Introduction - About the Leadership Skills Foundation

We have been here, supporting leadership skills development, since 1981 and one thing has always remained the same: our drive to empower the leaders of tomorrow. We know that when we equip young people with life-enhancing, essential leadership skills, we exponentially increase their opportunity to thrive as individuals and valued members of society.

With a 40+ year heritage, the Leadership Skills Foundation exists to help young people build the confidence to believe, the qualities to lead and the skills to succeed.

Working with close to 100,000 young people every year across 2,500 delivery centres (schools, colleges and community organisations), we provide an empowering environment and learning frameworks where everyone is empowered to shape their futures and lead their communities.

97% of centre staff believe Leadership Skills Foundation programmes provide young people with the skills to succeed.

As an awarding body, all our programmes are accredited in line with regulatory conditions, ensuring learners achieve meaningful and recognised qualifications and awards. Our programmes equip learners with employability skills for life (communication, problem solving, teamwork, self-belief, self-management) improving motivation, self-esteem and confidence.

90% of learners said that our programmes develop important skills for their futures.

We want young people to possess the skills, knowledge and resilience needed to face the world with confidence and optimism. By enabling organisations to deliver carefully considered leadership programmes, we help shape future generations.

Over two-thirds of businesses believe young people are not effectively prepared for work when they leave school (British Chamber of Commerce).

 Our Values

We are better together

Together, we do great things. Collaboration, belonging and individuality aren’t just buzzwords to us; they’re deeply held commitments in the way we work. As we solve problems together, we make sure everyone feels listened to and valued.

We are guided by goals

Every initiative we developed is guided by clear aims. From giving young people the confidence to achieve, to bringing major change to communities, all our goals are significant and focused on improvement.

 We evolve and innovate

As the world changes, so do the opportunities and challenges of the people we support. As different times call for different skills, we are brave enough to be different and to innovate to be fit for the future.

We have pride in our programmes

We never forget how valuable everyone’s future is. That’s why we go above and beyond to deliver high-quality trustworthy and regulated programmes.

The Role

Thank you for the interest in this role – it is an exciting one.

You would be joining us at a time when in the middle of last year, we launched our new identity as the Leadership Skills Foundation alongside a new 5-year ‘Evolve’ strategy, with several new initiatives in development.

Having navigated the challenges of the pandemic, the organisation has naturally placed an emphasis in recent years on retaining and sustaining the existing relationships we have with the 2,500 organisations (centres) that deliver our programmes. Looking ahead, with a new identity for the organisation having launched in the middle of 2023 and new programmes and partnerships emerging, this role will now play a significant part in helping us expand the network of centres delivering Leadership Skills Foundation programmes and broaden the audiences we reach.

Over the next 5 years, we aim to create an adaptable leadership skill offer that will increase our reach to 200,000 young people annually across primary, secondary and further education, fully establishing the Leadership Skills Foundation as the trusted voice for leadership skills development. This role will play a major role in making that happen and leading our new business engagement strategies.

Key relationships will be formed with the Market Development Manager, Head of Business Development (line manager) other Heads of Department and various colleagues within departmental support teams. We’re looking for someone with a drive to seek out, connect and influence new opportunities and relationships. Previous experience in a sales environment is essential and a knowledge of education systems in the UK is desired.

The role will require a ‘self-starter’ mindset with an attention for detail. They will be driven by results and possess strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Role Summary

Our Business Development Team is integral to the success of our organisation and we are looking for a motivated, driven and proactive individual to join us as a Business Development Manager . You will be responsible for driving our new business strategy, aiming to secure new partnerships across education and raising our profile within Senior Leadership, as well as delivery teams. You will also play a significant role within the Business Development Team to provide both internal and external support, which will be both colleague and customer focussed. The successful candidate will understand the importance of developing an implementing new business strategies. They will be looking for an opportunity to demonstrate their sales and growth mindset within a strong team environment. They will be committed to working within our organisation values, whilst affecting external decision-making through a customer engagement approach.

The main purpose will be:

1. Deliver sales targets in line with business development strategies.

2. Lead the creation and implementation of ‘new business’ engagement strategies within the business development division.

3. Strategically expand the network of centres delivering Leadership Skills Foundation programmes.

4. Develop sales and registrations strategies to grow new business opportunities and maximise our relationships with centres.

Main Duties and Responsibilities include:

1. Create and implement the new business strategy for increasing the number of centres committed to delivering Leadership Skills Foundation programmes.

2. Identify and develop profitable growth opportunities with customers, partner networks and key stakeholders.

3. Collaborate with the Market Development Manager to include emerging programmes in maximising growth and expansion opportunities with centres.

4. Collaborate with marketing and communications colleagues to create new business campaigns and activities.

5. Co-ordinate tactical activities to engage with new audiences i.e. webinars and conferences.

6. Responsibility for ensuring all management information and relationship management insight relating to prospective/new centres is captured.

7. Monitor performance of commercial activities utilising insight systems to prepare reports and forecasts for the Head of Business Development and wider Leadership Team.

8. Conduct regular research and analysis on commercial opportunities to reach new audiences and expand/grow delivery.

9. Work alongside Innovation, Marcomms and Quality Assurance team colleagues to attract, engage and delight customers under the Customer Experience strategy.

10.  Alongside the Head of Business Development and Director of Engagement, review, explore and consider future pricing models aimed at increasing the average spend of centres, supporting ‘a whole education leadership offer’.

11.  To carry out any other duties as requested to support the work of the Leadership Skills Foundation commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of the post, for which the post holder has the necessary experience and/or training.

The Business Development Manager will receive a generous salary, bonus and commission scheme, a flexible and agile working environment, private Vitality healthcare (subject to successful completion of probationary period), personal development opportunities, enhanced pension, enhanced holiday and sick pay and an extended Christmas break.

If you want to be part of thriving and evolving organisation, then we would love to hear from you and look forward to receiving your application.