Business Development Manager in Peterborough

Location: Office-based, covering Cambridge, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk

We are looking for a motivated and commercially minded Regional Employer Manager to develop employer relationships, identify new business opportunities and secure paid work placements for young people.

The Role

As a Business Development Manager, you will be responsible for sourcing and securing suitable work placement opportunities across Cambridge, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk. You will work closely with employers, programme participants and internal teams to develop business opportunities, build lasting relationships and ensure employers have access to the support they need.

The role supports an employment programme for 18-24-year-olds who have been receiving Universal Credit for 18 months or more. The programme provides fully subsidised, six-month paid job opportunities of up to 25 hours per week at minimum wage, helping young people gain valuable work experience and move towards sustainable employment.

This is a varied, people-focused role combining business development, account management, customer service and stakeholder engagement. You will play a key part in matching participants with suitable employers, helping businesses access talent and supporting individuals to overcome barriers to employment.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Development: Identify and convert new business opportunities across the region, promoting the benefits of the placement programme and securing suitable opportunities with employers.
• Employer Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing employers, maximise repeat business and identify opportunities in growth sectors.
• Account Management: Understand employers' recruitment needs, communicate programme benefits effectively and ensure their expectations are consistently met.
• Customer Service and Relationship Management: Work collaboratively with internal teams and programme participants to promote opportunities across key industry sectors and ensure service delivery meets agreed performance targets.
• Placement Coordination: Maintain accurate and up-to-date placement information on internal systems, update shared trackers and communicate opportunities promptly to relevant teams.
• Participant Matching: Provide clear, high-quality information to support effective matching between participants and employers, ensuring outstanding opportunities are highlighted.
• Post-Placement Support: Work with Career Coaches to help employers understand and implement appropriate in-work adjustments for participants with health conditions or disabilities.
• Performance Reporting: Provide feedback to colleagues, monitor employer engagement activity and collate performance data for management.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify ways to improve service delivery, strengthen employer engagement and maximise placement opportunities across the region.

Skills and Experience

You will ideally bring:

• At least one year's experience of successful business-to-business sales, business development or account management.
• Experience of working towards performance targets and achieving measurable results.
• The ability to build and maintain professional relationships with employers, stakeholders and colleagues.
• Strong communication, negotiation, networking and influencing skills.
• A good understanding of the local recruitment market and the ability to identify and maximise business opportunities.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work independently.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use market intelligence and performance data to inform decisions.
• The ability to work collaboratively with service delivery teams and colleagues responsible for delivering the services you have sold.
• A good understanding of recruitment practices and employment legislation, or the willingness to develop this knowledge.
• A proactive, flexible and solutions-focused approach, with the resilience to overcome challenges and adapt to changing priorities.
• Honesty, integrity, accountability and a commitment to working effectively as part of a team.
• A genuine interest in people, career development and supporting individuals who may face barriers to employment.
• A willingness and ability to travel throughout Cambridge, Peterborough, Norfolk and Suffolk, including access to your own car where required.

#J-18808-Ljbffr