Business Development Director - Public Sector Market Research Data Analytics

Ipsos is recruiting for a Business Development Director with a proven track record in business development within the public sector space focused on market research data insights and analytics. This role will suit applicants with a deep understanding of public sector data dynamics, key stakeholders and an established network of contacts within central government.

This role spans across two key service lines, Public Affairs and Ipsos Data Labs. Public Affairs delivers research, evaluation and policy consultancy services for public clients across the UK and the world. Our nearly 300 staff are focused on generating high-quality evidence and determined to support our clients to use this to improve policy and outcomes for the public. Ipsos Data Labs serves as the specialised division for data, analytics, and AI within Ipsos, functioning as a critical partner to businesses seeking to enhance decision-making with speed and confidence.

What is in it for you?

• Play a pivotal role in driving Public Sector Data Analytics growth by identifying and qualifying new business opportunities, creating and streamlining internal processes, and building a robust network across the public sector data space.
• Create a new concept at Ipsos – working closely with Ipsos Data Labs and Public Affairs – enabling you to craft compelling proposals and respond to RFPs (Request for Proposals) while ensuring we leverage our internal resources effectively to meet client needs.
• Use your insights to guide internal capability development to enhance our service offerings.
• Utilise your expertise for bid Strategy Formulation: developing a strategic approach to each bid, considering alignment with organisational goals and feasibility.
• Lead a cross-functional team to compile and produce submission content, ensuring contributions from relevant departments such as finance, legal and technical.

The Role…

The Business Development Director is responsible for overseeing bid management. You will be responsible for:

• Opportunity Identification and Qualification: Identify and assess new business opportunities within the public sector data space by conducting detailed market research and analysis.
• Proposal Development: Utilise internal networks to collaborate and create comprehensive and competitive proposals. Lead the response to RFPs, ensuring alignment with client objectives and Ipsos Data Labs service offerings.
• Process Creation and Optimization: Develop and implement internal processes that enhance efficiency and effectiveness in responding to opportunities.
• Networking: Build and maintain a wide network of contacts across the public sector data space to facilitate business development activities and stay informed of market trends and needs.
• Service Line Mastery: Develop an in-depth understanding of Ipsos Data Labs service lines to enhance the quality and relevance of proposals and client pitches.
• Internal Capability Enhancement: Advise on skill requirements and teach internal teams the competencies needed to address emerging trends and client needs in the public sector.

About you:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the ability or previous experience in setting up a similar business function:

• Business leadership skills
• A proven track record in business development within the public sector focused on data services.
• Established network of contacts within the industry and specifically public sector central government.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Building and maintaining relationships with public sector clients, influencers and decision-makers.
• Deep understanding of public sector data dynamics and key stakeholders.
• Bid management: Lead generation / Opportunity Identification: Experience of researching and identifying new business opportunities and potential RFPs (Request for Proposals) in the public sector.
• Bid Strategy Formulation: Experience of developing a strategic approach.
• Team Coordination: Experienced at leading a cross-functional team to compile and produce submission content.
• Skilled in proposal writing (Able to craft compelling narrative for proposals).
• Demonstrable risk assessment and mitigation experience in bidding process and development of mitigation strategies.
• Budget Management: Managing costs related to the bid preparation process.
• Compliance Assurance: Understanding of all bid regulations and standards.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you as an individual. Our standard benefits include 25 days annual leave, pension contribution, income protection and life assurance. In addition, there are a range of health & wellbeing, financial benefits and professional development opportunities.

We realise you may have commitments outside of work and will consider flexible working applications – please highlight what you are looking for when you make your application. We have a hybrid approach to work and ask people to be in the office or with clients for 3 days per week.

We are committed to equality, treating people fairly, promoting a positive and inclusive working environment and ensuring we have diversity of people and views. We recognise that this is important for our business success – a more diverse workforce will enable us to better reflect and understand the world we research and ultimately deliver better research and insight to our clients. We are proud to be a member of the Disability Confident scheme, certified as Level 2 Disability Confident Employer. We are dedicated to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.