Salary: £55,000 + 10% KPI Bonus
Location: Hybrid – 2 days working in the Leeds Office
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Diamond Search Recruitment are delighted to be representing a highly respected and rapidly growing provider of Ofsted-regulated children's services in their search for an experienced Business Development Manager.
This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded professional with a strong background in children's social care, supported accommodation, residential care, or education services to play a pivotal role in driving growth, strengthening commissioner relationships, and supporting service expansion across the organisation.
The Opportunity
As Business Development Manager, you will lead strategic growth initiatives across a portfolio of Ofsted-regulated services, working closely with operational leadership teams to maximise occupancy, secure new placement opportunities, and develop long-term partnerships with local authorities and commissioning bodies.
This position offers a unique blend of strategic business development, placements management, stakeholder engagement, and market analysis within a purpose-driven organisation committed to improving outcomes for young people.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Business Development
* Partner closely with Regional Operations Teams to drive sustainable growth and service expansion.
* Align business development activity with operational capacity and organisational objectives.
* Provide market intelligence, commissioner insights, and sector expertise to support service planning.
* Identify emerging opportunities and ensure service offerings remain competitive and responsive to local needs.
Placements & Referral Management
* Lead and develop the Placements Team, ensuring the efficient management of high-volume referral activity.
* Oversee the end-to-end placement and matching process across supported accommodation and residential services.
* Monitor referral pipelines, conversion rates, and occupancy performance.
* Deliver regular performance analysis and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement
* Build and maintain strong relationships with Local Authority Commissioners, housing partners, and sector stakeholders.
* Identify and secure new business opportunities and collaborative partnerships.
* Represent the organisation at industry events, forums, and strategic meetings.
Regulatory & Sector Expertise
* Maintain expert knowledge of Ofsted regulations and relevant sector developments.
* Ensure all business development activities and placement processes remain fully compliant.
* Provide guidance to internal teams on regulatory changes and best practice.
Reporting & Commercial Insight
* Produce and present weekly trading reports and executive dashboards.
* Analyse referral activity, occupancy levels, conversion rates, market trends, and growth opportunities.
* Deliver actionable insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making by senior leadership.
About You
We are seeking an ambitious and experienced professional who can demonstrate:
* Minimum 3 years' experience in business development, commissioning, placements, or strategic leadership within children's social care.
* Strong knowledge of supported accommodation and/or residential children's services.
* Proven success in developing relationships with local authorities, commissioners, and key sector stakeholders.
* Experience leading placements functions or managing complex referral pathways.
* Excellent understanding of Ofsted regulations, commissioning frameworks, procurement processes, and funding pathways.
* Strong commercial awareness with a track record of identifying and securing growth opportunities.
* Exceptional communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
* Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate insights into business strategy.
* Experience collaborating with operational leadership teams within social care, housing, or education settings.
* Relevant qualification in Social Care, Business Development, Housing, Education, or a related discipline.
What's on Offer
£55,000 basic salary
10% KPI-based annual bonus
Opportunity to join a growing and ambitious organisation making a genuine difference to young people's lives
Strategic leadership role with significant influence on future growth
Supportive and collaborative senior leadership team
Career development and progression opportunities
If you have the experience, commercial drive, and sector knowledge required to succeed in this role, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today for a confidential discussion.
Diamond Search Recruitment is acting as an employment agency regarding this vacancy
Salary description
£55000.00 - £55000.00 per year