Job Title: Senior Client Manager
Department: Consultancy and Research
Location: Bristol Office with hybrid working available
Pay Scale: £60,000 - £65,000k depending on experience
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time (37.5 hours per week, 7.5 hours per day.)
The Workforce Development Trust
The Workforce Development Trust (WDT) is a not-for-profit organisation that provides services that support employers to develop skilled, sustainable, and efficient workforces in the UK and abroad. We operate via our five brands; Skills for Health, Skills for Justice, SFJ Awards, iCQ Awards and People 1st International, which deliver specialist, targeted skills interventions to support a variety of frontline public services.
Job summary
As part of The WDT, our Consultancy and Research (C&R) division exists to create lasting, measurable impact for the clients and sectors we serve, through our brands Skills for Health, Skills for Justice and The WDT. Guided by the Trust's overarching vision (to support the development of a competent, resilient and effective workforce that delivers better outcomes for the public) we integrate professionalism with purpose to deliver change that matters.
In C&R, we firmly believe lasting impact comes not just from what we deliver, but how we work with our clients and colleagues - with passion, innovation, respect, and integrity. We commit to combining consultancy subject matter expertise with mission-driven values, to create meaningful change across the health and care workforce.
We're looking for a Senior Client Manager to join Skills for Health and take the lead on some of our high-impact health accounts, including large NHS Trusts, Integrated Care Systems/Boards, and influential health organisations.
This is your opportunity to help drive sustainable change across the UK health and care system, shaping the future of NHS workforce strategy and service delivery. Skills for Health is a respected not-for-profit with strong Sector Skills Council heritage. Within Skills for Health, we combine a business-minded approach with a charitable focus, offering you the chance to contribute to meaningful healthcare improvements, whilst leveraging the strong existing reputation of a well-established, trusted national brand.
You'll be joining a cause-driven business development team working on strategic, high-profile projects that have a direct and lasting impact on patient outcomes and workforce sustainability. This role provides a unique opportunity to operate at the intersection of consultancy, innovation, and strategic influence, designing bold and future-proof solutions for the sectors workforce challenges.
You will lead and manage strategic client partnerships and engagements, and be seen as a trusted partner, working closely with senior health stakeholders to maximise value, demonstrate clear return on investment, and embed meaningful, system-wide change.
To thrive in this role, you'll bring:
* Over six years' experience in consultative sales or strategic account management, ideally within complex, high-value health environments
* A strong existing network within the NHS and a deep understanding of how the health and care landscape operate
* A clear vision for how innovative consultancy can enable sustainable improvements across the workforce and wider system.
In return, we'll empower you to lead with confidence to deliver high-impact solutions that transform services and create long-term value. You'll be part of a team that values ambitious thinking, creative problem-solving, and measurable impact, working in a fast-moving, purpose-driven environment where new ideas are encouraged and your contribution truly matters.
What is the impact of the role on the business?
The Senior Client Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of workforce strategy across the UK health and care system. Their work will directly drive:
Revenue growth through consultative sales and strategic account management.
Market positioning of Skills for Health and The WDT as leading providers of workforce consultancy services.
System-wide impact by leading engagements that influence patient outcomes and workforce sustainability at a national level.
Key business skills necessary for the role?
* Consultative Sales & Strategic Account Management - Ability to build long-term partnerships and translate complex client needs into tailored consultancy solutions.
* Proposal Writing & Tendering - Experience in preparing and delivering high-quality, commercially viable tenders and proposals.
* Stakeholder Engagement & Negotiation - Comfortable working with senior NHS and healthcare leaders to develop trust-based relationships.
* Strategic Thinking & Business Planning - Proven ability to align business development activity with wider organisational goals and sector priorities.
* Commercial Acumen - Understanding of financial controls, risk management, and return on investment (ROI) in a consultancy or public sector setting.
What does the daily work look like?
A typical day may include:
* Client Engagements: Meeting (in person or virtually) with NHS Trusts, ICS/ ICB leaders, or healthcare commissioners to discuss workforce strategy needs.
* Proposal Development: Leading on the creation of tailored consultancy proposals or contributing to tender documentation.
* Internal Collaboration: Working with subject matter experts, project delivery, and marketing teams to shape impactful solutions.
* Account Management and Planning:
Managing pipelines, forecasting revenue, and updating CRM systems.
* Strategic Thinking: Scanning the policy environment, identifying new opportunities, and feeding insights into service delivery / design.
* Travel:Attending client meetings, stakeholder events, or conferences across the UK
Key Responsibilities
* Strategic Business Development
* Client & Strategic Relationship Management
* Strategic Account Leadership
* Consultative Selling & Tendering
* Innovation, Insight & Influence
Please download full JD here
and our job pack here
Please include your CV and cover letter explaining why you would be suitable for this role.
This job requires some days in the office. Please consider if you are willing to relocate before applying.
Only apply if you currently have a valid right to work in the UK.
Please note only shortlisted candidates will be contacted
We reserve the right to alter the closing date before the one stated.
Benefits:
* Generous annual leave entitlement up to a maximum of 28 days, plus public holidays and a potential Christmas closure
* Flexible working - 50% working from home with a dress for your day approach
* Staggered start and finish time
* Employee referral recruitment scheme
* We provide enhanced leave, bereavement, carers, maternity, paternity and sickness leave.
* Health and wellbeing benefits, access to our mental health first aiders, a confidential employee assistance programme, free eye tests and payment for an annual flu jab
* Enhanced pension scheme, with a contribution matching up to a combined 12%, and the option to join the Salary Exchange Pension Scheme along with death in service coverage at three times annual salary.
* Flexible employee benefits, portal including a cycle to work scheme
* Buy annual leave scheme
* Organisational development days and departmental training budgets
* Payroll giving, this is a tax-free way to donate to any charity, good cause or place of worship
The Workforce Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone.
If your experience differs a little from what is outlined in the job description, or you are missing a desired qualification, yet you think you can bring value to this role, please apply, we would like to hear more about you.
We strongly encourage people of all gender, religion, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientation, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
If you need any reasonable adjustments at any point, please let us know. In your application, please feel free to advise on your preferred pronouns, for example she/her, he/him, they/them etc.
The Workforce Development Trust appreciate any applications that include cover letters explaining why they would be suitable for this role.
Closing date: Tuesday 14th October 2025