Horizon Care & Education
Business Development Manager
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Business Development Manager – Education
£55,000 - £65,000 per annum & 10% Bonus (based on KPI performance)
Hybrid with frequent travel to South Schools (Croydon/Surrey/Kent) and occasional travel to Leeds (head office)
We are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead the business development activity in the South Schools Portfolio of Ofsted Regulated Education Services. The successful candidate will have a strong background in children’s social care and education provision, a deep understanding of regulations, EHCP’s, and sector dynamics.
This role is integral to identifying new opportunities, developing strategic partnerships with local authorities, and ensuring our services meet both regulatory standards and the evolving needs of young people.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnering:
- Act as a strategic partner to Regional Operations Teams, working collaboratively to drive service growth, improve occupancy, and align business development efforts with operational capacity and priorities.
- Provide market intelligence, insights on commissioner needs, and regulatory guidance to inform regional service planning and delivery.
- Support regional teams to maximise placement opportunities, ensuring our service offers remain competitive and tailored to local demand.
Placements & Referral Management:
- Lead and manage the Placements Team, ensuring the effective and responsive handling of a high volume of referrals across the south schools.
- Oversee the end-to-end referral and matching process, ensuring the needs of young people are accurately assessed and placements are made in line with both operational availability and quality standards.
- Monitor placement activity, conversion rates, and pipeline opportunities, providing regular analysis and feedback to regional teams and senior leadership.
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Market Development & Growth:
- Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities within the education sector.
- Conduct ongoing market and competitor analysis to support strategic decision-making and service positioning.
Commissioner & Stakeholder Engagement:
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with local authority commissioners, housing partners, and other stakeholders to promote services and identify collaboration opportunities.
- Represent the organisation at sector events, forums, and strategic meetings to build the company’s presence and reputation.
Compliance & Regulatory Guidance:
- Maintain expert knowledge of Ofsted regulations, 2023, ensuring all service developments and placements are fully compliant.
- Provide advice and updates to internal stakeholders, ensuring regulatory standards are embedded in business development and operational delivery.
Reporting & Performance Insight:
- Develop and deliver weekly trading packs and reporting dashboards for the Managing Directors (MDs) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), providing clear insights on:
- Referral volumes and conversion rates.
- Occupancy levels.
- Pipeline of potential placements and business opportunities.
- Market trends, competitor activity, and commissioner engagement outcomes.
- Analyse data to identify patterns, risks, and opportunities, providing actionable recommendations to support strategic decision-making at executive level.
- Ensure reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned to operational KPIs and growth targets.
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Candidate Criteria
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in a business development, commissioning, or strategic leadership role within children’s social care or Education, particularly in Independent Special Schools.
- Proven experience of business partnering with operational teams, working collaboratively to align growth strategies with service delivery capabilities.
- Experience of leading or managing placements functions or teams dealing with high volumes of complex referrals.
- Demonstrable track record of developing successful partnerships with local authorities, commissioners, and other key stakeholders.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify, develop, and capitalise on business growth opportunities in the social care sector.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across multiple teams and stakeholders.
- Analytical and strategic thinking capabilities with the ability to interpret data, market intelligence, and regulatory developments.
- Self-motivated with strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Experience working within or closely alongside operational leadership teams in social care or housing support services.
- Understanding of commissioning frameworks, funding pathways, and procurement processes in children’s services.
- Experience of supporting service design or redesign in response to regulatory changes or emerging commissioner needs.
Closing date 21st July 2026
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