income streams opportunities to the organisation.
• Support and enhance existing commercial services across the organisation.
• Develop large scale funding bids, to deliver strong added value for Oxfordshire that address the key challenges and priorities for the visitor economy.
• Identify, develop and implement a new grant programme of activity that highlights new opportunities and manage the process from application to delivery.
• Identify opportunities and secure income for grant funded projects, operate as project manager for funded projects.
• Work across the organisation to meet and exceed income targets.
• Responsible for applying for and delivery of funded programmes to ensure projects are successfully delivered to a high standard, providing demonstrable impact and value for the funder, the destination and stakeholders, whilst maximising revenue for the organisation.
• To be accountable for delivery against agreed financial and service targets.
• Develop and deliver innovative solutions for the organisation that provide a sustainable revenue stream for the organisation.
• To develop a commercial strategy for new business that drives additional income into the business through commissioned services, marketing, partnership, business events and tours activities.
• Support the development of strategic stakeholder partnerships across the County, identifying opportunities for collaboration on visitor economy projects.
• Ensure that there is appropriate and accurate management information available.
• Work across the organisation to ensure that services are delivered in a joined-up manner.
• Maintain appropriate internal and external networks.
• Ensure that the activities of commercial services are safe and that they comply with applicable legislation and regulation.
• Ensure that opportunities to generate income are optimised and that services are delivered in a cost effective and sustainable manner against agreed targets.
• To undertake any such duties that are commensurate with the post as requested by the CEO.

Internally: CEO, Marketing and Partnership, Oxford Official Walking Tours and Finance departments (Board of Directors and Trustees as required). Externally: Experience Oxfordshire partners, stakeholders, Local Authorities and national agencies as appropriate.

The Company Experience Oxfordshire is the official Destination Management Organisation (DMO) and Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Oxfordshire. It is the trading arm of the parent charity, Experience Oxfordshire Charitable Trust, and is a not-for-profit partnership organisation that is committed to the promotion, management, and development of Oxfordshire as a great destination to live, work, visit and do business. The DMO seeks to improve growth and productivity across Oxfordshire’s visitor economy through the provision of essential business advice and support services to our partners.

Experience Oxfordshire was one of the first destinations in England to gain LVEP status from national tourist board, VisitEngland. As an LVEP, Experience Oxfordshire is recognised as a high-performing organisation, supporting collaborative working both locally, through its network of partners and those with interest in the visitor economy, and nationally on shared priorities. The Visitor Economy is vitally important to Oxfordshire. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic each year Oxfordshire welcomed over 30 million visitors to the County who spent £2.3 billion in the local economy which supported over 40,000 jobs – 12% of all jobs across Oxfordshire.

The organisation is funded in part by its Partners who come from all sectors of the Oxfordshire economy including hotels, retail, events, transport and restaurants and more. We work with our Partners to collectively promote their products and services and grow the visitor economy across Oxfordshire through a variety of B2B and B2C channels. The organisation derives the rest of their income from providing a variety of services such as travel trade, MICE referrals, commissioned services and consultancy, as well as operating the award-winning Oxford Official Walking Tours.

For more information on Experience Oxfordshire go to;

Applications will require your CV and covering letter outlining why you are interested and why you think you would be suitable for the role. Please note applications without a CV will not be considered.