At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive growth in children's services and manage high-volume referrals.
- Company: Values-led organisation focused on improving outcomes for young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, collaborative environment, and opportunity to make a real impact.
- Other info: Join a team dedicated to positive change and strategic growth.
- Why this job: Shape services that truly make a difference in children's lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development within education or social care sectors.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Role
As Business Development Manager, you will:
- Strategic Business Partnering
- Act as a strategic partner to Regional Operations Teams to drive sustainable service growth and improve occupancy.
- Align business development activity with operational capacity and regional priorities.
- Provide market intelligence, commissioner insights, and regulatory guidance to support service planning and delivery.
- Support regional teams to maximise placement opportunities and maintain competitive service offers.
- Placements & Referral Management
- Lead and manage the Placements Team, ensuring responsive handling of high-volume referrals.
- Oversee the end-to-end referral and matching process across all schools.
- Ensure placements are appropriate, needs-led, and aligned with operational availability and quality standards.
- Monitor conversion rates, placement activity, and referral pipelines, providing insight and recommendations.
- Market Development & Growth
- Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities across the education and children’s services sector.
- Conduct market and competitor analysis to support strategic decision-making and service positioning.
- Drive business growth through proactive relationship management and opportunity development.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with local authority commissioners, housing partners, and sector stakeholders.
- Represent the organisation at sector forums, meetings, and networking events.
- Promote services and identify collaborative opportunities that support organisational growth and positive outcomes for young people.
- Compliance & Regulatory Leadership
- Maintain expert knowledge of Ofsted regulations and sector developments.
- Ensure all placements and service developments remain fully compliant.
- Provide internal guidance and updates to ensure regulatory standards are embedded across business development and operational delivery.
- Reporting & Performance Insight
- You will develop and deliver weekly executive reporting and trading packs for Managing Directors and the COO, providing clear insight into:
- Referral volumes and conversion rates.
- Occupancy across all schools.
- Placement pipelines and business opportunities.
- Market trends and competitor activity.
- Risks, patterns, and growth opportunities.
- You will use data to provide actionable recommendations that support strategic and operational decision-making.
About You
We are looking for someone who can combine commercial thinking with sector expertise and relationship-led leadership. You will have:
- Extensive experience in business development, commissioning, or strategic leadership within education and/or children’s social care.
- Experience within the education sector.
- Proven success partnering with operational teams to align growth and service delivery.
- Experience managing placements functions or handling high-volume, complex referrals.
- Strong relationships with local authorities, commissioners, and key sector stakeholders.
- Commercial awareness and a proven ability to identify and develop growth opportunities.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
- Experience interpreting data, market intelligence, and regulatory developments.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Understanding of commissioning frameworks, procurement processes, and funding pathways.
- Experience supporting service design or redesign in response to sector change.
- A relevant qualification in Social Care, Business Development, Housing, or a related field.
Why Join Us?
This is more than a business development role – it is an opportunity to shape services that improve outcomes for children and young people while supporting the strategic growth of a values-led organisation. If you are passionate about making a difference, thrive in a collaborative environment, and have the expertise to drive growth in regulated children’s services, we would welcome your application.
Business Development Manager employer: Horizon Care & Education
Join a values-driven organisation that prioritises the growth and development of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. As a Business Development Manager, you will thrive in a collaborative work culture that encourages innovation and strategic thinking, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Located in a vibrant community, our company offers a supportive environment where your expertise in education and social care can truly shine.
Contact Details:
Horizon Care & Education Recruitment Team
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We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
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We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
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Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
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✨Portfolio of Projects
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✨Know their business model
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