Department: Business Development Location: Belper - Support Centre Compensation: £45,000 - £47,000 / year Description The Business Development Manager will report to the Head of Business Development. This role is responsible for selling a compelling proposition for Esland to Local Authorities and delivering occupancy levels of 90% or above. A key role within the Business Development team who will work together to achieve this occupancy goal through a combination of strong relationships with Local Authorities, marketing and close working with Operations- including Regional and Home Managers- to ensure young people are appropriately placed in homes and schools that can support them and deliver exceptional outcomes. Key Responsibilities The successful Business Development Manager will: • Build meaningful LA relationships to create a positive working relationship to increase the number of suitable referrals into Esland, supporting appropriate matching of referrals and reducing void periods within Esland homes and schools. • Manage LA and internal queries related to the commissioning and delivery of Esland residential and educational services. • Assess incoming referrals (via email, phone, and online portals), triage referrals to the appropriate persons and complete offers or provide feedback to LA customers. • You will work with key stakeholders to ensure that all placements are well-matched and safe putting the best interests of our young people first. • Be the key link between LA customers and Esland Operations & Finance teams to ensure all services are appropriately commissioned, contracted and billed for. • Track all referrals and offers on our CRM system Gold-Vision. • Support Esland Operations teams with our referrals process, ensuring regular and appropriate communications between Esland and its LA customers. • Keep abreast of all changes in homes and schools (step up, step down, notices and leavers), to ensure a pipeline is appropriately matched to vacancies and occupancy remains at 90% at all times. • Work with the wider Business Development team to identify new contacts and opportunities and threats within the LA's and wider residential childcare & education market. • Ensure that all opportunities to join LA frameworks are appropriately assessed, support the submission of tender bids, and ensure contractual compliance of all successful framework bids. • Contribute to the delivery, processes & development of the BD team. • Attend Team Meetings, relevant training. Skills Knowledge and Expertise A strong commercial background in social care- ideally children's social care, involving commissioning, direct sales, sales and channel management, contract negotiation and experience of LA frameworks. Demonstrable experience of working in partnership with Operations to deliver or exceed occupancy targets and ensure appropriate matching of young people into homes. A history of growing sales, margins and market share. Established national network of relationships in Local Authorities. Ability to identify new service opportunities and work with customers to position Esland as their development partner of choice and market propositions accordingly. A team player, able to work well with the Operations team to support the placement of the right young people at the right time into Esland homes and schools. Benefits salary between £45,000 - £47,000/ year plus £3,600 car allowance 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays Enrolment into Esland pension scheme Comprehensive, paid induction training (that is accredited through the Bild Association of Certified Training) and ongoing training within the role Fantastic opportunities for career development, we promoted over 50 colleagues last year Cycle to work scheme A £500 bonus via our 'Refer a Friend' scheme Monthly recognition awards Casual dress code Access to big-brand deals and discounts via our employee benefits scheme E-Together A day off for your birthday (in addition to your holiday entitlement) Access to a holiday home based in the Peak District where you can stay for free, on the company The opportunity to make a real difference to a child's life