Head of Business Development

You will provide leadership and direction for the Business Development Team (new business, sales enablement, and launch team), driving a consistent approach to maximise available revenue and achieve agreed business targets in both apprenticeship and commercial sales. You will be accountable for setting and leading the team's strategic direction while personally delivering new business sales.

What will you be doing? 

• Lead, develop, and manage the Business Development Team, ensuring they are actively driving profitable and high-growth sales opportunities. Set clear objectives and KPIs aligned with organisational goals.
• Develop and implement strategic plans to acquire new clients and achieve revenue targets.
• Retain partners and build strong, trusting relationships with a network of stakeholders across the partner’s business.
• Lead the process of identifying, prospecting, and pitching to potential clients.
• Communicate and coordinate with internal teams to deliver solutions within agreed timeframes.
• Identify opportunities for improvement which maximise new and existing revenues and improve partner and learner satisfaction.
• Work with stakeholders to evidence the value of our products and services through measurable business impact against agreed metrics.
• Forecast and track key metrics (e.g., monthly, quarterly profiles, and annual forecasts).
• Negotiate contracts and close agreements to maximise profits.
• Clearly communicate the progress of monthly/quarterly initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee direct reports and collaborate with internal teams to meet partnership objectives.
• Support the Business Development team in identifying and introducing new business opportunities through your network of client contacts.
• Develop and maintain excellent knowledge, expertise, and understanding of our business, our offer, competitors, and wider education and skills ecosystem.
• Undertake ad-hoc project work to enhance or improve partnership ways of working or as directed by the Partnerships Development Director.
• Ensure quality standards are in line with Company and Ofsted guidelines.
• You may also be required to undertake additional duties that are necessary to effectively deliver the responsibilities and objectives of the role

What will you bring to the role?

• Proven experience managing a team at a mid-management level within a target-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to understand customer business goals and create strategies to help achieve them.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in sales leadership roles
• Proven experience developing trust and maintaining strong relationships with senior stakeholders.
• Familiarity with working in a high-demand environment, delivering to targets and tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and listening skills.
• Good organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent negotiation and influencing skills.
• Proven examples of influencing across an organisation.

It would be great if you had?

• Relevant experience in apprenticeships
• Relevant experience in commercial sales
• Demonstrable experience of developing expertise and influencing
• Experience of working within a training organisation
• Ability to effectively use technology including Microsoft Office, CRM and video conferencing platforms

Lifetime Group Values  

• Ability to embody our Lifetime Group Values 

Giving back to you – our Group Benefits

• 25 days' holiday rising with service and your birthday off.
• Holiday purchase scheme for those life changing trips and moments.
• Long service reward and recognition
• Enhanced Pension
• Group Life Assurance – 3 x Annual salary
• Unlimited access to six Smart Health services including a 24/7 virtual GP
• Health Cash Plan
• Access to curated wellbeing content and our Employee Assistance Programme
• Perkbox
• To support your work/life balance we give you the opportunity of flexibility within our core working hours (9.00 – 5.30).
• Enhanced sick pay
• Enhanced Maternity/Shared Parental and Adoption packages leave
• A reward programme and recognition programme and annual awards event

Who are Lifetime Training?

Lifetime Training is part of the Lifetime Group.  As a Group, we collaborate to shape the future of the sectors we partner with. From delivering pioneering learning and apprenticeships to shaping technology and delivering innovative assessment, we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to learn new skills and reach their full potential