Serco Plc
B1.2 Business Development Director
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Growth Director – Citizen Services: Local & Devolved Government
UK – flexible location with travel
Serco delivers essential public services across the UK, working with government and public sector organisations to improve outcomes for citizens and communities. We are now looking for an exceptional Growth Director to lead the growth agenda for our Citizen Services: Local & Devolved Government business.
This is a significant senior appointment at an important point in the development of this business. Bringing together a broad portfolio spanning Environmental Services, Health, Leisure, Transport and adjacent markets, the business employs more than 12,000 colleagues and works with local authorities, devolved government, NHS organisations and other public sector partners. Alongside owning the growth strategy, you will lead and develop a high-performing team across sales, business development and bidding.
Reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, UK & Europe, and working closely with the Managing Director and senior leadership team, you will set and lead a coherent growth strategy across this diverse portfolio. Your mandate will be to identify where Serco can win, build exceptional and strong customer relationships, shape markets and opportunities, and create a sustainable pipeline of profitable new business, retention and contract growth.
Development and leadership of the growth strategy for this business needs to leverage and target the ongoing local government re-organisation and central governments devolution agenda and PPN026, with the aim of generating further business growth in existing and adjacent markets.
This is a role for an established growth leader with the commercial judgement, external credibility and leadership presence to operate at the highest levels of Serco and with senior stakeholders across local and devolved government.
What you’ll be doing
- Develop, own and deliver the growth strategy for Citizen Services: Local & Devolved Government, identifying the markets, customers and opportunities where Serco’s value proposition is most compelling.
- Build a high-quality, sustainable pipeline spanning new business, contract retention, extensions and strategic growth opportunities.
- Develop influential senior relationships across local authorities, NHS, devolved government, commissioners, strategic partners and other key stakeholders.
- Shape markets and customer thinking through early engagement, strong market intelligence and a deep understanding of policy, commissioning priorities and emerging customer needs.
- Lead and develop the business development, sales and bidding capability across the Business Unit, creating the operating model and talent required to deliver ambitious growth plans.
- Ensure opportunities are rigorously qualified against strategic fit, competitive position, profitability, value and risk, focusing resources on areas where Serco can create sustainable advantage.
- Work across operations, commercial, finance, technology, legal and bid teams to translate market opportunity into compelling, differentiated and deliverable propositions.
- Champion the role of technology, data and digital solutions in proposition development, identifying opportunities to improve services, create efficiencies and differentiate Serco in the market.
- Provide senior leadership and governance for major opportunities and, where required, act as SRO for strategically important bids.
- Contribute as a senior member of the UK&E Growth leadership community and the Citizen Services: Local & Devolved Government leadership team.
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What you’ll need to do the role
We are looking for a highly credible and commercially accomplished growth leader with a substantial track record of winning complex business within local government and related public service markets or evidence of successfully moving between and delivering growth in different business sectors.
You will bring:
- Significant experience of winning business, with a strong understanding of how the public sector commission, procure and evaluate outsourced and partnership-based services.
- A demonstrable track record of developing and executing growth strategies across complex public sector markets.
- Ideally a deep understanding of local authority & NHS customers and the political, financial and service pressures shaping their priorities.
- Strong senior relationships and credibility with customers, commissioners, partners and other stakeholders across local and/or devolved government.
- Experience of shaping opportunities well ahead of formal procurement, creating customer intimacy and converting market insight into successful commercial propositions.
- Experience leading high-performing business development, growth or bidding teams and delivering through complex matrix organisations.
- Strong commercial and financial judgement, including the ability to assess market attractiveness, competitive position, profitability, investment requirements and risk.
- The strategic capability to bring together a diverse portfolio of services and identify the common propositions, capabilities and competitive advantages that can drive growth.
- The presence, judgement and communication skills to influence senior internal and external stakeholders and operate effectively within an executive leadership environment.
- A strong understanding of how technology, data and digital innovation can strengthen customer propositions and create differentiated service solutions.
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What we offer
At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all.
You’ll have the opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future growth of one of Serco UK&E’s major businesses, working across a broad range of essential public services and influencing how those services develop over the years ahead.
The package will include:
- A competitive six figure base salary
- Company car or car allowance of £9k
- Strong bonus potential (on target 25%, max 50% with performance multipliers available to exceed this number)
- A long term incentive plan
- PMI for you and a partner
- 25 days annual leave
A little bit about us
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.
Our inclusive recruitment commitment
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).
For support with your application, please contact recruitmentuk@serco.com.
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