At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead business development in education services, driving growth and strategic partnerships.
- Company: Values-led organisation focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, annual bonus, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on compliance and strategic growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference while shaping services that impact young lives positively.
- Qualifications: Experience in business development within education or children's social care is essential.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60500 £ per year.
The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Hybrid (office 2 days per week in Leeds).
£55,000 plus 10% annual bonus based on KPI.
Working Hours: 37.5
Location: Hybrid (office 2 days per week in Leeds)
Closing Date: 10/06/2026
Job Category: Business Development
Region / Division: Yorkshire
Business Unit: Support Services
Job Introduction
Make a Difference While Driving Growth
We are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead the business development activity of our Ofsted Regulated Education Services. The successful candidate will have a strong background in children’s social care and education provision, a deep understanding of regulations, EHCP’s, and sector dynamics. This role is integral to identifying new opportunities, developing strategic partnerships with local authorities, and ensuring our services meet both regulatory standards and the evolving needs of young people.
Working closely with operational leaders and executive teams, you will play a key role in identifying growth opportunities, strengthening local authority partnerships, increasing occupancy, and ensuring services remain compliant, competitive, and responsive.
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 supported accommodation and residential homes.
- 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 supported accommodation and residential homes
- 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 education sector and/or children's social care.
- 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 Ltd
Join a values-driven organisation that prioritises the well-being of children and young people while fostering a collaborative and supportive work culture. As a Business Development Manager, you will benefit from a competitive salary, a 10% annual bonus based on KPIs, and opportunities for professional growth in a hybrid working environment based in Leeds. With a focus on strategic partnerships and compliance, this role offers a unique chance to make a meaningful impact in the education and children's services sector.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the education and children’s services sector. Attend local events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or at networking events, make sure to highlight your experience in business development and your understanding of regulations. Share specific examples of how you've driven growth or improved services in past roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! If you’ve had a chat with someone about a role, drop them a quick email thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest. It shows you're keen and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make decisions.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It helps us keep track of candidates and ensures you’re considered for the right opportunities. Plus, it’s a great way to show your enthusiasm for joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in children's social care and education, and showcase any relevant achievements that align with our mission at StudySmarter.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Use specific examples to demonstrate your understanding of the sector and your strategic thinking skills.
Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills:Since this role involves building strong partnerships, make sure to highlight your experience in relationship management. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with local authorities or stakeholders in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for a smoother application process. This way, we can easily track your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Horizon Care Ltd
✨Know Your Sector Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of children's social care and education provision. Understand the latest regulations, EHCPs, and sector dynamics. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Relationship Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in building strong relationships with local authorities and stakeholders. Think about specific instances where you've successfully partnered with operational teams to drive growth or improve service delivery.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves reporting and performance insight, be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform decision-making in previous roles. Bring examples of how you've monitored conversion rates or analysed market trends to identify growth opportunities.
✨Align with Their Values
Research the organisation's values and mission. Be prepared to articulate how your personal values align with theirs, especially regarding improving outcomes for children and young people. This will demonstrate that you're not just looking for a job, but a meaningful career.
