Freedom Leisure
Head of Business Development - Full Time
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Role Overview
As one of the UK’s leading charitable leisure trusts, we’re proud of our mission of Improving Lives Through Leisure. We’re here to help communities live healthier, happier lives by making our centres welcoming, inclusive and accessible to everyone - because everyone deserves to feel good. We’re all about delivering amazing customer service and creating spaces where people feel at home, supported and inspired.
We are seeking an accomplished and commercially astute sport and leisure professional to provide leadership for Freedom Leisure’s business development function. As Head of Business Development, you will play a central role in shaping and delivering the organisation’s growth strategy, strengthening our market position and securing sustainable opportunities that advance our charitable purpose.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading business development delivery to drive sustainable growth.
- Managing the business development team and oversee performance.
- Leading the full opportunity and bid process from identification to mobilisation.
- Delivering high-quality, commercially viable bids and proposals.
- Building strong client relationships and represent Freedom Leisure externally.
- Overseeing market analysis, commercial modelling and risk assessment.
- Providing strategic insight and reporting to senior leadership.
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Requirements
- Significant senior business development experience within leisure, public services or related sectors.
- Proven leadership and performance management of business development or similar professional teams.
- Strong track record of delivering successful complex bids, tenders and funding applications.
- Excellent commercial and financial expertise, including business case and proposal development.
- Ability to manage multiple high-value projects while maintaining quality, governance and risk control.
- Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
- Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across a multidisciplinary team.
- Mobility to travel to meet business needs.
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Benefits
- Company pension
- Cycle-to-work and car leasing tax-efficient schemes
- Discounted staff membership (including family members)
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling
- Incremental annual leave entitlement
- My Staff Shop employee benefits scheme, offering discounts on cinema tickets, travel, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and everyday spending
Application Details
- Hours: 37 hours per week
- Salary: up to £75,000 per annum
- Closing date: 9th October 2026
In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date.
Diversity Statement
At Freedom Leisure, we believe a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and enhances the services we provide. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
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