Head of Business Development
Department:
Commercial
Reports to:
Commercial Director
Responsible for:
Bid & Project Manager; Bid Writer
Salary:
£75,000 – £80,000 + £8,400 Car Allowance + Bonus
Job Purpose
The Head of Business Development is responsible for driving sustainable and profitable growth across the organisation by securing new business opportunities and supporting the retention and expansion of existing contracts. With a focus on both Soft and Hard FM services, the role leads the end-to-end business development lifecycle — from opportunity identification and tender management to contract mobilisation and client handover.
Working closely with the Commercial Director and Managing Director, you will help to shape and execute the company’s commercial strategy, strengthening market presence and positioning the business competitively across the UK.
This role requires a proactive, commercially astute leader with outstanding communication skills, strong organisational capability, and the ability to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment. A solid understanding of FM operations is essential to produce compelling proposals, prepare accurate costings, and support delivery teams during mobilisation.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Sales Strategy
Develop and deliver a business development strategy that supports long-term company growth.
Identify, qualify, and pursue opportunities within both public and private sector markets.
Build and maintain strong networks, representing the organisation at events, client meetings, and industry forums.
Lead commercial negotiations, ensuring profitable outcomes and sustainable partnerships.
Tender & Proposal Management
Manage the full tendering process, including PQQs, bids, technical submissions, interviews, and presentations.
Produce high-quality, persuasive bid content demonstrating capability, innovation, and value.
Prepare detailed commercial and cost models in line with the company’s Bid Approval Process.
Ensure all commercial responses align with approved costings and authorised margins.
Work cross-functionally with operational leaders and subject matter experts to ensure accuracy, feasibility, and competitiveness of proposals.
Client Engagement & Relationship Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with new and existing clients.
Understand client requirements, providing tailored FM solutions that meet and exceed expectations.
Support the ongoing development of the existing portfolio by identifying upsell and cross-sell opportunities.
Leadership & Team Management
Lead, mentor, and develop the Business Development team to ensure high performance and professional excellence.
Oversee quality and consistency across all tender submissions and client-facing documents.
Drive continuous improvement, embedding best practice across the business development function.
Contract Mobilisation
Manage mobilisation for newly awarded contracts, coordinating with internal departments to ensure operational readiness.
Identify and mitigate risks throughout the mobilisation timeline.
Provide a full, documented handover to operational teams post-mobilisation.
Reporting & Communication
Provide weekly reports to the Commercial Director covering pipeline activity, leads, meetings, sales progress, risks, and opportunities.
Track departmental targets and performance against KPIs, including bid conversion and revenue generation.
Contribute to internal meetings, sharing insights, data, and market intelligence.
Professional Development & Compliance
Maintain current knowledge of FM legislation, trends, and best practice.
Attend training courses, seminars, and professional development sessions as required.
Ensure compliance with company policies, governance standards, and ethical business practice.
Candidate Profile
Proven experience in Business Development, Commercial Management, or Tender Leadership within Facilities Management or a related technical services environment.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a strong eye for detail.
Commercially confident, with the ability to produce detailed costings, pricing models, and financial proposals.
Strong organisational skills with the ability to meet multiple deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
Confident presenter capable of engaging with stakeholders at senior levels.
Experience managing and developing high-performing teams.
Broad understanding of FM operations, service delivery models, and mobilisation processes.
Project management experience is advantageous