Head of Business Development (FTC)

Frontline • Contract • London • 3d ago

Location: National with regular travel across the UK. London-based candidates will receive London Office allowance and will be required to attend the office 2 days per week

The Business Development team is a recently established and growing team at Frontline. The team is responsible for delivering and developing high-quality leadership programmes, workforce development training, and commissioned projects that support practitioners and leaders across the children’s social care sector.

Reporting to the CEO, The head of business development will play a critical leadership role in driving Frontline’s growth, diversification, and long-term sustainability. You will lead the Business Development team, setting a clear strategic direction and ensuring it is delivered through our training offers, including programmes and commissioned work that support the workforce working with children at risk of harm.

You will oversee the organisation’s sales pipeline, ensuring we identify and secure opportunities that expand Frontline’s impact and generate sustainable income. This includes building strategic partnerships and ensuring our work is shaped by the evolving needs of the children’s social care sector, positioning Frontline as a trusted partner for workforce development and system improvement.

This is a pivotal role for an ambitious leader who combines strategic insight, commercial acumen, and strong external relationships with a deep commitment to improving outcomes for children and strengthening the social work workforce.

A full job description can be found here.

Key Responsibilities

Setting strategic direction and driving growth

Set and lead the strategic direction for Business Development, aligning activity with Frontline’s mission, organisational priorities, and the evolving needs of the children’s social care sector.
Lead strategic planning and pipeline development across programmes, training offers, commissioned work, and partnerships.
Horizon scan to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, shaping business development priorities and Frontline’s future positioning.

Developing and managing strategic external relationships

Build and manage strategic relationships with senior stakeholders across local and national government, commissioners, and sector partners.
Represent Frontline externally to influence partnerships, programmes, and commercial opportunities.
Ensure external engagement supports our values, impact goals, and long-term financial sustainability.

Overseeing programme and offer development

Hold overall accountability for the development and delivery of Frontline’s programme and training offers, ensuring they meet high standards of quality, equity, and impact.
Maintain strategic oversight of evaluation and feedback mechanisms, using insight and data to drive continuous improvement across the portfolio.

Ensuring commercial performance and sustainability

Oversee financial performance across the Business Development portfolio, including budget setting, forecasting, and financial risk management.
Ensure offers are appropriately priced and managed to support long-term financial sustainability while delivering high-quality outcomes.

Leading and developing the team

Lead and develop the Business Development team, including line management of roles such as the Business Development Manager, Programme Manager, and Curriculum and Learning Lead.
Foster a high-performance culture rooted in Frontline’s values of freedom and responsibility, with clear expectations, coaching, and accountability.
Ensure work is effectively prioritised across the team and that appropriate systems, reviews, and development plans are in place to support individual and team growth.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Experience and Knowledge

Significant experience of setting and leading strategic direction at a senior level, ensuring organisational alignment and impact
Significant experience of developing and managing high-level external relationships with senior stakeholders (e.g. government departments, commissioners, sector leaders)
Demonstrable track record of success in business development, income generation or commercial growth
Proven experience of managing budgets and financial performance, including forecasting, income tracking, cost-effectiveness, and ensuring offers contribute to organisational sustainability
Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, embedding a culture of high expectations, freedom, and responsibility
Experience overseeing the strategic delivery, quality assurance, and continuous improvement of large-scale programmes, services, or portfolios
Ability to use evaluation, impact data, and horizon scanning to drive strategic planning, growth, and improvement
Knowledge of the children’s social care sector and its workforce development needs (desirable)
Professional qualification in social work, teaching and learning, or a related discipline

Characteristics and Skills

Excellent strategic thinking and organisational skills, with the ability to lead complex work across multiple programme and development streams
Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to confidently engage senior external stakeholders and represent the organisation with credibility
Strong leadership and team development skills, fostering high performance, accountability, and a culture rooted in freedom and responsibility
Financial acumen, including the ability to manage budgets, interpret financial data, and ensure sustainability of income-generating activity
Ability to use evaluation, data, and horizon scanning to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement
Clear and confident communicator, able to tailor messaging to influence diverse audiences including commissioners, funders, and internal leadership
Adaptable and solutions-focused, able to navigate complexity and lead with clarity in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Values Alignment

Role models and champions our culture of freedom and responsibility
Commitment to Frontline’s mission, values, and social impact, with a deep understanding of how to embed equity and inclusion across services and partnerships