Development Director

Job summaryThe Development Director will lead HUC's commercial development and growth agenda, identifying and shaping sustainable opportunities that support the organisation's strategic objectives, vision and values.Working closely with the Executive Team and senior colleagues, the post holder will provide strategic leadership across Commercial Modelling, Business Development, and Market Development & Communications. They will bring strong commercial judgement, ensuring complex proposals, assumptions and opportunities are robustly assessed, appropriately governed and translated into clear recommendations.The Development Director will lead HUC's growth strategy across geographic expansion, new services, procurement, strategic partnerships and joint ventures, while developing a strong pipeline of opportunities across existing and new markets.A key focus will be building trusted relationships with commissioners, providers, partners and senior decision makers, positioning HUC as a partner of choice for improving patient access, reducing waiting times, supporting integration, driving innovation and delivering outstanding patient outcomesMain duties of the jobLead the development and delivery of HUC's commercial growth strategy, aligned to organisational priorities, vision and values.Identify, assess and shape sustainable growth opportunities across new and existing markets.Develop and oversee a high-value pipeline of opportunities, ensuring effective prioritisation and progression.Provide strategic leadership across Commercial Modelling, Business Development, and Market Development & Communications.Provide expert commercial advice, analysis and constructive challenge to the Executive Team and senior colleagues.Interrogate complex proposals, financial models and assumptions, ensuring robust decision-making and appropriate governance.Lead opportunities relating to geographic expansion, new services, procurement, strategic partnerships and joint ventures.Build and maintain strong relationships with commissioners, providers, partners and executive-level stakeholders.Identify emerging market trends and opportunities to support service diversification and innovation.Lead and inspire the commercial development teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation and constructive challenge.Ensure the expertise of the Head of Commercial Modelling, Head of Business Development and Head of Market Development & Communications is effectively integrated to deliver HUC's growth ambitions.Champion sustainable commercial development that strengthens HUC's long-term impact and organisational sustainabilityAbout usWe reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive sufficient applications for the role.DetailsDate posted11 September 2026Pay schemeOtherSalary Depending on experience 95,000 per annum ContractPermanentWorking pattern Full-time Reference number4265 - 8283470Job locationsHUC HQAmbulance HQAscots Lane, Welwyn Garden CityAL7 4HLUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesFor further information about this role please see attached job description and person specification. Job description Job responsibilitiesFor further information about this role please see attached job description and person specification.Person Specification Education and Qualifications EssentialDegree Level Education- typically in healthcare managements, business administration, operational management or a related fieldDesirablePost-graduate qualification / Master - in health services management, or equivalent in a relevant subject area Knowledge and Experience EssentialSignificant senior-level experience in bid management for complex bids of 20m+ per annumDemonstrable experience of modelling complex services and sound financial understandingDemonstrable experience leading high-performing teams within a matrix environment.Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.Ability to interpret operational understanding to ensure they translate into clear concise commercial modelsStrong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior leadership level.Evidence of using data analytics to support data driven decision making and service improvementsImplementing a culture of high performance and high quality throughout all services with visible accountability at levelsProven understanding of budget management, cost controls and departmental transformation to generate efficiencies.Strong understanding of the NHS, and wider health sector at a senior level with experience of developing and maintaining partnerships within the political landscapeAble to successfully deal with a wide range of challenging demands, timescales and diversity of challengesDemonstrable commitment to, and understanding of, equity, equality, diversity & inclusion.Able to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create conditions for successful system working approach.DesirableExtensive knowledge of primary and urgent care services including NHS 111 operational delivery and performance management.Practical experience of project management processes and systemsExperience in supporting and contributing to strong integrated governance, learning and improvementAbility to demonstrate understanding and behaviours associated with HUC valuesExperience of large-scale change management and service redesign projects Skills and Abilities EssentialStrong visible leadership and motivation skills, acting with integrity whilst valuing diversityA natural influencer, good communicator / presenter with proven negotiation skills, comfortable debater with sound business and technical reasoning plus commercial awareness with the ability to anticipate alternative scenarios and prepare according.Ability to display a sound and comprehensive understanding of the complex needs of many stakeholders in HUC; engaging successfully with colleagues at all levels and building successful working relationships when it comes to working with our executive, commissioners and agencies.Motivational with a genuine desire & concern for quality & appropriateness of patient services.A problem solver who provides solutions that make a difference with the ability to evaluate complex decision-making processes and ensure outcomes are clearly understood and acted upon.Strong use of data to understand problems, find solutions and evaluate successIT literate with proven use of Office 365 productsDesirableDisplay resilience, courage and curiosity Service performance management, transformation and changeEvidence of experience in and / or has good senior knowledge of the healthcare sector Interested in the use of technology to improve the efficiency of services, patient experience and sustainability Other EssentialFull valid UK driving licence with access to a car or willing to use public transport where appropriate.Flexible to travel to other sites across the HUC geographical footprint. Person Specification Education and Qualifications EssentialDegree Level Education- typically in healthcare managements, business administration, operational management or a related fieldDesirablePost-graduate qualification / Master - in health services management, or equivalent in a relevant subject area Knowledge and Experience EssentialSignificant senior-level experience in bid management for complex bids of 20m+ per annumDemonstrable experience of modelling complex services and sound financial understandingDemonstrable experience leading high-performing teams within a matrix environment.Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.Ability to interpret operational understanding to ensure they translate into clear concise commercial modelsStrong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior leadership level.Evidence of using data analytics to support data driven decision making and service improvementsImplementing a culture of high performance and high quality throughout all services with visible accountability at levelsProven understanding of budget management, cost controls and departmental transformation to generate efficiencies.Strong understanding of the NHS, and wider health sector at a senior level with experience of developing and maintaining partnerships within the political landscapeAble to successfully deal with a wide range of challenging demands, timescales and diversity of challengesDemonstrable commitment to, and understanding of, equity, equality, diversity & inclusion.Able to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create conditions for successful system working approach.DesirableExtensive knowledge of primary and urgent care services including NHS 111 operational delivery and performance management.Practical experience of project management processes and systemsExperience in supporting and contributing to strong integrated governance, learning and improvementAbility to demonstrate understanding and behaviours associated with HUC valuesExperience of large-scale change management and service redesign projects Skills and Abilities EssentialStrong visible leadership and motivation skills, acting with integrity whilst valuing diversityA natural influencer, good communicator / presenter with proven negotiation skills, comfortable debater with sound business and technical reasoning plus commercial awareness with the ability to anticipate alternative scenarios and prepare according.Ability to display a sound and comprehensive understanding of the complex needs of many stakeholders in HUC; engaging successfully with colleagues at all levels and building successful working relationships when it comes to working with our executive, commissioners and agencies.Motivational with a genuine desire & concern for quality & appropriateness of patient services.A problem solver who provides solutions that make a difference with the ability to evaluate complex decision-making processes and ensure outcomes are clearly understood and acted upon.Strong use of data to understand problems, find solutions and evaluate successIT literate with proven use of Office 365 productsDesirableDisplay resilience, courage and curiosity Service performance management, transformation and changeEvidence of experience in and / or has good senior knowledge of the healthcare sector Interested in the use of technology to improve the efficiency of services, patient experience and sustainability Other EssentialFull valid UK driving licence with access to a car or willing to use public transport where appropriate.Flexible to travel to other sites across the HUC geographical footprint.Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).Employer detailsEmployer nameHUC AddressHUC HQAmbulance HQAscots Lane, Welwyn Garden CityAL7 4HLUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameHUC AddressHUC HQAmbulance HQAscots Lane, Welwyn Garden CityAL7 4HLUnited KingdomEmployer's website