At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic growth initiatives and secure new partnerships to enhance community impact.
- Company: Local Solutions, a leading charity dedicated to community empowerment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, direct access to leadership, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for permanent placement based on growth success.
- Why this job: Shape the future of community services and drive meaningful change in people's lives.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in winning bids and diversifying income in the charity sector.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70000 £ per year.
Local Solutions is a Liverpool charity with an income of close to £15 million and a reach that runs from domiciliary care and carers support to supported accommodation, domestic abuse services, youth work and community empowerment. We work across Liverpool City Region and North East Wales, and we are one of the largest voluntary sector organisations in the city. We are financially sound, operationally strong and clear about our purpose.
As part of our Deliver, Shape, Build strategy, we are looking for someone to lead on new programmes to grow our impact. You will own the growth pipeline, lead our biggest bids, and put Local Solutions in the room before the opportunity is announced.
Our 2026 strategic review identified exciting opportunities across strategic tendering, innovation, portfolio modelling and diversification right across the organisation. We are an innovative and agile bunch with a proven history of adapting and thriving through change on behalf of our communities. This role exists to ensure we continue to meet these challenges via a sustainable diverse service offer that lets us do more for the people and communities we exist to serve. The post is offered on a 12-month contract. Our intention is to make it permanent, funded by the growth opportunities and impact the role delivers. You will be given the mandate and the access to make that happen, including a direct line to the Chief Executive and the Board.
What you will be doing
- Portfolio, diversification, and innovation: Assessing our full portfolio of contracts, grants and income streams to identify diversification gaps, transferable capabilities and concentration risk. Owning a targeted diversification plan across our four priority growth areas: Children's Residential Services, Supported Accommodation, Community Health and Employment and Skills. Scanning beyond those four areas and bringing forward credible opportunities, new service models and partnerships that open income streams not currently available to us. Steering our impact measurement approach so that outcome evidence strengthens bids, commissioner relationships and retender positioning.
- Tendering, pipeline and bid delivery: Building the tendering infrastructure end to end: portal monitoring, opportunity pipeline, qualification, bid writing and internal review and sign-off. Personally owning new major bids aligned to strategic growth, from qualification through to submission and handover to mobilisation. Supporting and quality assuring divisional leads and subject specialists on the wider flow of business as usual bids, without taking ownership of them, so standards and full cost recovery hold across the organisation.
- Profile, stakeholder and policy engagement: Building strategic relationships with commissioners, funders and delivery partners across the Liverpool City Region and North Wales. Raising our profile with commissioners, partners and policymakers through sustained, visible engagement. Tracking devolution and policy developments and positioning us early as they create new commissioning and funding openings. Representing Local Solutions in the forums and alliances that open new commissioning routes and partnership bids.
- Accountability for delivery: Holding accountability for diversified strategic growth against agreed targets and reporting progress to the Chief Executive.
What we are looking for
This is a hands‑on delivery role, not an advisory one. You will need:
- A track record of personally winning new business and diversifying income in a charity, social care or public sector commissioning environment.
- Experience establishing or running an end to end tendering process, covering pipeline, qualification, bid writing and review.
- Financial acumen: full cost recovery, margin discipline and business cases that stand up to Board and commissioner scrutiny.
- The credibility to build relationships with senior commissioners, funders and policymakers and to represent us externally.
- Curiosity and judgement to spot credible opportunities and innovation angles outside an organisation's existing footprint, not only within a defined brief.
- The ability to lead major strategic bids yourself while coaching subject specialists on the wider flow of departmental bids.
How you will work with us
Our values are not wall decoration. They describe how the people who do well here operate:
- Knowledgeable: You understand the commissioning, funding and policy environment and you use that knowledge to build evidence‑based submissions and to coach others to do the same.
- Compassionate: You are a people person who cares about colleagues and communities and who helps people shine.
- Reliable: You stick to deadlines, deliver on commitments and are someone colleagues can count on.
- Pioneering: You are proactive, you experiment, you make connections and you open new routes to sustainable growth.
What success looks like
- Additional secured income against agreed targets.
- Reduced concentration in our largest contracts with income growth across the four priority growth areas.
- Pipeline value and win rate on bids submitted.
- New commissioning relationships sectors and partners engaged and converted.
- Visible, sustained engagement with commissioners and policymakers with evidence of early positioning ahead of devolution and policy driven opportunities.
- Positive impact on people and communities.
Why Local Solutions
You will report directly to the Chief Executive and work alongside the Leadership Group and the Board of Trustees. Decisions get made quickly and you will see the results of your work in services on the ground from our Boaler Street community hub in Newsham to supported accommodation and care across six local authority areas. Every pound of additional income you bring in goes back into supporting people and communities. That is the return on this role. Local Solutions is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
Head of Strategic Growth and Partnerships in Liverpool employer: Local Solutions
Local Solutions is an excellent employer for those seeking a fulfilling role as a Home Care Assistant in Liverpool. With a strong commitment to employee development, we offer comprehensive training and competitive pay, alongside a supportive work culture that values compassion and community impact. Join us to enjoy benefits like paid training, discounts, and a welcome bonus, all while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Growth and Partnerships in Liverpool
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Local Solutions.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Local Solutions.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Local Solutions.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Local Solutions. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Growth and Partnerships in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Local Solutions. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Strategic Growth and Partnerships, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Local Solutions
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Local Solutions. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
